Kefir making as alternative to yoghurt making.

katkin

My kefir grains came yesterday through the post. Unfortunately the pack leaked and by the time I got home from work I reckon there was about 6 sad looking, travel weary grains left.

I added them to 250ml of whole milk. This evening the mix just looks like tepid milk left out overnight I'll leave them for another 24 hours and see what happens, though I have the suspicion that there isn't enough grains to get the fermentation going.

Should I strain them tomorrow and add what grains there is to 100ml of milk? Or get more?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Angelina-M

katkin wrote: »

My kefir grains came yesterday through the post. Unfortunately the pack leaked and by the time I got home from work I reckon there was about 6 sad looking, travel weary grains left.

I added them to 250ml of whole milk. This evening the mix just looks like tepid milk left out overnight I'll leave them for another 24 hours and see what happens, though I have the suspicion that there isn't enough grains to get the fermentation going.

Should I strain them tomorrow and add what grains there is to 100ml of milk? Or get more?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Waaay too much milk for when you are starting out with weak grains. I would put them in a little jar and cover then with about an inch of milk. The first couple of times they may not be brilliant but they will get stronger and flourish.

I used mine today to make kefir naan bread, so delicious!

katkin

Angelina-M wrote: »

Waaay too much milk for when you are starting out with weak grains. I would put them in a little jar and cover then with about an inch of milk. The first couple of times they may not be brilliant but they will get stronger and flourish.

I used mine today to make kefir naan bread, so delicious!

Thanks Angelina-M, I will do that and nurture them gently. Your post is greatly appreciated.

Angelina-M

katkin wrote: »

Thanks Angelina-M, I will do that and nurture them gently. Your post is greatly appreciated.

I just looked back and its nine years since I started this thread! I am the original poster I just changed my name.

A couple of times i've left my grains festering for months and brought them back. One time I lost them (don't ask, think I must have accidentally tossed them out in a fridge clean) so I had to get some more from ebay. They were a bit rubbish but soon adapted to my milk and are now going great guns. I only use organic whole milk in my house and they like that.

However, recently I upped my usage of kefir and got some symptoms not dissimilar to thrush. I looked online and found quite a few people saying the same thing. I'm monitoring this at the minute as it could have been that I upped my homemade yogurt and it was just too much all at once.

Alisha2008

Today I tried some supermarket kefir that a collegue brought to the office, it tastes sooooooooo much nicer than the one I make at home! I'm just not so sure if it's as good as the home-made one, but I wish I could make it taste like that.. i have mine everyday but i need to add sugar and I still find it disgusting...

maddiemay

I found this thread yesterday and have just finished reading it.

Angelina-M, thank you so much for starting it and for contributing so much useful information. I am so sorry about the loss of your daughter, it must be so very hard to bear.

I have a few chronic health problems and have read of Kefir before, but did not think that it was for me, well I am ready to try it now and some grains are winging their way to me. I am really not sure about the taste, although I enjoy a mild "good" yogurt with fruit. I think I will probably be making banana smoothies, as I really need to eat at least one a day for the Potassium content, but I have a small appetite and find them very filling, hopefully I can make smoothies and sip away until all has been drunk. I can buy lovely full fat un-homogenized milk, so will be trying with that:D

Angelina-M

Thank you Maddiemay.

I make yogurt and it doesn't taste as nice as that but you will be able to disguise it in a smoothie.

I'm off mine again for a few weeks because the thrush like symptoms concerned me, could have just been a coincidence though.

Good luck with the grains!

purpleivy

I just came across this thread Angelina-M. I think I might have been one of the people you originally sent grains to. Am afraid I 'lost' them.

I have had my gall bladder out and now have IBS. Am anxious to repopulate the good bacteria after recent 'procedure'.

maddiemay

My grains arrived yesterday, a nice looking clump sealed in milk. I got them cosied up in some organic whole milk, and shook the jar several times during the evening. This morning looking good and definitely multiplying nicely:D

It is rather exciting (kefir virgin lol) will be buying bananas as well as more milk for it this morning ready to try a smoothie:D

maddiemay

By yesterday evening my witches brew was looking interesting, having looked at photos on line I deduced that it was ready to be strained off and added to some fresh milk.

The instructions that came with it made no mention of throwing early batches away so I popped it into a covered glass jug in the fridge. I gave a small amount to my dog and she kept coming up to me as if she wanted more, but I thought that I should start all of us with small amounts.

Needing to be out and about for most of today I put off trying it in case of any urgent visits to the bathroom:D So OH and I have now had a smoothie made up of 1/4 cup measure each of kefir, 1.1/2 tsp banana milkshake powder and half a banana whizzed up with enough almond milk to make 4oz glass each. I will use less milk shake powder next time, but we could not discern a kefir taste at all. Dog had her 1/4 cup too. So far so good:D, sorry if TMI, but having to take both iron tablets and co-codamol I would welcome some digestive changes:)

I am thinking that Scotch pancakes may well be on the menu tomorrow:D