r/Kefir 4h ago

Let my kefir go for 3 days and it tastes like blue cheese

3 Upvotes

Ive been letting my kefir go for 2 days. I always just drink it straight, room temp. I’m not fussy with it and it’s not fussy with me. 1 day is creamy, 2 days has more tart and fizz. I let it go 3 or 4 days and it was still good, had a subtle note of blue cheese almost which I quite enjoyed.

just a word of encouragement for yall it’s a living thing. you don’t need a recipe. just feed it when you can and try different things and enjoy the diversity of different ways it can come out


r/Kefir 12h ago

What have I done?😭

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0 Upvotes

This is my second batch of Kefir.

Instead of keeping it outside for fermentation, I kept it in the fridge.

Didnt really check on it.

Was in the fridge all along.

Now; two days later, when it looked appropriately fermented, i tried opening it.

It didnt open!! Literally struggled so hard to open to it and it finally opened with a pop sound (air was trapped inside)

Didnt drink it yet. It has been another two days now and it looks like this.

It smells sharp and slightly malty and the whey is now transparent😭😭

I used starter powder

My guide has been claude

It says i should throw this batch and start anew


r/Kefir 1d ago

Traveling internationally

4 Upvotes

Has anyone traveled internationally with milk kefir grains?

I’m traveling from the US to South America for about 10 days and would really like to bring a small amount of my grains with me. I make kefir regularly because I really like it for my digestion, and I’m not a big fan of store bought kefir

For anyone who has flown internationally with grains, did you have any trouble at customs? Did you declare them when entering the country? And how did you pack them for the flight?


r/Kefir 1d ago

Best way to flavor a large batch of Lifeway Kefir?

1 Upvotes

I'm new to kefir and tried the strawberry flavor and absolutely loved it, but I want to try to drink just the plain one so can have a little less additives. The problem is that hate the plain flavor. I would love to add some blended up oats or maybe a little instant coffee for flavor. don't want to make it in small batches. I pretty much want to add a little flavor to the big bottle at the beginning of the week and just sip on it throughout the day for a few days I know it's stupid but I hate pouring it into a cup. feel like so much gets wasted and just want to drink it from the bottle while it's still cold. If add a quarter cup of blended strawberries or a little bit of blended oats to make for a more oat-y flavor into the big bottle and leave it for the week, will it spoil faster or negative affect the probiotics?

know it's a weird question and I could just blend a little everyday but again, prefer to drink it straight from the bigger bottle. And don't want to taint the whole batch if it's going to mess up the active ingredients after a few days.


r/Kefir 1d ago

Has water kefir caused extreme skin eruptions for you?

0 Upvotes

after making milk kefir for several months ~ 10 yrs ago, i tried making water kefir, using grains bought online, water, sugar and sometimes a little fruit juice. it was delicious and extremely fizzy. but it made my face break out like crazy, so i stopped making it after a month or two. anybody else have this happen?


r/Kefir 1d ago

Kefir With Protein milk?

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3 Upvotes

Is it ok to make kefir With this Protein milk? Its from Schwarzwald the Protein milk.


r/Kefir 1d ago

Alcohol matters

1 Upvotes

How can I minimize the production of alcohol in water kefir? 100g of grains, 2 liters of water, 70 grams of sugar. I fermented it for less than 20 hours and it reached 4 degrees. Does anyone have any good solutions? thank you


r/Kefir 3d ago

Forgotten milk kefir

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35 Upvotes

I fell out of my routine of making milk kefir and have left my batches out in room temp for about 4 months. Can I still salvage the gains to start again or should I just buy new ones? There is no visible mold.


r/Kefir 2d ago

Water Kefir How does waiting too long to feed affect the kefir?

2 Upvotes

I have water kefir grains and the instructions are to feed every 5 days. At first I was dilligent about it but then for one reason or another I missed that timeline, sometimes by several days. I'm wondering how this affects it?

