Thanks!! This is exactly the info was looking for right now. My grains are multiplying prolifically & I need a break from them. I avoid long waffling videos. This one was perfect! 👌
true My friend recently pull them out from freezer 3 years old and gave it to me First batch was thin and not developed Second went great They are alive!
According to a radio host to whom I listened the other day, we all have "verbal tics", ways of saying things that annoy other people. I laughed while listening because I know I have a lot of verbal tics lol! That said, I'm glad I was able to pronounce kefir correctly, one less verbal tic lol!
Thank you for the video. You can buy a device to vacuum seal mason jars with metal caps with hand or battery pump, one type for regular and another for wide mouth jars. This would eliminate the need to put the jars is zip lock bags to prevent freezer burn. One can also buy plastic bags and rigid glass or plastic containers which are specially made to vacuum seal with a battery powered vacuum pump. In all cases you can take out the amount of frozen kefir grains you need and vacuum reseal and refreeze.
Thank you so much for this video. I am new to making water kefir. Made two batches and both were totally flat. No idea where I went wrong so I have a book on order to teach me. No space in fridge so this is the perfect solution for me while I wait for the book to arrive and the most straight forward, faff free instructions I have seen. Thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Please remember that cooler temperatures slow down fermentation, meaning it will take much longer to ferment water kefir & milk kefir if you put them immediately into the fridge, which is why they're best left on the counter 2-3 days before changing the water/milk. Btw, water kefir is usually flat unless you ferment coconut water or fruit juice OR do a second ferment and use a grolsch-type bottle.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Thank you :) I did a 2nd fermentation each time - 48 hours each fermentation then put in fridge in Grolsch style bottle. I only used a few blueberries so wondering if the cause was too little fruit. Am trying a 3rd batch and will use more fruit. I have frozen the excess grains for now - fingers crossed for batch 3 :)
Thank you so much for making it easy. I’m in love with my little kefir grains and they have helped me tremendously with with cancer treatment and surgery recovery but unfortunately after a few months I have gotten constipated so I sadly will have to take a break and put them to bed for maybe a month.😊😢
First of all, I'm sorry to hear you've been battling cancer. 😔 That said, I'm very happy to hear the milk kefir has helped you. Such wonderful news! 😃And considering you need to put your little grains to sleep for a month, I'm glad this video helped with knowing how to do that safely. Btw, do you have water kefir grains? I can't help but wonder if switching to water kefir while you take a break from milk kefir might offer you similar results. They're different strains of probiotics and water is less constipating. Just a thought. Much love and healing prayers to you on your road to recovery. 🥰
Thank you for this very insightful video. My kefir grains died, but I had a load that I froze a while back, so I am on with defrosting some now. I just had to make sure I had done it right.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork I dont think they are dead, now, from what I am seeing when I looked earlier today. from what you said they can reactivate between 2/3 days. They had been in a jar in my fridge for a long time.
👏Fantastic! Perfect advice! My milk kefir grains are so happy that I can't keep up with them in the fridge. I've been juggling four bottles at once. They've multiplied beyond my wildest dreams. Excellent tutorial. It's nap time for half my grains. ✨👍
she is absolutely right. I stopped drinking milk due to unknown allergy. Unfortunately, I did not save my grains so I have to buy them again. This time, I'll freeze them when I decide to go off milk again. Or I'll just keep on making cheese/cream cheese...
Thank you for this awesome video. I have so many grains, I will freeze them tomorrow!!😀🤗👍 I cant put myself to throw them out 😨🥺🤔 They are huge and quite beautyfull, actually 😂👍 Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰🥰😘👍
Thank you. You let me know what i needed to do. I just started an antibiotic that requires me to not consume ANY milk products for 2 weeks. And i have more than enough keefer made and in the fridge. So i followed your advice and double bagged my grains in the freezer. When i can consume milk again. I'll drink down what i have then use the frozen ones to make more.
My kefir grains reproduce so fast in one week! I have double! I have had grains before never reproduced this quickly. I use 2-3 gallons of whole milk a week just to keep my grains and of course they give me lots of kefir yogurt and VERY thick.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. My experience with milk kefir grains is similar; they do extremely well in full fat whole milk and best in full fat raw milk.
@@ignaciol.vasquez9019 do you wash them before fermenting milk? Make sure you do not wash them just strain the kefir off and it is ok to leave a little bit on them, the n return to the fermantation container and add your wholemilk. Also only wash the container once a week without soap! Just rinse and scrub with water and dry completly.
Thank you for that very clear informative video. I'm new to fermenting and have just started making milk kefir about 2 weeks ago and enjoying it very much: relating to the kefir grains in a very personal happy way! 🙂 I've passed on a tbsp of grains to a colleague who is now on a happy path to enhanced health too! A couple of queries for you and I'd be so grateful for your help: 1) can you place the grains in silicone containers (like those little OXO containers?) to freeze? Or in silicone ice-cube trays? If using the ice-cube trays, should they be then placed in a plastic (ziplock) bags? 2) can you re-freeze those grains that were frozen before? Like, after you've used the before-frozen grains for some time and you need to freeze them again? Thank you very much!
