r/Kefir May 09 '25

Need/have kefir grains

20 Upvotes

Comment here, if you want to share grains with other users.
Include:
1. "Need grains" or "Have grains"
2. "Milk" or "Water"
3. "Will meet" and/or "Will mail"
4. Location (at least country)
*** Do not post your address, in the sub **\*

Also, feel free to list any grains sources, preferably with a brief review.


r/Kefir Feb 20 '20

Information Kefir Subreddit FAQ and sundries

103 Upvotes

Kefir Subreddit FAQ and sundries

  1. Rules
  2. FAQ
  3. Basic Recipe

1. Rules

Our rules are very simple:

  1. Please keep all discussions civil and respectful.

  2. You are welcome to ask sourcing questions.

  3. Please flair your posts where appropriate.

2. Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is milk (and water) kefir? Milk kefir is a fermented milk drink, similar to a drinkable yogurt. Water kefir is made by combining sugar water with water kefir grains, which are a little different in their overall microbial composition than milk kefir grains, so they aren't necessarily interchangeable.

  2. What are kefir grains? Kefir grains are squishy like gummy candy and look somewhat like cauliflower. They are an aggregation of bacteria and yeast held together by polysaccharides. By placing about 1-2 tablespoon of grains in 2-4 cups of fresh whole milk and waiting 24 hours, the grains go to work eating the lactose and “fermenting” the milk and changing it into kefir.

  3. Can I drink kefir if I'm lactose intolerant? People who are lactose intolerant can often consume kefir with no problems. The reason is because the grains eat the lactose (milk sugar) in the milk (creating glucose and galactose, and then ethanol and carbon dioxide), removing the lactose which gives some people problems. They typically do not break down 100% of the lactose though, so some people may still have issues even though there is usually very little left, so if you are unsure how well you tolerate kefir it's best to start with a small taste.

  4. Are kefir grains reusable? Kefir grains are re-usable and even grow and spawn off smaller grains which themselves grow, creating a theoretically infinite supply, as long as you keep them fed. Remember, though, they are a living organism (or at least a symbiotic colony of organisms), and must be fed and treated gently. You may soon have more grains than you even want (too many grains in a batch will ferment the milk too quickly).

  5. Is kefir a probiotic? Yes, probiotics are the live microorganisms that may provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. The benefits of these good bacteria may include supporting the immune system and a healthy digestive tract.

  6. What do I do with the extra grains? You have a few options. Some eat them, either plain like gummies, or blend them into a kefir batch and drink them that way (a very healthy way to get more of that good bacteria and yeast into your microbiome). Another option is to give away grains to friends. Kefir grains will last for a while if frozen in a bag with some milk (think suspended animation), and they can be shipped as long as it's only a few days.

  7. How do I start making my own? When you receive new grains they may have been stored for a while and may need to re-balance (the ratios of organisms may be a bit off at first). We recommend making a few batches before consuming your homemade kefir (certainly not a requirement but it may take a few batches before you get the best product consistency and balance of organisms). Also, if your body is unused to kefir, we recommend you ease into consuming it over a week or so instead of drinking a large amount the first time. While kefir is generally a safe product to consume, you never know how your grains were stored before they got to you and if they could have an imbalance of the good organisms (or even somehow become contaminated) and may need to adjust over a few batches to get the "perfect product." If you see any odd colors (pink, yellow, black) your grains may be contaminated and should be replaced.

  8. My kefir doesn't look like the kefir from the store, why is this? Not all kefir looks the same (and most store-bought products have been processed so will rarely look like homemade kefir). Some products may be smooth, and some may be clumpy. This can be a based on both the grains as well as the method and time of fermentation, particularly if you let the fermentation go for a while and the whey completely separates from the solids. It's all good, though, and if you don't like clumps or it completely separates you can always give it a good stir once you've removed the grains (or use an immersion blender or the like to make a really smooth product). I even purposefully let the ferment go a long time and then strain the product to make a cheese similar to cream cheese and it's great.

