Q. Will Water Kefir Grains Multiply?
Water kefir grains are known to multiply, but at times they are reluctant to do so. Even if they do not multiply, with proper care, water kefir grains can be used repeatedly to brew water kefir.
Q. My Water Kefir Grains Have Multiplied And I'd Like To Save Some As A Backup. How Do I Do That?
A. Water kefir grains can be stored short-term in the refrigerator or long-term by drying them.
Q. My Water Kefir Grains Are Multiplying Rapidly. Is There A Point At Which I Must Remove Some Of The Grains?
A. We recommend using 3-4 tablespoons of water kefir grains to culture 1-2 litres of sugar water. More grains cause the culturing process to progress very quickly, so it is best to remove any amount above 4 tablespoons, to avoid over-culturing and to impart the best flavour.
Extra water kefir grains can be used to culture another jar of water kefir, shared with friends, eaten, blended into smoothies, or dried and stored in a sealed container in the fridge as backup.
Q. My Water Kefir Grains Are Multiplying Quickly. What Can I Do With The Extras?
A. Water kefir grains make a wonderful gift to friends. Alternately, they can be eaten, blended into smoothies, or shared with chickens or pets.
Q. Can I Use A Metal Strainer With My Water Kefir Grains?
A. While a plastic mesh strainer is preferred, stainless steel is acceptable. Avoid all other types of metal when working with water kefir grains.
Q. I Just Received My Water Kefir Grains And They Don’t Appear To Be Working?
A. Water kefir grains require 3-4 days to rehydrate. It is common for the taste of the water kefir and the activity level of the kefir grains to change over the first few weeks after the water kefir grains are rehydrated. If you have questions or concerns about your water kefir, please contact us here.
Q. I'm Not Sure My Water Kefir Grains Are Working Properly. What Should I Do?
A. Always test aroma and flavour to make sure the water kefir grains are working properly. The finished water kefir should smell pleasant and maybe a bit sour, and it will be less sweet than the sugar water or juice you started with. The liquid will generally lighten in colour and turn cloudy during the fermentation period.
Q. I've Made A Few Batches Of Water Kefir And It Tastes Okay But It Smells Yeasty And Off-Putting. Is That Normal?
A. Maybe. It is normal that the kefir smell a bit yeasty at first. In the beginning, the yeasty smell is a sign that the yeast and bacteria in the kefir grains are still getting into balance. Normally the yeasty aroma will lessen significantly within a few batches. If the yeasty aroma continues, the water kefir may be over-culturing, which can cause an imbalance. Make sure to reduce the culturing time in warmer temperatures, to keep the grains well-fed and in balance.
Q. I've Been Working With My Water Kefir Grains For A Few Weeks And The Taste Of The Kefir Seems To Be Changing. It's More Fermented Than Before, A Bit Less Sweet. Is That Normal?
A. Yes, it is normal that the newly rehydrated water kefir grains will mature for the first several weeks, and the flavour of the finished water kefir may change.
Q. I've Been Working With My Water Kefir Grains For A Few Weeks And They Still Aren't Bubbling. What Can I Do?
A. It is normal that water kefir not be very bubbly when using a refined sugar. Try a darker sugar or add mineral supplementation, we offer Signature Sugar Blend Poucheshere to make this process easier. To get a carbonated finished water kefir, bottling the finished kefir in a tightly-sealed bottle is usually necessary.
Q. My Water Kefir Grains Aren't Multiplying. What Can I Do?
A. It's a common misconception that water kefir grains that aren't multiplying are not working. Water kefir grains are known to multiply, but at times they are reluctant to do so. Even if they do not multiply, with proper care, water kefir grains can be used indefinitely to brew water kefir.
FAQs
It's a common misconception that water kefir grains that aren't multiplying are not working. Water kefir grains are known to multiply, but at times they are reluctant to do so. Even if they do not multiply, with proper care, water kefir grains can be used indefinitely to brew water kefir.