Thanks for sharing; that's awesome! Yes, you can use silicone ice-cube trays. As long as you cover them with something to protect them from freezer burn while they're freezing in the ice cube tray they'll be fine. After they're frozen, you can store them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. OM goodness yes! I re-freeze my water kefir & milk kefir grains many times throughout the year. As long as they're stored properly in the freezer and fed sufficiently when they're not frozen, they'll last a very, very long time!
The only thing I disagree with is when you said 'bacterial viruses' .. Bacteria and virus are two different things.. Strep throat is bacterial.. but the flu is a virus... Hopefully drinking the kefir will boost our immune so we wont catch either one!
Interesting. Thanks. I have been making milk kefir for a couple of months now here in the Philippines and have frozen some and some "resting" in the fridge.
Btw I tried the straw technique to no avail, but I summed up the grains in a strip at the bottom of the bag and rolled it up to the top squeezing out the air through a little opening in the ziplock 😊
Hi, first thank you for this video very well explained, I have one question, lets say I just strained my milk kefir and now I have the grains in the strainer, can I just take them as they are, without rinsing and put them in the jar to go to the freezer? Appreciate your time to answer, thank you again.
Hello. Thank you for the video. I have had my grains in the fridge with some milk for the last few days and wondering if they can go straight to being frozen or if it is better for them to be active and then straight to the freezer? Thanks again
Simple. Make milk kefir. Strain the grains and pour the fermented milk in an icecube. Secure in a plastic bag while freezing to prevent freezer burn. Once frozen, remove the plastic and store your iced milk kefir cubes in a freeze-safe container. Hope this helps. 🙂
I noticed that you didn't rinse them before freezing. I read many other sources that say they should be rinsed beforehand. Your way is way easier so I'm going to give it a try. What are your thoughts on rinsing the grains and patting them dry before freezing?
OMG, my life is far too busy to be that meticulous. That's something my detail loving Virgo husband would do. I'm a triple Aries. I just want to "Get er done!" lol!
Hi. I've read that you need to first dry them out slightly and sprinkle milk powder before freezing to protect them. But this is much simpler .. what are your opinions on that strategy?
Thanks for the useful video! What is the longest time i can keep my grains in the fridge with milk (without changing the milk). Can i do that for more than 2 weeks?
When i start fermenting the milk after freezing my grains for one month, the kefir texture was not ok, the smell and taste are fine, but it was not creamy as usual, did i lost my kefir or there is a way to get the same Kefir back?
Yes. Exactly that. Add a little milk if you think it will take you a few days to feed them after they've defrosted. Otherwise, no need to add milk. Simply freeze in ice cube tray, transfer to double enclosed container to prevent freezer burn and freeze again.
I went out for two weeks, before leaving, I strained and left my grains dry out for some minutes, then put them inside a glass jar and let it in the freezer, no milk 😱. I already defrost them, and added milk. I'm waiting to see if they are still alive. Any sign to look for if they aren't? Thank you for your video.
If you froze them then defrosted them and observed they were flattened, it's probably just because they were jammed up tightly against other grains. If this is the case, no worries. They'll plump out again once you use them several times during fermentation.
Thanks so much for this video. I was wondering if you could help me get milk kefir grains to my stepmom in Texas. She doesn't know any neighbors that have them. I live in Brazil and was thinking how I might get a portion of my grains to her when I go there in December. But, if you have a reliable source you would recommend, I would steer my stepmom in the right direction. I would like a reliable source if you have one that my stepmom could contact. Thanks and waiting on your answer.
I highly recommend Yemoos www.yemoos.com/collections/cultures-milk-kefir-grains or Cultures For Health shop.culturesforhealth.com/products/milk-kefir-grains. That said, this seller has over 100 positive reviews and cost much less: www.amazon.com/Organic-Kefir-Grains-Probiotic-Culture/dp/B00RFCSMYW/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=milk+kefir+grains&qid=1565454214&s=gateway&sr=8-2
Yes you can. When I was vegan I used coconut milk almost exclusively for my milk kefir grains. However, I did notice they didn't thrive in the same way as when they were in real milk which is why I'd ferment milk once a week to keep them strong, healthy, & proliferated.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork yes, I heard about it. I'm not vegan, however milk doesn't make me and my husband fell good. I'm trying to be 100% dairy free. Do you have another suggestion to use instead of milk? What do you think about water and sugar? Thank you again!
@@samanthaespada7838 Any type of nut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, rice milk, etc, will work. Milk kefir grains will not survive in water & sugar because they consist of bacteria & yeast that are specific to milk, just as water kefir grains consist of bacteria specific to water. Best to use water kefir grains if you desire to use water & sugar.