3. Recipe for typical milk-based kefir (makes 2 cups)

What you need:

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk Kefir-Grains.
  • 3 to 4-cup clean glass jar with lid.
  • Nylon (preferred) or stainless steel mesh strainer and spoon.
  • Wide bowl or jar in which to strain kefir, and a clean sealable bottle to store the kefir.
  • 2 cups fresh milk (there is some debate about using raw milk vs pasteurized milk from the store. Both work perfectly fine).

Instructions:

  • Place the kefir grains in a clean glass bowl or jar that is able to be covered.
  • Gently add the milk to the bowl and gently agitate (do not shake, stir with the spoon if necessary).
  • Do not fill the jar more than 3/4 of the way full.
  • Cover the bowl/jar with cheesecloth (or a lid with an airlock if preferred) and allow to rest at room temperature for 24 hours.
  • If a closed lid is added the kefir can become slightly effervescent, which some people enjoy.
  • The kefir may rest longer than 24 hours, but it will become thicker and more sour.
  • Pour contents into a strainer and strain the kefir into a suitable container to separate the kefir grains from the liquid-kefir.
  • Wash the fermenting jar and reuse the kefir grains for a new batch by repeating the whole process.
  • The remaining liquid is your kefir and it can be consumed right away, or even refrigerated and kept for weeks and consumed later.

N.B.

  • Another option is to ripen liquid kefir at room temperature for a day or more, preferably under airlock. 1 to 2 days storage in the fridge or ripening at room temperature will improve the flavor and increases nutritional value. Vitamins B6, B 3 and B9 [folic acid] increase during storage, due to bio-synthesis of these vitamins mostly by the yeasts in kefir grains.

  • We have also had success with refrigerating the kefir while it is fermenting with the grains, turning a 24-hour turnover into a 5-7 day turnover, if you don't drink kefir daily.

  • To prevent damaging your kefir grains, never add kefir grains to a hot jar straight after washing the jar with hot water.


r/Kefir 14h ago

Found a neat little kefir calculator

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letsmakekefir.com
6 Upvotes

Curious has anyone tried these recipes too?


r/Kefir 1d ago

Começo do meu kifir

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4 Upvotes

Fiz a terceira troca de água ontem. Muito feliz por ter conseguido acertar dessa vez. Já é o quarto que eu compro kk três morreram. Mais estamos na luta.


r/Kefir 1d ago

Over fermented

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9 Upvotes

I accidentally left this out while gone for the weekend. The surface has a lumpy skin on it and it smells like sourdough & yeast. I don’t want to eat it but if i strain it do you think the grains would be okay to use?


r/Kefir 2d ago

My dad created a monster

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33 Upvotes

Look at this ginormous "grain" my dad grew. 😳

It's all one piece and shaped like a pocket.


r/Kefir 2d ago

Wanting to start but dont know how.

7 Upvotes

Hey I'm wanting to make my own kefir but no idea how you make it. And how to store the grains to save them. How to reuse them how long they last. And how to keep them alive etc.


r/Kefir 2d ago

Kefir making me gassy?

2 Upvotes

hello! kefir newbie here. i’ve been making my own milk kefir for a couple weeks and have been drinking one tablespoon a day. i have a history of gastritis and a generally sensitive stomach, and am hoping the kefir helps my symptoms!

the kefir has been making me immediately and noticeably gassy. i drink it about half an hour to an hour after dinner, and the effects are very clear: i become quickly bloated and gassy for the rest of the night. this happens like ten minutes after the kefir goes down and does not happen when i don’t drink it. i don’t mind this if it’s a normal reaction, but it is making me hesitant to increase the amount i’m drinking (i was originally planning to double the serving each week) because i don’t want the symptoms to worsen to the point where they are uncomfortable. i am lactose intolerant and don’t consume much dairy in my daily life but i have been adding lactase powder to the kefir after fermentation and before drinking, so i don’t think it’s that.

has anyone else had this experience when starting out with kefir? is this just a normal adjustment period, or a sign of something else? thanks in advance!


r/Kefir 3d ago

Kefir與減肥

6 Upvotes

近日嘗試water kefir 及milk kefir,本身BMI過高,有胰島素抗阻及腎上腺偏高,飲食清淡,有間中做運動,但就是一直瘦不下來,想知有人成功用kefir 減重嗎?


r/Kefir 4d ago

Kefir to clean pipes!!

