Making 100% whey protein at home involves separating the whey from milk and processing it to create a powder. Start by heating whole milk until it reaches 180°F, then add an acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar to curdle it. Once the curds (solid) and whey (liquid) have separated, strain the mixture using a cheesecloth to collect the whey. The liquid whey can then be dehydrated using a dehydrator or a very low-temperature oven to remove the water content.
Once fully dehydrated, the whey can be ground into a fine powder using a food processor or blender. While this method allows you to create whey protein at home, it’s important to note that the protein concentration and purity may not match that of commercially produced whey protein powders, which undergo more sophisticated filtration processes such as microfiltration or ultrafiltration to isolate the protein and remove fats and lactose (15).