Re: Kefir questions from Randy

[Guest guest]

Randy: This is a good question that I am sharing with my list. I have put

your e-mail as BCC

List members: Read from the bottom up. Notice that Randy did not get a

satisfactory answer from the experts he consulted. There is a lot of

confusion on the web concerning kefir grains and how to take care of them.

There is also a lot of people who would make taking care of kefir grains

complicated. I don't go there. There are dozens of ways to make kefir and

you may or may not be successful following all the advice out there.

There is only one best way. That is what I teach here. There are only a few

things you need to know to keep kefir grains happy, healthy, and making good

tasting kefir. They will grow properly and last forever. And if you happen

to get less than perfect kefir grains from someone who does not know the

best way to take care of them, they will completely recover with proper

care.

Now go to the bottom and read Randy's question first.

Hi Randy,

Listen closely. Give your kefir grains a fresh change of milk every day and

keep them at room temperature. You need to do one more essential thing every

time you strain and before you add more milk. Taste it. This will tell you

how much milk to add for the next batch. Pay no attention to the consistency

for now. All I care about it how it tastes. If it is too sour, you either

remove some kefir grains from the jar or add more milk for the next batch.

It may take a few batches before you get it to taste just right.

Those instructions are for fairly healthy kefir grains but they also apply

to kefir grains out of balance like yours are or for kefir grains which have

been in the refrigerator or otherwise neglected. In a short time all kefir

grains, no matter how " sickly " and out of balance, go back into pristine

condition as long as they are fed properly and are kept at room temperature.

Refrigerator temperatures set them way back and it takes time for them to

get back up to speed.

Your kefir grains, Randy, have too much yeast so this is how to fix that.

You rinse your kefir grains with non-chlorinated water before every new

batch until the yeast colonies go way down. You will know when to stop

rinsing by taste. Continue to give them enough milk every time so it doesn't

get too sour. This means you strain before separation. If it separates, it

is too sour and you need to add more milk the next time. You may not think

it is too sour but your kefir grains " think " so. They will completely change

within a week unless some bad bacteria got in there. If by chance, your

kefir is not only yeasty but " off " you need to do one more procedure. Put

them into a bowl of water and squeeze each one. Rinse well and start over.

It won't be long and your kefir will taste delicious, just like store

bought.

This will fix what you have and you don't need more kefir grains from me.

However, if you had gotten kefir grains from me or someone on my list, your

very first batch would have been good. Plus you would never have a problem

as long as you keep feeding your kefir grains properly. The only thing

special about my kefir grains is that they are taken care of properly on a

continuous basis.

To sum up kefir grains need three things:

A fresh change of milk every day.

Be kept at room temperature.

And given the proper amount of milk.

Marilyn,

who likes to keep things simple

who wants you to be successful

On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 12:23 AM, Randy wrote:

> I might be interested in buying kefir grains but first wanted to ask a

> question.

>

> I bought some kefir grains on eBay about 4 weeks ago and have been

> trying to make kefir ever since. I have read numerous sites including

> Dom's kefir site and followed all directions carefully. My big

> question is, " Does homemade kefir taste very different from store

> bought? " I regularly buy kefir from the supermarket (Trader Joes or

> Lifeway brand) and my homemade kefir taste nothing like the store

> bought. I've tried skim, 1%, and 2% milk as well as varying the

> processing times, but each time my kefir taste more like spoiled milk

> or sourdough starter than storebought kefir. Is it possible that I

> have bad grains? Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks for your help,

> Randy

>

--

Marilyn Kefirlady

marilynjarz@...

http://www.kefirlady.com

Please join our chat group:

/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZsY7iMiqc

[Guest guest]

lin,

do you give me pleaes the permission to put your answer about how to

make kefir on my discussion board ? This is a discussion bord for

great danes owners and lovers, mostly quebecers (French Canada) ...

so this means we would also translate your intructions.

Claude

Au Chatelet Great Danes / Danois

www.auchatelet.com

>

> > I might be interested in buying kefir grains but first wanted to

ask a

> > question.

> >

> > I bought some kefir grains on eBay about 4 weeks ago and have been

> > trying to make kefir ever since. I have read numerous sites

including

> > Dom's kefir site and followed all directions carefully. My big

> > question is, " Does homemade kefir taste very different from store

> > bought? " I regularly buy kefir from the supermarket (Trader Joes

or

> > Lifeway brand) and my homemade kefir taste nothing like the store

> > bought. I've tried skim, 1%, and 2% milk as well as varying the

> > processing times, but each time my kefir taste more like spoiled

milk

> > or sourdough starter than storebought kefir. Is it possible that I

> > have bad grains? Any thoughts?

> >

> > Thanks for your help,

> > Randy

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Marilyn Kefirlady

> marilynjarz@...

> http://www.kefirlady.com

> Please join our chat group:

> /

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeZsY7iMiqc

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Certainly.

Thanks,

Marilyn

On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 2:37 PM, Claude Lessard <

auchateletgreatdanes@...> wrote:

> lin,

>

> do you give me pleaes the permission to put your answer about how to

> make kefir on my discussion board ? This is a discussion bord for

> great danes owners and lovers, mostly quebecers (French Canada) ...

> so this means we would also translate your intructions.

>

> Claude

> Au Chatelet Great Danes / Danois

> www.auchatelet.com

>

>