12 Upvotes

So i got alot of downvotes last week for daring to speculate topical uses for kefir ...lol turns out i was RIGHT

Now im really gonna anger the kefir "purists" and looking forward to your downvotes and naysaying lol

I am thinking of trying out excess kefir whey in my pipes!!!

There are already a few enzyme/bacterial pipe cleaning products (like bio-clean).....but i cant see why kefir wouldn't work

I would put kefir whey in my plastic bucket with some non chlorinated water....a tablespoon of sugar and maybe a pinch of flour....and to keep the bacterias extra happy i would use a splash of milk or a few spoons milk powder .....wake the lil bastages up and keep em feeding/reproducing

Then before bed pouring the bucket of live bacteria down.....i dunno ....lets just say my kitchen sink and let them get to work on table scraps stuck to sides of disposal and sides of pipes and maybe even p-trap and refrain from bleach and disinfectants and vinegar down the drain

Maybe repeat this process for 5 days and then do it once a month for a night

This is NOT to unclog drains mind you, unless you have alot of patience...but long game pipe maintenance...especially if you have roots or or organic material that needs to be dissolved

I used bio-clean with great results for years.....hell i wonder if i could have bioclean fermenting in a bucket side by side with kefir whey and pour kefir down ....wake up a few hours later and pour bioclean down (or would they compete?)

Anyways.....thought?

And im willing to try soon...(for science)


r/Kefir 4d ago

Water kefir grains?

2 Upvotes

anyone know a place in ad or online shops selling?


r/Kefir 4d ago

My grains crumble to nothing

8 Upvotes

Hi All,

I have been making milk kefir for about a year or so. I have used 3 or 4 different grain sources (1 on amazon, the rest from etsy). They all work well at first, but they seem to ferment faster and faster over time with the same grain/milk ratio, causing me to reduce the grain size to literally the size of a grain of rice in order for 2 cups of milk to ferment in 12 hours. Eventually even this crumbles to nothing and I can no longer find it in the strainer/original container, and I'm left doing a backslop ferment. I suspect that when the grain is a certain size, the backslop around the grain is having more of an impact than the grain itself. The backslop still makes a drinkable fermented drink, but i'm not sure it's actually kefir at that point. The grain consistency usually starts rubbery and hard to break apart, but after a few weeks becomes very weak and brittle.

What I've tried:

Four different types of milk (always non-ultra pasteurized) from two different stores. Whole milk and skim. Regular and A2.

Metal strainer and no strainer (just scooping out the grain on top because it floats).

I never rinse the grains with water.

I ferment at 71F.

I always ferment in clean, dry mason jars. I cover the jar with an unbleached coffee filter and metal ring lid to seal it down.

I have tried both 24 hour ferments and 2x12 hour.

I have tried waiting until the whey separates and also considering it finished as soon as it starts to thicken.

All of these scenarios end up the same.

Appreciate any advice you all can offer. Thank you


r/Kefir 4d ago

Forgotten WK

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4 Upvotes

I was fermenting a tea soda and when I opened our cabinet to ferment this further I saw this still bubbling. I don't know for how long it was sitting there at the back 😁.

Looks ok right?


r/Kefir 5d ago

What's with the woo on this sub?

50 Upvotes

"Kefir cured X and opened my third eye."

C'mon now. Probiotics are good for you in a general sense. But I feel the effect size of our favorite fermented milk drink is wildy overstated, unless you're recovering from say an intense course of IV antibiotics or crippling alcoholism.


r/Kefir 5d ago

Jun Kombucha Culture

0 Upvotes

I'm a newbie who just started fermenting some water kefir, vegetables and a regular kombucha culture. Looking for a Jun Kombucha to up my game!


r/Kefir 6d ago

Starting slow but still issues?

5 Upvotes

Hi all

I started on Goats Kefir on Monday after about 25 years of IBS - D issues

I have had a couple of days now of upset stomach - I've started slow taking in 1 tbsp only first thing.

Is this normal? Should I continue? I usually tolerate goats milk ok but do have sensitivity to cows milk.

