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Kefir is a fermented milk drink that has become very popular over the last decade. The health benefits of kefir include improved digestion, immune system support, and even cancer prevention. Kefir is also known for its probiotic properties.
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Kefir is made from kefir grains, which are tiny organisms that ferment milk into kefir. These grains are usually sold in powdered form or frozen in liquid nitrogen. They can be stored indefinitely at room temperature.
Freezing kefir grains is a great way to preserve them. Once they are thawed, simply add water and let them sit for 24 hours before using. This method keeps the grains alive and ready to ferment milk into kefir.
Best Ways To Store Kefir Grains
You should always store your grains in a cool place. This way you can preserve their quality. For example, if you store your rice in the freezer, it will be less active than when stored at room temperature.
In this case, you should put the rice in an airtight container. If you want to store your grains longer, you can use a refrigerator.
Store Your Kefir Grains In Milk
Milk kefir grains need air to grow. If you put them in a closed container, they won’t be able to grow. To make sure your milk kefir grains get enough oxygen, you need to leave the lid slightly open.
Once the milk kefir grain culture has been established, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. Do make sure to leave the top lid open for airflow to occur, this is the only way to store kefir grains in milk, so make sure you do it right.
Store Your Kefir Grains In Water/Sugar Solution In The Fridge
Water kefir grains are kept in a bottle filled with water and sugar. They can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Milk or water kefir is made by adding water kefir grains to milk or water.
It is then left to ferment for 24 hours before being strained out. The same rule applies here for leaving the lid open to enable airflow to pass through easily.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Freeze Kefir Grains
- Place a small number of kefir grains in a freezer-safe container.
- Add 1 cup of ice cubes.
- Close the lid tightly and place it in the freezer overnight.
- Remove the container from the freezer and allow it to defrost completely.
- Open the container and remove the kefir grains.
- Rinse the grains with cold water until the water runs clear.
- Transfer the kefir grains to an airtight jar.
- Store the jar in the refrigerator.
- Use the grains within one month.
- Freeze any extra grains.
- To use the grains, add 1/2 cup of water to each jar.
- Cover the jars and store them in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, strain out the kefir through cheesecloth or muslin cloth.
Freezing Kefir Grains
Kefir grains should be stored in a container made out of stainless steel or plastic. To prevent contamination, you need to use sterilized containers. Dry the grains by using a paper towel or cloth.
Store the grains in a refrigerator if you want to preserve the grains longer than 3 days. To protect those grains, make sure you add a spoon of powdered milk, so this way they can be stored with water or milk, it doesn’t matter!
Kefir grains are used as starter cultures in making fermented foods such as yogurt, cheese, beer, wine, vinegar, kombucha, and more. Once you have enough grains, having a backup set of grains is recommended. You should also store them in a dry place in case you lose them.
Kefir grains should be rinsed with milk before use. Put them on a cookie sheet covered by a piece of parchment paper. Let dry out for 2-5 days. Then put them into a bowl and add some powdered milk to cover the grains.
This provides a protective shield on the grain. Regular or organic powdered milk works well. Dried milk kefir grains should be stored in the freezer.
They can last up to a year if properly sealed. You can freeze water kefir grains without washing them first.
However, avoid adding any liquid to your kefir grains before freezing. This may damage the live cultures. Kefir grains are beneficial to health. Cleaning them doesn’t kill them. Rinsing them in cold water may damage them.
Drying Kefir Grains
Kefir grains should be stored in a refrigerator for six months. After this time, they can be placed in a sealed container and kept in a cool place for longer periods.
You can actually turn them around to ensure consistency when drying so make use of this, also putting the dried grains into a ziplock bad with powdered milk can help to dry them when putting them in the fridge for up to 6 months at a time.
After storing grains for some time, you should wait until they are activated before starting to use them again. You may also store them for longer times, but this will increase the activation time. Proper care and storage will help you to activate the grains right away and continue making Kefir as before.
How Do You Know The Kefir Is Ready?
Kefir is a fermented milk product made by adding beneficial bacteria to milk. When making kefir, use a wide-mouth mason jar (or similar) as the fermenting vessel. Fill the jar about 1/3 full of milk. Add a pinch of sugar if desired.
Cover the top of the jar with a cloth towel secured with an elastic band. Let sit out on your countertop for 12 hours.
Then move the jar to the refrigerator. Fermentation should continue for 24 hours. Strain off the whey and enjoy! Kefir grains need time to grow and reproduce. Once they’re ready, you’ll be able to make delicious kefir.
Final Thoughts
Kefir grains should be stored in an airtight container with a lid. When storing kefir grains in the refrigerator, make sure they are placed in a shallow dish. Never put the grains directly into a freezer bag because the freezing process will damage the grains.
To thaw frozen grains, place them in a bowl filled with warm water until the grains begin to move around. Then drain the grains and transfer them to a clean jar. Once the grains are ready to use, add the desired amount of milk and stir well to combine. Let sit out overnight to ferment.
We hope that this guide has aided you in finding out exactly the best ways to freeze and store your kefir grains, follow our guide to get the best possible results!