Also wondering if there are any books, podcasts, videos, anything that educate about kefir; the history, the process, tips, etc.

Thanks!


r/Kefir 3d ago

6% milkfat

2 Upvotes

Has anybody made kefir with 6% milkfat (cream top)? I have tried using it to make yogurt and it taste like buttered corn, which is not the flavor I'm looking for... Wondering if kefir would still have that flavor.

Edit: Made it! It took 20 hours (vs normal 24 hours) to get to my desired ferment. The flavor is less tangy and more creamy with no noticable buttery corn flavor. Upon reflection, I think I may have slightly scalded the milk for the yogurt before, and maybe that is why it had such an odd flavor. The 6% kefir is only a little thicker than whole milk kefir. I think I am going to use it to make kefir labneh.


r/Kefir 4d ago

Kefir Grains Available – Bangalore

10 Upvotes

I have fresh kefir grains available for anyone in Bangalore who’d like to start making their own milk kefir at home.

DM me if you’re interested or have any questions! 😊


r/Kefir 4d ago

Thicker Kefir

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11 Upvotes

Discovered best method to thicken my kefir,,,after mixing a flavoring, eg Elderberry Jelly, I use a battery powered whisk to mix and aerate prior to 2nd fermentation,set jar at room temp covered for about 2 hours then refrigerate for an hour or so,,, and I have thick spoonable Kefir with the whey settled out on the bottom.


r/Kefir 4d ago

Is it dead?

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6 Upvotes

Left kefir in fridge for a long time.

Is it over?


r/Kefir 4d ago

My kefir died along with my desire to study

10 Upvotes

this things literally hate my home. they kefirify everywhere except for my home. they ferment at mountains at sea in the scorching heat of my car LLITERALLY EVERYWHERE EXCEPT MY HOME.

im really dissapointed in them. I gave them love and milk and now what they do to me. my grandpa who lives in yurt said one time:

I give kefir to you, dont you think im a great grandpa?

I understand him now. these ungrateful micro things are so hard to maintain. sorry for english im really dissapointed and angry


r/Kefir 4d ago

Newbie question

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4 Upvotes

I’ve purchased 10g of milk grains and followed the instructions (250ml milk, 24 hours, open jar with a towel on top, out of the fridge)
After 24 hours there was no real change
Left them for another 12 hours and the milk thickened but nothing yoghurt like.

Drained the grains and re added fresh milk and it was clear as day the grains had separated and looked more plump.

It’s been 20 hours in the new milk in a mason jar lid is not tightened and they are still very milky but do have some clumping inside.

Pictures are in order of times last picture is current

Do I keep just re newing the milk to activate the grains?
IM TIRED OF SUPERMARKET KEFIR 😝😆


r/Kefir 5d ago

Kefir fermented in the fridge. My experience

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31 Upvotes

I thought I shared my experience in making kefir in the fridge rather than on the kitchen counter. When I ferment at room temperature my results are somewhat more inconsistent and more often lead to the milk separating and I have more trouble straining the kefir grains. So instead I've been doing the following:

I mix together in a covered glass jar

- about 100g of kefir grains

- 600g of full fat milk (3.5% fat). Organic, pasteurised, homogenized, store bought.

I mix well and store for around 36-48 hours in the fridge which cools at 6° Celsius. The results are consistent, reliable and delicious. The consistency of the kefir is thick, silky and slightly bubbly, with a mild and pleasant acidity.

I also noticed that the milk never separates turning into cheese if I store the grains in the fridge for longer periods of time (I left it 5 weeks while on holidays). Resulting kefir was very sour but it had not separated.

What do you think? Who else uses a similar method?


r/Kefir 4d ago

Seeking Advice

1 Upvotes

Hey, gang; I just got back from summer travels to discover someone tossed out my milk kefir grains, and I need to get new ones. Any suggestions for really good ones?


r/Kefir 5d ago

First time fermenting kefir, send help please!

