Re: exploding kefir safety

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Yes, the kefir whey can cause explosions - I know because I had one.

Just do not fill your bottles more that 2/3rds full and you will not have

any problems.

When I had my explosion I had tried to follow a suggestion of filling my

bottle to the very top, and it did not work.

Kat

http://www.katking.com

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

From: " kili94 " <lm324@...>

< >

Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 9:53 PM

Subject: exploding kefir safety

> I remember a few people mentioning their kefir jars exploding. Can

> this happen with strained kefir, kefir with the grains, or kefir whey?

>

> I'm going to try kefir whey for fermenting veggies. The ginger

> carrot recipe calls for a tight lid and sitting on the counter for

> several days. Can the kefir whey cause an explosion?

>

> Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

At 04:53 AM 9/14/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>I'm going to try kefir whey for fermenting veggies. The ginger

>carrot recipe calls for a tight lid and sitting on the counter for

>several days. Can the kefir whey cause an explosion?

>

>Thanks!

>

YES! Kefir whey contains yeast: yogurt whey doesn't. But the *only* reason

for tight lids is if you want effervescence. I put a lid on so it sits, but not

all that tightly. Often I use a big glass gallon cookie jar with a lid that

SITS on it.

Remember the Koreans and French and other early picklers

did not have airtight jars, and they did just fine. The CO2 that is

created will push the oxygen out, which will keep mold from forming.

I think Sally wrote that because you don't want a lot of air leakage.

The water-seal jars let air out, but not in, which is ideal in terms

of mold. I add a splash of vinegar to avoid mold too: but with

kefir whey I wouldn't think you'd have a problem.

BTW my vegies are often effervescent even though the lids aren't

tight. Some vegies -- celery being one -- tend to end up " tingly "

on the tongue!

Heidi

[Guest guest]

Heidi-

Speaking of lids, weren't you the one who mentioned using sprouting lids

with holes in them on ball/mason jars for brewing kefir? I've looked

around for them, but I haven't found them anywhere. Any idea where I can

find some?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

If you are using the mason jars here is what I do.

I put a paper coffee filter over the top of the jar, the leaving out the

middle part, I screw on the rim only (that crews on the bottle and makes the

coffee filter nice and snug).

No bugs, no dust, no worry about contaminants, but it gets lots of air.

Kat

http://www.katking.com

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

From: " Idol " <Idol@...>

< >

Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 9:54 AM

Subject: Re: exploding kefir safety

>

>

> Heidi-

>

> Speaking of lids, weren't you the one who mentioned using sprouting lids

> with holes in them on ball/mason jars for brewing kefir? I've looked

> around for them, but I haven't found them anywhere. Any idea where I can

> find some?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

At 12:54 PM 9/14/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>Heidi-

>

>Speaking of lids, weren't you the one who mentioned using sprouting lids

>with holes in them on ball/mason jars for brewing kefir? I've looked

>around for them, but I haven't found them anywhere. Any idea where I can

>find some?

I don't think it was me, but I have seen them around, though not lately.

I was using a cloth held down by the mason jar ring. Around our house

sprouting lids won't work because of the teeny flies. Coffee filters

are great too, as Kat says (esp. if you happen to have a whole

mess of them because you bought the wrong size at Costco :-(

BTW you can use coffee filters to strain kefir for cheese: yeah there might

be " stuff " in the paper, but I probably get a lot of whatever is in

the paper in my daily coffee already ...

Heidi

[Guest guest]

I got mine at a natural foods store in Minneapolis and we have them at our

co-op.

Peace,

Kris , gardening in harmony with nature in northwest Ohio

If you want to hear the good news about butter check out this website:

http://www.westonaprice.org/know_your_fats/know_your_fats.html

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

From: " Idol " <Idol@...>

< >

Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 12:54 PM

Subject: Re: exploding kefir safety

>

>

> Heidi-

>

> Speaking of lids, weren't you the one who mentioned using sprouting lids

> with holes in them on ball/mason jars for brewing kefir? I've looked

> around for them, but I haven't found them anywhere. Any idea where I can

> find some?