How to Make Kefir: A Healthy Probiotic Drink!
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Kefir is a cultured milk beverage. It’s similar to yogurt but the taste is a bit different and it’s more of a drink than something you’d eat out of a bowl. Unlike yogurt, kefir contains beneficial yeast as well as good bacteria. If you can tolerate dairy, kefir is a great probiotic food to incorporate into your diet. Kefir is also incredibly easy to make. Read on to learn how to make kefir at home.
Finding Kefir Grains
If you haven’t made kefir before you’ll first need to acquire some milk kefir grains. The least expensive option is to try to get extra grains from someone who’s already making kefir. I suggest asking members of your local WAPF chapter, or any other local real food group that you’re a part of. Healthy kefir grains usually multiply so people who regularly make kefir often have extra grains to share with others.
If you can’t find any free grains locally you can also order grains online. I recommendthese milk kefir grains.
Some Notes on Equipment:
For several years I made kefir in a glass jar covered with a breathable cloth and rubber band. A few years ago I switched to making my kefir in anaerobic Fido jars with a Pickl-it lid, because of things I’d read about kefir being an anaerobic process that does best in an airtight environment. These claims stirred up a ton of controversy and I’m honestly not sure whether anaerobic fermentation is strictly necessary or not. I continue to make kefir in my Pickl-it jars because I already own them and I’m sure that they’re at least not doing me any harm. If you’re new to making kefir, I’d recommend starting out with regular canning jars; if you decide you want to make kefir a staple of your diet, you can do some research and decide whether you want to upgrade to using Fido jars with Pickl-it lids.
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If you do choose to use a Fido jar with a Pickl-it lid, just substitute that equipment for the canning jar and cloth mentioned in the following instructions.
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Ingredients
- Kefir grains (find kefir grains here)
- Milk (I use raw, organic whole milk but any type of milk will work)
Instructions
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- Put your kefir grains into a cleanglass jar. How much milk and kefir grains you want to use is up to you – flavor and texture change depending on your ratio of grains to milk. I typically use 2 to 3 tablespoons of grains for about 2 to 2 1/2 cups of milk.
- Add your milk.
- Cover with a cloth or something breathable to keep fruit flies and other objects out of your jar. Secure the cloth with a rubber band.
- Leave the jar out at room temperature for about 24 hours. If it’s particularly cold in your kitchen, you may want to keep the jar in the warmest spot you can find. Kefir grains like warmth.
- Check the kefir after 24 hours. It should be thickened and starting to separate into curds and whey. If you don’t think it’s done, leave it out for another 12 to 24 hours until it appears finished. My kefir is always done after the first 24 hours, but yours could take longer if your kitchen is particularly cold.
- When your kefir is finished, stir it up in the jar so it’s liquid again, then pour it into a strainer to strain. I use a small plastic strainer set inside a canning funnel over a glass jar. If your strainer is small like mine you’ll have to pour the kefir into the strainer in batches.
- Gently stir the kefir to encourage it to move through the strainer. When you’re finished, all your finished kefir will be in the jar while your grains will be left in the strainer.
- Put the grains into a new jar and add more milk to start a new batch of kefir. (I reuse my original jar several times instead of starting with a new jar each time, but I’m not sure whether that’s recommended.)
- Store your finished kefir in the fridge. If you want to further reduce the lactose content of your kefir, you can instead store the finished kefir on the counter for a day before transferring to the fridge.
Notes:
Many kefir resources caution against using metal in any stage of the kefir making process. Dom (an online kefir expert), however, argues that this advice originated before the popularity of stainless steel utensils and is thus outdated. When I started making kefir I purchased a special plastic strainer and only used non-metal utensils. Given what I’ve read, however, I would not be concerned about using metal on my kefir grains.
Kefir grains often multiply quickly. If you find yourself with extra grains, give them away to friends, eat them as extra probiotics, or just throw them away in your trash or compost.
If you need to take a break from making kefir, put your kefir grains into a jar with fresh milk as usual then store in the fridge. Dom recommends storing kefir grains for no longer than a week before providing them with fresh milk.
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If you only want to drink a small amount of kefir every day, I recommend making a small batch every day rather than making a large batch and then storing the grains in the fridge. Kefir grains thrive best when they are allowed to spend most of their time culturing on the counter.
Dairy-Free?
If you can’t do dairy, consider making water kefir. Like milk kefir, water kefir contains valuable probiotics. It’s also super tasty. We enjoy both milk kefir and water kefir on a regular basis in our home.
This post is part of Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday, Sunday School, Monday Mania ,Fat Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Your Green Resource, and Simple Lives Thursday
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