How to Get Started With Kefir

Reader Contribution by Anna Hess And Mark Hamilton
1 / 4
2 / 4
3 / 4
4 / 4

Kefir is a milk product a bit like yogurt, but with even more digestive benefits. You make kefir using grains (the “mother” bacteria and fungi), and since the grains double in size every month or two, you can often get starter cultures for free from a friend. But what do you do once the grains show up?

Rinse your kefir grains. Since the grains (the solid gob) have been sitting in the same milk during transit, they’ll need to be rinsed. Place them in a colander and pour milk or unchlorinated water (such as well water) over the grains until they look clean. Discard the rinse liquid.

Place the grains in a glass jar and add one cup of whole milk per tablespoon of grains, then cover the top of the jar with a cloth napkin or other piece of breathable fabric. You can use a rubber band or the ring of a mason jar to keep the cloth in place. The cloth is just to prevent bugs and dirt from getting in your brewing liquid. Be sure to use whole milk (cow or goat is fine), and unpasteurized milk is even better if you’re a raw-milk drinker.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368