Cultured Kefir
Ingredients
- 1 quart Whole Milk raw or pasteurized
- 1 packet Kefir starter
Instructions
- Create a double boiler by putting the milk in a smaller pot and put the water in a larger pot. Heat the milk to 86 ℉.
- Remove from heat and whisk in one packet of starter culture until fully dissolved.
- Pour into sanitized 1 qt canning jar, using a funnel, and loosely place the lid on.
- Incubate at 70 -78 ℉ for 12-48 hours or until desired consistency and flavor are reached. Refrigerate.
Re-culturing Kefir
- Once you've made a batch of kefir from the starter, you can re-culture fresh batches by mixing ½ cup plain kefir with 3½ cups whole milk, and following steps 3-4. How many times this process can be repeated varies, but if kefir is not reaching desired consistency within 48 hours, start over again by making a batch using fresh starter.
Ways to culture kefir
- I have used an electric heating pad set on low, placed in a small cooler to incubate kefir. This works very well.During the summer months when the air is warm, just setting the jar of kefir on the counter is perfect.If you have a yogurt maker use it to culture your kefir.
Having a dairy cow that produces delicious milk has caused me to look into all the ways to develop and use this milk with the most health benefits. Kefir has been a staple in our fridge this summer and fall for good reason. It is a nutritionally dense food that provides many health benefits. You can use kefir in recipes when buttermilk or milk are called for, but our favorite way to consume kefir is to blend it with frozen berries and a bit of maple syrup. I keep a quart in the fridge for a quick snack!
When doing a little research on this fermented milk it amazed me at the great overall health benefits. Below are a few entertaining health facts!
Kefir is a fermented milk drink, cultured from kefir grains. It is a rich source of calcium, protein and B vitamins
Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested (3) Trusted Source
Known as probiotics, these microorganisms may influence health aiding digestion weight management and mental health (4, 5, 6). Trusted Source
Yogurt is the best known probiotic foodin the Western diet, but kefir is a much more potent source.
Kefir grains contain up to 61 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making them an extremely rich and diverse probiotic source. (7 )Trusted Source.
Kefir made from dairy is an excellent source of calcium, a full-fat dairy kefir contains vitamin K2. These nutrients have major benefits for bone health.
Kefir is low in lactose because its lactic acid bacteria has already pre-digested the lactose. Thus those who have lactose intolerance can usually drink kefir without problems.Kefir originated from parts of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The name is derived from the Turkish word keyif, which means “feeling good” after eating .
If your interest has been perked, I encourage you to go to your local health food store and try some of this liquid goodness! It is likewise particularly easy to make fresh. You need a kefir culture and some fresh, whole fat milk and a little bit of time. Try something different and keep yourself healthy and well.
