How to make Kefir at home?

Hello guys.

Thank you for choosing Cultures Market to order your Kefir starter grains.

In this blog, we explain how to make kefir at home in detail from the Cultures Market starter grains that you have received.

REQUIREMENTS

To make Kefir, the first time, you will require one glass container, a cotton cloth/cheesecloth, a rubber band, some starter kefir grains, and about 300mL of milk (buffalo or cow milk is fine, but make sure its of good quality. Raw milk is best for making kefir). You can buy the kefir grains from here. A lot of people have access to only pasteurised milk, which is not the best milk for kefir. If that is the case, you should add some milk cream to this milk and your kefir should be just fine and grains will remain healthy.

METHOD

Please follow the following instructions to make your own kefir at home:

  1. If you are making Kefir for the first time, take out the grains from starter pack by straining through strainer (preferably plastic) with help of water. If needed, use a plastic spoon or your finger to stir while straining. Kefir starter pack (L), strained kefir grains (R).
  2. Now place the grains carefully in a clean glass jar. Make sure grains stick together while you take them out. It’s good for their health if they stick together.
  3. Fill the jar with milk at room temperature (between 21 degree Celsius to 29 degree Celsius) by leaving at least an inch of space at top. Full fat and non/semi pasteurised milk (means no tetra pack) is preferred. Always use one type (brand) of milk to keep the kefir grains healthier. Make sure milk is of high quality. Kefir strained grains (L), Kefir grains in container where you wish to make kefir (Right top), milk added to kefir grains (Right bottom)
  4. Put a clean, cotton cloth on the top and tie it with a rubber band or a ribbon. You do NOT need the lid.
  5. Leave the Kefir in a clean and dark place. Make sure the place doesn’t have any moulds.
  6. To keep the Kefir fermentation conditions sterile, buy a spray bottle and plain vinegar. Pour vinegar in the spray bottle and occasionally spray on top of the cloth during the storage period. This will ensure clean conditions.
  7. Keep this Kefir for at least 16 hours. In most places, it would take about 24 hours to ferment but could also be made in 16 hours. You will need to see according to the humidity, dampness, and other environmental conditions in your place. If you take it soon, it might not be completely formed. If you store it too long, it will go a bit sour or very sour depending on how long you let it ferment. Hence, try to find the ideal time in the first few times and make a note of it for yourself for future occasions.
  8. Strain this Kefir with the help of a sieve (preferably plastic). The grains will collect on the top and the kefir will filter down in a vessel. This might need finding a sieve which does not let kefir grains run down. You will need kefir grains each time to make kefir. Grains would have used all the lactose (milk sugar-as their food) and multiplied in number. Each time you will make kefir, grains will increase. Kefir ready (L), Kefir ready (Right top), Straining kefir to separate kefir and kefir grains (Right bottom)
  9. Keep the filtered kefir in a glass jar in the fridge and enjoy as a cool, nutritious milk/yogurt replacement along with numerous health benefits. This kefir will go a bit more sour even if you keep it in the fridge (the fermentation keeps happening at a very slow rate-even without the grains now!) and ideally should be consumed within three days. However, it can survive in the fridge for weeks (but goes very sour/tart). Kefir and grains separated (Left), Kefir grains and container for next batch (Right top), Kefir grains in container increased in number for second batch (Right bottom)
  10. To make kefir again, use the grains and procedure above. Kefir ready to drink (L), Kefir ready to be stored (Right top), A single grain of kefir can grow in large size (Right bottom)
  11. If you don’t want to make another batch right away, place kefir grains in a clean glass jar and fill it with small amount of milk. Put the lid and place it in fridge till you wish to make another batch. You need to change this milk in every two days to keep your grains alive inside the fridge. And when you want to make another batch, follow the procedure mentioned in Point 1 to 6.
  12. If you are travelling or going away for long, you should put the kefir grains in a fridge (don’t freeze) in larger volume of milk, depending upon how many grains you have and how long will you be away for. For the size of total grains shown in this procedure, you can use about 2 litres of milk if you are away for 10-15 days.
  13. Kefir grains will grow each time you make new kefir under sterile conditions. Hence, clean vessels and environment is critical for kefir grains. People usually buy the grains once and the grains keeps growing for life in size and number.

And this is how you can make kefir by yourself, at your own home.

We hope you use this tutorial to enjoy this Russian/European drink at the comfort of your home and kitchen. If you liked this tutorial, please leave a comment below for discussions or contact us for any questions you might have. We will be delighted to answer them.

Have a happy eating and a healthy life! Enjoy!

Thank you.

2 thoughts on “How to make Kefir at home?”

  1. This is a great job u r doing. Very thankful. Kefir is a boon for healthy life. We should promote it. Pls arrange a training program to prepare it and and how to use it in different health care.

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