What to do when kefir grains multiply? ›
We recommend using ¼ cup sugar per quart of water when making water kefir. Only 3-4 tablespoons water kefir grains are required to culture 1-2 quarts of sugar water. As the grains grow and multiply, remove excess grains to keep the ratio balanced.
How do I know if my kefir grains are working? ›
Taste: After the 48-hour culturing process, the finished kefir should be less sweet than the sugar water you started with. Please note: finished kefir will still be fairly sweet as it does still contain fructose which is naturally very sweet. But it should be at least a bit less sweet than the original sugar water.
Why aren't my water kefir grains multiplying? ›
There may be several reasons why the grains are not multiplying: Too long and irregular fermentations. Stored too many times in the fridge. Fermentation temperature too high or too low.
Why are my new kefir grains not working? ›
There are many possible reasons kefir grains aren't growing. The temperature may be too low and this can slow down the fermentation and the growth of grains. Also when you over-ferment the kefir too many times in a row this can affect the growth of the grains too.
How quickly do kefir grains multiply? ›
Kefir grains are living organisms, and will gradually grow (not in all milk alternatives, though). When they've doubled in size, which might take two or three weeks with daily making, take out half of them and give them to a friend, or freeze them.
Will kefir grains multiply? ›
Water kefir grains are known to multiply, but at times they are reluctant to do so. Even if they do not multiply, with proper care, water kefir grains can be used indefinitely to brew water kefir.
How long does it take to double kefir grains? ›
Kefir grains will double in size every two weeks or so, so make sure to add more milk to maintain the 1:1 ratio. If you have too many grains, give some to a friend or mix them into a smoothie.
Should you stir kefir while it is fermenting? ›
This helps redistribute fresh milk to the grains (which float near the top). Jostling the jar or stirring the kefir a couple times before its done fermenting is helpful. However, it is not necessary, and there is no need to worry if you cannot get around to it. Should I put a lid on Kefir?
How do I get my milk kefir grains to multiply? ›
9 Ways to Grow Milk Kefir Grains faster
- Use less grains or use more milk. ...
- Make small batches. ...
- Use wider jars or containers. ...
- Stir at least once or twice per ferment. ...
- Make sure the temperature is optimal. ...
- Add whey protein isolate to the ferment. ...
- Use higher quality milk. ...
- Try the continuous ferment method.
To know if your water kefir grains are dead, use them to ferment a new batch and repeat this cycle at least 4 times. If the grains are dead, the water will remain sweet, and there wouldn't be a sign of fermentation. Another way to know is the appearance of mold on the surface.
How to wake up kefir grains? ›
Steps
- Pour the entire contents of the sachet of milk kefir grains into the jar.
- Add ½ cup of milk (120 ml).
- Mix well (with a spoon or by shaking the jar with a lid).
- Cover with a cloth or lid and leave at room temperature.
- After 24 hours, filter through a sieve and discard the milk.
If you use too much milk, the milk can go off before the kefir grains have a chance to ferment it though, so be sure to understand how much it can do, and gradually increase from there. To get lots of kefir quickly with just a few grains simply keep adding milk without straining.
When should you throw out kefir grains? ›
Toss any yellow, brown, crumbly grains that don't seem to revive after 12 weeks. How long does it take for dried or live shipped kefir grains to balance? This can take anywhere from a couple days to a week.
How many times can you use the same kefir grains? ›
Strain out the grains so you can use them in another batch, and the kefir is ready to drink. Oh, that's another thing! As long as they stay healthy, you can reuse kefir grains indefinitely to make batch after batch of kefir.
How do you stop kefir from growing? ›
5 methods to slow down milk kefir production
- Method 1 - Use 1 cup of milk or less each day.
- Method 2 - Ferment for 48 or 72 hours.
- Method 3 - Ferment for about 2-3 weeks and then rest grains the fridge for a week.
- Method 4 - Ferment for 2-3 days and then take a break for a few days.
Never Rinse Them in Water. I get so many emails from people who, in an attempt to help their kefir grains, will rinse them in cool water. You should NEVER, EVER, EVER do this. It damages them and rinses off the protective bacteria that make them thrive.
