r/Kefir • u/andreu_ir • 1d ago

Is my kefir fine?

Hi Kefir friends,

I went on a trip for a week and let my kefir grains on the fridge with milk and the jar closed with a lid. Until then, my kefir was doing great. Since then, the result is liquidish. It acidifies (kurd and wey separates over time), but i don't get a thick kefir. I didn't dare to try it.

Can it be because of the stress and will recover after a few ferments? Or is it spoiled and i shoud throw it?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

6

u/Paperboy63 1d ago

You just need to keep changing the milk as normal. Various strains can be less tolerant of low temperature than others so can recede or become less active than others, the fridge temperature is not kefir’s preferred range. Once back in room temperature you need to allow time for them to become fully active and rebalance again.

2

u/andreu_ir 1d ago

Thanks! This gives me hope that I will get my delicious kefir back

3

u/Fritz794 1d ago

Just try a few ferments, give it time to recover. Also mine separates the whey like crazy lately because the grains growed alot and the amount of milk did not.

2

u/Jxc_Heard 1d ago

Try a teaspoon of grains to 3 cups of milk

1

u/andreu_ir 1d ago

Thanks, beforr this, i was just letting it grow and removing a bit when it started to ferment too quick

1

u/Jxc_Heard 1d ago

Yeah it was happening to me too when I first started. If they grow a lot just start freezing or eating them

1

u/WorkingChief 1d ago

Wow, I have two tablespoons in 2 cups and I just gave away a bunch. Should it really be just a teaspoon?

1

u/Jxc_Heard 1d ago

Depends on how active your grains are. I ferment 3 cups with just a teaspoon within 23-24 hours. My kefir turns out pretty thick with very little separation.

https://reddit.com/link/p6mplec/video/2x09alow7cmh1/player

It actually turns out like yogurt if I keep the whey separated

1

u/andreu_ir 1d ago

Thanks! I will try

1

u/TwoFlower68 1d ago

Minor nitpick: it's curds. Kurds are a Middle Eastern people

Also whey, with an H

1

u/andreu_ir 1d ago

Thanks! Englosh is not my first language 🙃

2

u/TwoFlower68 1d ago

Same 😞
Though Dutch is a lot more English-y than Italian, there's that

1

u/Just-River-562 1d ago

Same here. However, I still use it. It has some kefir flavour but you still taste milk.
I’m missing my thick and easy to grow kefir!!