Easy Homemade Kefir

Step 1

Place kefir grains in a quart-sized mason jar. Add 4 cups of milk to the mason jar with the kefir grains.

Step 2

Cover the mason jar with a coffee filter (I usually use two) and secure it with a rubber band.

Step 3

Leave the jar with the milk and kefir grains on the counter at room temperature to allow it to ferment. This can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days, depending on the temperature of your kitchen. For me, it typically takes 2 to 3 days. It took Lina 4 to 5 days.*You can slow ferment the kefir in the fridge for about a week as well. Take the kefir out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature for 4 to 24 hours before straining out the grains.

Step 4

Things to look for while your kefir ferments:The kefir is ready when you start to notice it separating. You'll see a clear layer start to form in the jar. The longer you let it ferment, the stronger, tangier flavor you'll get from it. It'll smell a little "yeasty", like fresh bread dough.You'll also notice a white "film" layer. This is perfectly normal. It's not mold.If your kefir gets moldy, it'll look like bread mold and will be blue or reddish in color. If this happens, you'll need to toss the kefir. Keep the grains though and rinse them before starting a new batch.If your kefir continues to be moldy, you may need to get new grains.

Step 5

Once the kefir is ready, you'll strain out the grains. Place a plastic strainer over a bowl. Stir up the kefir with a silicone or plastic spatula and pour it into the strainer. The kefir will drain through and the kefir grains will remain in the strainer.

Step 6

Rinse out the mason jar that had the kefir in it. I just rinse it with water and never use soap as I don't want any soap residue to interfere with the fermentation process. You could rinse the jar with vinegar. Place the kefir grains back in the mason jar and fill with milk. You're now ready to make another batch of kefir!

Step 7

Take the ready kefir that was strained into the bowl and pour it into a clean mason jar. Place the mason jar in the fridge. Once chilled, the kefir is ready to consume. You only need about 2 oz. a day to achieve health benefits.

Step 8

Want to add some flavor to your kefir?Blend the whole batch of kefir (about 4 cups) with a 1/4 cup of fresh or frozen berries. You can also add in 1 to 2 tablespoons of a keto sweetener and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Enjoy!