Thanks


r/Kefir 6d ago

New kefir grains are weird

2 Upvotes

The new grains I got made a fizzy drink and were slimy when taken out of the container. After 24+ hours the milk didn’t get thick, there was some whey separation but it was very loose. Any tips?


r/Kefir 6d ago

¿Es normal en el kefir de agua?

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2 Upvotes

Hola, me regalaron unos nódulos de kefir de agua y quería saber si es normal que el líquido que nos tomamos tenga sabor a cerveza?

Yo pensaba que era ácido más como el yogur o como vinagre. No hay una forma de hacer que produzcan más ácido láctico? Porque sinceramente no me gusta el sabor del alcohol que tiene.


r/Kefir 8d ago

On Coconut Kefir

48 Upvotes

Not to fear monger, but to everyone on this sub who makes coconut kefir, I think you should exercise extreme caution.

Fermented coconut products are extremely dangerous because of the bacteria Burkholderia gladioli which can cause death when they produce bongkrekic acid. Coconut tempeh is actually banned in Indonesia because of how many incidents there were with fatal food poisoning, because people were making it at home. PH has to be kept very low in order to safely make fermented coconut products. I'm no expert btw, just a nosey concerned person. From my limited understanding it might actually be safer to use soy milk as a vegan kefir alternative.

Anyway, all the best folks, hope this helps someone.


r/Kefir 7d ago

I lost my kefir today...

5 Upvotes

It was wonderful for me and was my first kefir, and I feel like there is a huge void now. I thought i had done everything right, but i guess i wasnt worthy of him.

I let him ferment too long in the extreme heat of my city, ill miss him....


r/Kefir 8d ago

Fermentation temperature and time impact on texture

6 Upvotes

Hi,

I’m new to kefir making. Just wanted to ask has anyone figured out the best way to make creamy, slightly tangy kefir? Whenever I leave my kefir out to ferment, I find that when it just starts to thicken the milk looks slightly curdled and split and it’s not tangy, but if I leave it beyond that it completely splits and the kefir becomes too tangy for my liking because it feels like acid. It’s worth noting that I live in a hot country, but since the AC is almost always on, room temperature is generally around 23-25 and it doesn’t go beyond 30C.

A few weeks ago, I strained some grains in a jar with a cup of milk and put it in the fridge to give to my friend, but wasn’t able to give them so the jar has just been hanging out in my fridge. When I took it out today, it was really really creamy, like yogurt, and the texture was very pleasant. It wasn’t very tangy, and it was the first time I was able to drink it without completely hating it.

The ratio I currently use is 1tbsp of grains to 1cup of full fat milk.

Does anyone know how I can achieve this nicer thicker texture without the 4 week wait?

Also side note, do people genuinely enjoy the taste of kefir? Because I honestly don’t like it😭


r/Kefir 8d ago

My mom found this in her kefir. Any ideas what it is?

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2 Upvotes

My mom has been making kefir for probably a few years now and this is the first time she's seen something like this. She says it's hard like a little stone. Has anyone seen this before?


r/Kefir 8d ago

Beginner Advice

9 Upvotes

I just purchased milk kefir grains for the first time. They should be here no later than need week. I was drinking store bought for almost a month but I want to make my own now. I’d love some advice for a beginner on making my own kefir.

Milk, tools, jars, what and what not to do. The good, bad, and the ugly on advice.

Thank you!


r/Kefir 8d ago

about to start, I have a questions with tools

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5 Upvotes

Are these tool enough to start homemade kefir journey?


r/Kefir 9d ago

Spider on kefir grains

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6 Upvotes

I found a very small spider attached to my milk kefir grains after finishing a batch.

1.5 L milk

Fermented about 5–6 days total (1.5 days at room temperature, then refrigerated)

I suspect the spider fell in on day 1.

The kefir fermented normally.

No mold, no unusual colors, and no foul smell.

The grains look white and healthy.

I've already discarded the kefir. My question is only about the grains.

Would you keep the grains, rinse them, discard a few batches, or throw the grains away? I'm especially interested in advice from experienced kefir makers or anyone with fermentation or food safety knowledge. Photos attached.