Making kefir

tomswife · 02-13-2010, 06:04 PM

Hi Guys,
I'm interested in making kefir. Mainly because the closest place to buy kefir around here is about 70 miles away. Anyway I was reading up on it and it said to use grains? A little confused because I'm pretty sure no one sells anything like that around here so if I have trouble finding the right grains I might as well travel the 70 miles and just buy it. Then there was a website that said you can use store bought kefir as a starter. Is that ok?

BikerAng · 02-14-2010, 10:02 AM

I've looked for the grains in the store too, but only ever found the powder (if you have a co-op they usually keep the powder starter in the fridge by the milk and fresh yeast). I'm not 100% sure about using store bought kefir as a starter, it seems like it would work because the cultures are in the kefir and it's kind of like making yogurt. I know with the grains you can just use and use and use and they multiply, but if you use the powder you have to use a new packet every time. I'm actually curious about this too.

Faia · 02-14-2010, 02:57 PM

From what I have read, store-bought kefir will not form kefir grains if used as a starter. There are a number of places that will sell (non-dried) kefir grains, I forget where we got ours.

DelhiBelli · 02-14-2010, 09:30 PM

Store bought kefir and powdered kefir starters can be used to make kefir. You have to retain a little from each batch to make the next batch. Supposedly you can do this up to 7 times and then the kefir starter loses it's potency. If this is the way you want to go, I'd get the powdered starter over the store bought. They put a lot of extra stuff in the store bought stuff. Store bought kefir and powdered starter will never produce grains.

You can buy dried grains online at http://culturesforhealth.com/splash.php as well as the powdered starter. The problem with dried grains is that they need to get acclimated to their environment so you might waste 2+ weeks worth of milk before you get an ok tasting kefir. There are suppliers of wet grains that can ship you by FEDEX in 3 or less days. The grains get to you in a little milk and they still will need to get acclimated but will take less time.

The store bought kefir and powdered starter kefir tastes a lot different from kefir made with grains. It's much more sour, but much more potent.

If you need the name of a supplier, let me know. Hope this helps!

icebear · 02-14-2010, 10:12 PM

i got my grains from marylin kefirlady, online. i use commercial milk, Oakhurst brand. the grains do very well in it, they must not pasteurize the dickens out of the milk and they claim to use no AGH, but the strain that Kefirlady sells are very resilient, i have neglected mine at times and they still keep growing.

if you buy grains, you don't ever have to buy them again, they will multiply and you can then share them around to friends who would like to try. mine double about every 6 weeks when i treat them right. extra grains can also be eaten. they can also be frozen for a few months as a backup supply in case you lose your main batch.

icebear · 02-26-2010, 06:00 AM

i have an abundance of kefir grains.... not sure what the board rules are about sharing it tho.

anulu · 03-08-2010, 12:48 PM

I love kefir.

tamari · 03-08-2010, 02:20 PM

I just recently got some free grains through an ad on my local craigslist. I just searched "kefir" on the main page search box, and there were a few ads (only one was free, though). They haven't grown enough to split them up yet, otherwise I'd offer some up to you guys!

02-13-2010, 06:04 PM	#1
tomswife Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Elgin, Oregon Posts: 1,774 Gallery: tomswife Stats: 251/240/120 WOE: Atkins Start Date: June 2008	Making kefir Hi Guys, I'm interested in making kefir. Mainly because the closest place to buy kefir around here is about 70 miles away. Anyway I was reading up on it and it said to use grains? A little confused because I'm pretty sure no one sells anything like that around here so if I have trouble finding the right grains I might as well travel the 70 miles and just buy it. Then there was a website that said you can use store bought kefir as a starter. Is that ok?

02-14-2010, 10:12 PM	#5
icebear Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Maine Posts: 13,016 Gallery: icebear Stats: 280/243/151 (5'5" tall) last ^D 7-15-10 WOE: Atkins' Returning after major life disruptions Start Date: Feb 9,2010	i got my grains from marylin kefirlady, online. i use commercial milk, Oakhurst brand. the grains do very well in it, they must not pasteurize the dickens out of the milk and they claim to use no AGH, but the strain that Kefirlady sells are very resilient, i have neglected mine at times and they still keep growing. if you buy grains, you don't ever have to buy them again, they will multiply and you can then share them around to friends who would like to try. mine double about every 6 weeks when i treat them right. extra grains can also be eaten. they can also be frozen for a few months as a backup supply in case you lose your main batch. __________________ Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. 5-24-10 Still going, the digital scale croaked (after 8 years of duty) so i have no idea how much progress i have made. Too busy to use ******, but according to family and wardrobe, i am slowly but steadily progressing toward my goal! 7-15-10. Got to use the scale in the building where hubby works, as of 2 weeks ago i weighed 248, Yay!

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02-14-2010, 10:02 AM	#2
BikerAng Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Duvall, WA Posts: 2,592 Gallery: BikerAng Stats: 195/167/155 5'9" WOE: Atkins - organic & humanely raised Start Date: Feb 2007	I've looked for the grains in the store too, but only ever found the powder (if you have a co-op they usually keep the powder starter in the fridge by the milk and fresh yeast). I'm not 100% sure about using store bought kefir as a starter, it seems like it would work because the cultures are in the kefir and it's kind of like making yogurt. I know with the grains you can just use and use and use and they multiply, but if you use the powder you have to use a new packet every time. I'm actually curious about this too.

02-14-2010, 02:57 PM	#3
Faia Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Paragon City Posts: 739 Gallery: Faia WOE: LC/Avoid Frankenfoods Start Date: March 2009	From what I have read, store-bought kefir will not form kefir grains if used as a starter. There are a number of places that will sell (non-dried) kefir grains, I forget where we got ours.

02-14-2010, 09:30 PM	#4
DelhiBelli Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The land of the not quite right. Posts: 123 Gallery: DelhiBelli Stats: maintaining at my current size WOE: High Fat/ Mod Protein/ Low Carb Start Date: September 2009	Store bought kefir and powdered kefir starters can be used to make kefir. You have to retain a little from each batch to make the next batch. Supposedly you can do this up to 7 times and then the kefir starter loses it's potency. If this is the way you want to go, I'd get the powdered starter over the store bought. They put a lot of extra stuff in the store bought stuff. Store bought kefir and powdered starter will never produce grains. You can buy dried grains online at http://culturesforhealth.com/splash.php as well as the powdered starter. The problem with dried grains is that they need to get acclimated to their environment so you might waste 2+ weeks worth of milk before you get an ok tasting kefir. There are suppliers of wet grains that can ship you by FEDEX in 3 or less days. The grains get to you in a little milk and they still will need to get acclimated but will take less time. The store bought kefir and powdered starter kefir tastes a lot different from kefir made with grains. It's much more sour, but much more potent. If you need the name of a supplier, let me know. Hope this helps!

02-26-2010, 06:00 AM	#6
icebear Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Maine Posts: 13,016 Gallery: icebear Stats: 280/243/151 (5'5" tall) last ^D 7-15-10 WOE: Atkins' Returning after major life disruptions Start Date: Feb 9,2010	i have an abundance of kefir grains.... not sure what the board rules are about sharing it tho.

03-08-2010, 12:48 PM	#7
anulu Junior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 46 Gallery: anulu	I love kefir.

03-08-2010, 02:20 PM	#8
tamari Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: West Philly Posts: 1,986 Gallery: tamari WOE: no guilt allowed	I just recently got some free grains through an ad on my local craigslist. I just searched "kefir" on the main page search box, and there were a few ads (only one was free, though). They haven't grown enough to split them up yet, otherwise I'd offer some up to you guys!