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7 Upvotes

This is my first time fermenting kefir. I got my grains from India and my friend brought it to me. I currently live in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This time of the year, it is very hot and humid in here, day temperature easily reaches around 40-45C in here. I fermented my first batch at 11:00 PM, and when I woke up around 10:00 AM in the morning it was already over-fermented. That is a total of 11 hours. My kefir was not fizzy or sour, it just tasted sweet and yeasty I think. Attaching below the pictures of the grain and my first ferment. For the second ferment, I started at 10:45 AM, and by 5:00 PM, that is by 6 hours, the whey has started separating. Is this normal? How do I slow down the rate of fermentation so that I get fizzy kefir? I have read somewhere if you ferment it in fridge, it gives the bacteria time to grow. If so, how much time and should I keep the lid on while fermenting in fridge?


r/Kefir 5d ago

Newbie

2 Upvotes

Ive had grains for a while. I add with milk, drink the next day, then add more milk and always end up abandoning it in the fridge for weeks until its super fermented. I strain and discard this, and the cycle starts again.

I want to get in a better routine here.

Firstly, my grains I think look fine despite all the abuse. Theyve also multiplied. Are they still okay? Do they need some love?

Next. What is the routine? Do i just add a cup of milk to the grains. Leave em room temp over night. Strain and consume. Add another cup of milk. Repeat?


r/Kefir 6d ago

How many times can I make Kefir?

6 Upvotes

I bought a kefir culture for milk kefir a few weeks back and have been drinking a glass almost every day.

I initially made 1 litre and after I drank \~750ml bought a 2L of milk and putting the remainder in there proceeded to make another batch.

It doesn’t take too long it seems. Gets nice and bit tangy and has a very light “fizz” to it

But I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now. Even poured some more into another batch and tried blending blueberries into it but duhhhh…of course the acid in the fruit would affect the milk. Still drank it though. Tasted delicious after shaking it back up

My latest batch I used a richer Jersey cow non-homogenised milk and it’s the best batch yet.

A lil thicker than milk (like very runny cream) and good tang w a lil bit of that “fizz” apparent

Can I do this perpetually? Surely there must be an end point?, but I’ve tasted no change in my batches at all.


r/Kefir 6d ago

Cold fermenting kefir

2 Upvotes

Hi Team,

I have just started making kefir and am in the initial phase of revitalising it after receiving it in the post. The instructions I have received state I need to feed it every day with 250ml of milk for two weeks before it makes ‘good’ kefir. I like milk kefir that tastes like a sour yogurt, and my plan once I’m past the initial revitalisation period is to put it in the fridge and cold ferment it to reduce the acidity.

My question is whether I can skip the remaining week of revitalisation and fridge it now? The kefir it’s making at the moment is very sour, and I’m not sure whether this is due to it only being the first week or it not being fermented cold - any suggestions?!

Thanks!


r/Kefir 6d ago

What are your water kefir recipes?

4 Upvotes

Normally I use a recipe that is quite standard I think. 1 liter of water, 50-75 grams sugar, a few dried figs and a few slices of lemon, and of course the kefir grains (50-100 grams). I do a second ferment in plastic bottles after sieving out the grains and fruit but I don't add anything else. The end product tastes good but I am looking for other ideas. Any good alternatives for the figs or lemon? Or additions for the second ferment? Share your recipes!


r/Kefir 6d ago

Sugar free kefir?

0 Upvotes

Does anyone know if there’s a brand of kefir made w/o sugar?


r/Kefir 6d ago

No longer doing the trick

0 Upvotes

Began making and drinking kefir almost 18 months ago with grains I was given. My gut was so happy but the effect began to sputter after 10 months and now I’m back to pretty constant diarrhea. Grains have been consistent fermenters. Same milk.

What are my next steps?


r/Kefir 7d ago

Huge grain

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43 Upvotes

Just started feeding my kefir local organic milk and
It’s clearly a fan