Kefir Grain Maintenance

August 6, 2002

Am I hurting my kefir? I don't think so, but just to be sure . . . . I

received the grains about 4 weeks ago and have never washed them. If they are

not in raw milk kefirring, I put them in a small mason jar filled with kefir and

in the frig. I have 2-3 times the amount of grains that were sent, so I'm

assuming all is well. If I wanted to use the actual grains to lacto ferment, do

I just wash a clump? And, is it ok to break apart these clumps? They are

getting so big its hard to transfer to small mouth mason jars.

Thanks -

@...

August 6, 2002

> Am I hurting my kefir? I don't think so, but just to be sure

> . . . . I received the grains about 4 weeks ago and have never

> washed them.

Washing is not necessary. If you want, you can fast your grains in

filtered water for 24 hours, but you don't want to do that more than

once a week.

> If they are not in raw milk kefirring, I put them in a small

> mason jar filled with kefir and in the frig.

A better idea would be to store them in the fridge with milk because

that way they have something on which to feed. Just make up a jar as

if you were going to make a regular batch and put it in the fridge.

In 5-7 days you'll have a finished batch of exceptionally smooth

kefir.

> If I wanted to use the actual grains to lacto ferment, do I

> just wash a clump?

I prefer to thoroughly wash any grains that I'm going to use to

ferment veggies. I put them in a jar with filtered water, shake them

vigorously, change the water, shake again, change water, and shake

one last time.

> And, is it ok to break apart these clumps? They are getting

> so big its hard to transfer to small mouth mason jars.

That's no problem. Just gently pull the larger ones apart with your

fingers (after having washed your hands with soap and water). When

mine get to be golfball sized or larger I break them in two. Grains

that I'm going to use for fermenting veggies I break into even

smaller pieces and leave them in the finished product to be eaten.

August 6, 2002

At 11:04 PM 8/5/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Am I hurting my kefir? I don't think so, but just to be sure . . . . I

>received the grains about 4 weeks ago and have never washed them. If they

>are not in raw milk kefirring, I put them in a small mason jar filled with

>kefir and in the frig. I have 2-3 times the amount of grains that were

>sent, so I'm assuming all is well. If I wanted to use the actual grains

>to lacto ferment, do I just wash a clump? And, is it ok to break apart

>these clumps? They are getting so big its hard to transfer to small mouth

>mason jars.

>

>Thanks -

No, they don't need washing (unless you drop them on the floor or something

....). If you DO wash them, they won't ferment. If you want to eat a grain,

just eat it. Or, you can mash it in a mortar and pestle (Dom says) and use

it to make gluteny bread (supposed to work like gluten, which sounds

interesting!). Washing is likely not all that good for them though, though

some people do it.

Heidi

August 6, 2002

Yikes...this makes me think my grains are wimpy! Kefir envy, perhaps? I don't

see a large increase in size, etc. Actually, my grains look more like pieces of

cooked egg whites now...not round but flat and kind of spread out. Does this

make any sense? They still turn my milk nicely sour, but it doesn't thicken

much. Any ideas? I'm new to kefir, so any help would be appreciated.

----- Original Message -----

From: Braun

Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 11:04 PM

Subject: Kefir Grain Maintenance

Am I hurting my kefir? I don't think so, but just to be sure . . . . I

received the grains about 4 weeks ago and have never washed them. If they are

not in raw milk kefirring, I put them in a small mason jar filled with kefir and

in the frig. I have 2-3 times the amount of grains that were sent, so I'm

assuming all is well. If I wanted to use the actual grains to lacto ferment, do

I just wash a clump? And, is it ok to break apart these clumps? They are

getting so big its hard to transfer to small mouth mason jars.

Thanks -

@...

August 6, 2002

>>>>>..Yikes...this makes me think my grains are wimpy! Kefir envy,

perhaps? I don't see a large increase in size, etc. Actually, my grains

look more like pieces of cooked egg whites now...not round but flat and kind

of spread out. Does this make any sense? They still turn my milk nicely

sour, but it doesn't thicken much. Any ideas? I'm new to kefir, so any

help would be appreciated.

------->OH! this is exactly what's happened to mine! although they are

growing like wildfire, unlike yours. my kefir too, has lost it's thickness.

i think i've lost the 'kefiran' - the unique kefir bacteria that's

responsible for those thick gooey strands that drip from the strainer and

make the kefir so thick...which i had lots of 3 or 4 weeks ago. i've been

wondering how i managed to kill them...or at least 'suppress' them... i

thought it might be that i have a too high grain to milk ratio. my kefir's

become way too sour and thin without switching my milk source and the high

ratio being the only variable that's changed (as far as i can tell). i have

recently reduced the ratio...will see if my kefiran returns.

my grains have also become somewhat flatish...it reminds me of white

seaweed - the flat kind with ruffles. anyone know why this happens and how

to get the kefiran going again, if it's not too late?

Suze Fisher

Web Design & Development

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3shjg/

mailto:s.fisher22@...

August 6, 2002

OH NO!!!!! Say it's not too late!!!! I was just getting attached to the little

guys. Thanks, Suze for your input on this. I hope we get some answers.

----- Original Message -----

From: Suze Fisher

Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 3:09 PM

Subject: RE: Kefir Grain Maintenance