Making Kefir In Instant Pot Food

INSTANT POT YOGURT

Steps:

• Pour the milk in a 6-quart Instant Pot® and put on yogurt setting. Press the adjust setting to boil (see Cook's Note). Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. After the boil cycle is complete follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release and wait until the quick release cycle is complete. Be careful of any remaining steam and unlock and remove the lid.
• Stir the milk and check the temperature using an instant-read thermometer. The milk must reach a temperature of at least 180 degrees F. If the milk is not yet hot enough, repeat the boil cycle until the milk comes up to the correct temperature.
• Remove the pot insert and allow the milk to cool until it reaches a temperature of 110 to 115 degrees F. (To speed up this process, place pot in an ice water bath and stir, being careful not to get any water into the milk.) Place 1/2 cup of the milk in a small bowl and stir in the store-bought yogurt until combined. Stir the yogurt mixture back into the milk mixture in the pot.
• Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Put on the yogurt setting and set the time for 9 to 12 hours (9 for a looser, milder yogurt and 12 for a thicker, tarter yogurt).
• Remove the lid (there will be no pressure, so no pressure release is required). Carefully remove the yogurt and transfer to resealable containers.
• Refrigerate until completely chilled and set, about 4 hours.

INSTANT POT KEFIR

Steps:

• Remove the sealing ring and thoroughly wash the sealing ring, inner pot and the lid with very hot water, and put the sealing ring back on. This is a cultured product so it is important that everything is clean.
• Add 1-4 quarts of milk to the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
• If you have decided to boil the milk first, place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock. Check that the valve is in the sealed position. Select the "yogurt" setting and adjust it to "high" where the display reads "Boil". When the program has finished press cancel until it reads off.
• Release the valve, open the pot and remove the inner pot.
• Cover the pot with plastic wrap and allow the temperature of the milk to drop. Allow the temperature to drop to 70 degrees F before adding the starter culture. This could take a while, but you could place the bowl on ice to speed it up.
• Remove the plastic wrap, add the starter culture and whisk it in for a few seconds.
• Return the inner pot to the Instant Pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock. The valve can be in either the sealed or unsealed position. Select the "yogurt" setting. The kefir starter culture is mesophilic, so change the setting to "low" and the time to 24 hours and push start.
• Check the thickness of the kefir a few hours before the time when it's supposed to be ready, since the time required can vary. When it has thickened and pulls away from the side of the bowl, transfer it to a glass container and store it in the refrigerator. It can be stored for 2-3 weeks.
• The kefir can also be strained using a fine mesh strainer to remove some of the water (whey) which will make it thicker.

HOMEMADE KEFIR

Steps:

• Put ½ tsp kefir grains in the jar. Add the milk, leaving about 2cm head room if using a clip top jar, or at least 5cm for a cloth-covered jar.
• Set aside at room temperature for 18-24 hrs to ferment. It's turned to kefir when the milk has thickened. It may have set and separated, with pockets of whey forming - this is quite normal.
• If you can't strain it straight away, put it in the fridge to stop it fermenting further, the flavour can get quite strong - you can strain it anytime over the next 48 hrs.
• Strain the kefir through the sieve or straining funnel into the jug or bottle. The grains are quite robust and will withstand gentle stirring.
• You can drink it straight away, flavour and refrigerate it (a slice of lemon peel or a drop of lemon oil add a delicious fresh taste), or leave it at room temperature for a few hours to make it taste stronger. Storing it in the fridge will slow down the fermentation by the microbes and it should remain pleasantly useable for 7-10 days.
• In order to make some more kefir, rinse out the jar, return the grains (don't wash them, there's no need), and start again from the beginning.