Fermented for LIFE .... making the Kefir

Here is the step-by-step process ...

What you need: Kefir grains (pictured in blue bowl), nylon strainer (very important as any metal will kill the grains), Milk (see more below), mason jar (size depends on how much you want to make), spatula, coffee filters or cheese cloth

1)Place kefir grains in jar

2) Add Non-homogenized, not ultra-pasteurized whole milk. This will be a 1 to 7 ratio of grains to milk.  Pictured is a national brand that can be found at most Whole Foods.  After the grains are done with the milk it will become dairy and sugar free.  

3) Cover your jar so that it can still breath. I use coffee filters because they are easy. 

4) Let sit for 24-48 hours on your counter. Generally, 24 hours is good but if your home is very cool you can leave out for longer.  You can watch the fermentation process happen.

5a) Strain the grains.

5b) Separate using a spatula until only the grains remain.  

6) Repeat starting at step one. Don't go starving those grains ... ;-)

7)The liquid left in the bowl can now be put into bottles and refrigerated.  Kefir, when made fresh, is fermented so it does not go bad. Just adjust the amount of milk to the amount you want to drink.  There is a little bit of effervescence to the kefir, so it will fizz when opening.  When I started, I only drank a small cup a day. Now I drink a pint glass.  You can make smoothies and all sorts of things with it.  

*If you are traveling you can add the milk to the grains (they always in need of food, hungry little guys) then either freeze them or refrigerate them to slow down the fermentation process depending on how long you are gone.

Cheers to a cup of good health every morning!!

If you want to read about all the benifits of these amazing little grains that could click on Kefir ... Little grains that battle gut health!