Thursday, March 5, 2026

LACTOBACILLUS - How to Make

LACTOBACILLUS
2026 Lori-Ann Willey
Willey’s Dam Camp

You may first want to read  


RECIPE & DIRECTIONS

NOTE 1 - This recipe makes a LOT, so you could easily cut this recipe down by a ¼ and it’ll still be more than what most people will use in a year. 

NOTE 2 – 1 cup of “serum” will need 10 cups of milk product (the amount of milk you want to use may be a deciding factor).  It is also wise to note that if you have 5 cups serum, you’ll need 5 cups Molasses or brown sugar.  White sugar works, but the “feeding” process is slower is all. If making in advance, I use white sugar with maybe ½ cup molasses or brown sugar to give it a faster start though usually I’m not in a hurry here.

NOTE 3 -  We are both lactose intolerant so we buy Lactaid.  It will not work.  Unpasteurized is better,  whole organic raw milk is best, but any milk will work. I buy a jug of whole milk just for making this.

NOTE 4 -  USES – fertilizing plants, increasing speed of decomposition, as a probiotic for pets as well as for people.

INGREDIENTS

Rice

Water (not town water)

Milk (not lactose-free milk)

Sugar

DIRECTIONS

1 cup rice and mix with 1 cup water (tap water -not bleached), stir and let sit for 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Strain into a jar (reserving the liquid) (You can further cook the rice for a meal or toss).

Cover jar with a paper towel, cheese cloth, or do as I do and use a coffee filter and an elastic. 

Set aside away from sun and heat for about a week.  You should see that the liquid separated into 3 layers.  Top layer is mold, middle is lactobacillus and other bacteria, bottom is starch/byproducts.

Siphon the middle layer into a larger jar (I use a gallon jar(s)) and discard the rest.

Add 1 part serum to 10 parts milk(1 cup serum : 10 cups milk).  For half batch,  ½ cup serum and 5 cups milk, etc.

Cover with cloth of choice and set aside for another week.  You will see 2 layers inside the jar.  The top will be curd-like (carbs, fats, protein).  You can eat it, feed it to a pet, or compost it. We’ve eaten it before. The bottom layer may be yellow-ish.  This is the serum. Save this liquid.  

At this point, you can stop, seal the jar, and refrigerate and activate it when you want, or you can activate it all at the same time.

 

TO ACTIVATE

(1 serum : 1 molasses/brown sugar (or white sugar).  Seal and keep in a darker corner for 6 months-ish,  OR, a year-ish in the fridge.

TO USE

 (1 serum : 20 water) -Add 1-2 tablespoons to a gallon of water a day before you want to use it. This gives the microorganisms a headstart for feasting the next day.