KEFIR grains-Mind if we give them their own thread?

[pioneergirl]

I poked mine down today...its been 24hrs. I'm going to wait for "the smell" before I try it. I poked/gently stirred with the handle of a wooden spoon, and it seemed to cling to the wood. Oh I hope I'm doing this right!! :/

 

[TanksHill]

Ok so I need some help here. How fast do the grains grow? Is it possible to kill them? How much grains do you need to produce a good kefir?

I have been straining and using my kefir for 3 days I think. It thickens nicely and after 24 hrs has a nice flavor. I have a quart and a half in the fridge. I have made kefir cheese and I saved the whey. I even drank some with a bit of vanilla and Sun Crystals today. The kids loved it.

But

When I strain I only find tiniest little gold spec of grains. Actually less than what I started with. I scooped the speck with about a tablespoon of kefir into the new jar and started again.

So what did I do wrong??? Is my kefir happy still? Should I just keep going?

gina

 

[justusnak]

Hmmm, did you start with a powdered grain or something? Mine is like cauliflour, but squishy...and grows FAST!! About break mine in half....and I split it between the 3 dogs.( A piece about the size of a banty egg) THey love it! I wish I was closer, I would try to send some to ya. Just not sure how it would make the trip in this heat.

 

[TanksHill]

I got mine from Free, and I feel sooooooo bad. They were dehydrated. I wonder if I lost them while straining.

I will keep trying. I now have a really fine plastic mesh strainer. Perhaps that little gem will do the trick. It keeps setting up and kefir- ing.

Dace is close, I could probably get some live grains from her.

thanks, gina

 

[pioneergirl]

GINA! What in the world??? I got mine from Free too, and they are growing just fine. I strain mine through cheesecloth, and the ones I started with are probably twice as big. I found a new one today. I waited almost 36 hours for the first batch, and now get some every day. I swirl it around in the cheesecloth with my finger and can feel the small grain, but only found like 2. However, the big one has gotten bigger.

I hope yours gets bigger soon!!!

 

[TanksHill]

The first few days I changed the milk daily. I think the 3rd day I left it for more than a day. I was out of milk. The problem started when I thought I was ready to go. I switched to some really nice organic milk and then I don't know what happened. Like I said it seems like it's working and it taste good. But the grain-s seem-s tiny.

I don't know. Maybe it's just me.

 

[freemotion]

The dehydrated grains take a while to plump up and start growing....like weeks sometimes. You probably lost one, but if the tiny ones are kefir-ing the milk, keep going. They will grow! Just strain them very carefully.

I lost my grains more than once. That is why I now have some dried ones in the freezer! And I am building a network of people who will give me grains if I need them one day due to my own dingbatness.

 

[Dace]

Hey G!

Are you using ulta pasteurized milk by any chance? If not you may have accidentally consumed one of your grains. Keep at it, your little grain will grow.

I found that when I made the switch to raw milk, 2 weeks ago my grain has taken off! It had doubled in size! It is more expensive, but we have trimmed back on the frequency of our smoothies, so I figure I can afford it....oh the stories we tell ourselves to get what we want

I do have plenty....maybe we can meet up and I'll give it to you. Just let me know.

 

[TanksHill]

Thank's to both of you. I think I will just keep going. Like I said it seems to be doing it's thing.

Doing some reading on making kefir leban blue cheese. Going to try and find myself a bamboo steamer.

Keep you fingers crossed for me.

gina

 

[noobiechickenlady]

My kefir took off with the raw milk, too. I noticed absolutely no growth in the pasturized milk I was using. It was making kefir, just like the pictures I've seen, but the grain never got any bigger.

Once I started with the raw, it grew enough that I've been able to share with the friend who gave me a scoby.

I thought I had killed it once in the beginning, when I left it for something like 72 hours, but it was fine.