I think the best time to consume anything is when your body wants/needs it. For example, my body prefers a little kefir before every meal to aid in digestion. That said, it's possible websites say night is the best time because that's when the body is in it's rest & digest phase.
HI, I do it the same way as you. However now I have defrosted some kefir, but the taste is really awful. How long can it take for them to become ok again, or are they dead? Should I strain them with fresh milk or just add some extra milk?
Personally I've never experienced a difference in taste as a result of freezing. Out of curiosity, what does "awful" taste like? Is it overly sour, skanky, rotten tasting ... can you describe it? It might prove helpful to simply make 1/4-1/2 cup of milk kefir every other day until your grains fully wake and get going again AND to simply refrigerate your finished milk kefir to allow it more time to sour without the grains. Not sure if this was helpful but fingers crossed it was. 🥰
Do you freeze kefir grains directly in glass jar or in icecube tray and then transfer to glass jar and continue freezing and then in plastic bag in jar in freezer? Thanks, I'm Aries ♈️ too ❤😊
I have a question .. I collect extra grains every week in a jar and keep them I the fridge while changing the milk every week or so.. I am new to this and my grains are multiplying like crazy..can I keep doing that till I collect a big amount then freeze? I don’t want them to die in the fridge. Thx🌹💖
yes you can. I currently have 8 cups of grains in 1 litre of milk in a one gallon jar in my fridge which I too change every once a week. your grains are tenacious living organisms - they'll be fine in the fridge until you decide to freeze them.
Also, I need a word of advice. My milk kefir grains are not multiplying much. I have 3TB-sized clumps, and one recently did not ferment the milk for the first time! I refroze that batch to try again later on fresh milk. The milk that did not ferment, I kept, and it did change form a bit, tastes a bit like it wanted to become kefir. Will I be able to use that milk again to complete the kefir process? I don't use organic milk, but pasturized and homogenized! Using this milk may be what is slowing down the multiplication of the kefir? Raw organic milk is very expensive in Brazil, but not impossible to experiment with for kefir. Are the grains I refroze still good, that did not ferment the milk after 48 hours? It had a smooth coat over it, but the grains could be seen underneath the smooth part. Help, please!
Did you know you can leave defrosted milk kefir grains in milk on the counter for upwards to 3-4 days without harming your grains? Especially if they've been frozen, I've often found kefir grains often need an extra 1 to 2 days to ferment. That said, you can either add the grains to your slightly fermented milk for another 1-2 days after they've been defrosted or you can put the partially fermented milk in the fridge without grains at which point it will continue to slowly ferment over the next 1-3 weeks. In fact, the longer you leave the partially fermented milk in the fridge without grains (after the initial fermenting with grains) the more fermented & sour it becomes. That said, from your description of your grains, it sounds like your grains are very healthy. And yes, while raw milk is ideal we must work with what we can afford and is available. Pasteurized homogenized milk is okay; it's much better than 2% & 1%.
Here's some articles showing how kefir helps diabetes. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318353#Seven-benefits-of-kefir www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4401881/
Prebiotic fibre such as inulin? Yes you can. For future readers of this particular thread, prebiotic fibre is food for probiotics and may help get the grains active more quickly.
Will it stay alive if frozen and packed in a bag with a cold pack on a plane trip? Should I put a little milk in it when freezing in case it defrosts in transit?
Consume as much as your body can tolerate. Just be mindful that kefir contains calories, fat, protein and to some degree sugar, especially in shorter ferments, meaning it's a food and if weight is a concern for you, you need to treat it thusly.
I thought plastic leeching was an urban myth passed around by people who never check for themselves. Do you have any studies that support not using plastic bags for storage? I know people say don't use metal strainer (use plastic) but you are saying plastic is bad.
You can find all sorts of science articles online discussing the unsafe use of plastic. Most sites require a subscription if that's something you desire to pursue.
You can but my personal experience is that they don't do well in water; they weaken, wither, stop reproducing, and die. Keeping in mind that I currently have about 4 cups of grains ... I store them in 8 ounces of milk on the counter 2 days before changing the milk. This way I'm still creating milk kefir but in much smaller quantities and my milk kefir grains have sufficient food to remain healthy & robust. Though I still refrigerate them from time to time, I've noticed if I keep them in the fridge too long, they turn a darker shade of yellow, become hard and stop reproducing. When that happens, I remove them from the fridge and give them a couple months of fermentation time in warmer temperatures.
The Intuitive Body Foodie Network Thanks for the response, I’m new to Kefir. Having suffered from a severe bout of food poisoning, the reason I take kefir, is it safe to keep milk at room temperature for that period of a time? Sorry for all the questions!
@@JimBic72 Not to worry; questions are greatly welcomed. Ah yes. Kefir not only heals the GI tract after food poisoning, it actually helps prevent any future bouts of food poisoning as it kills the bacteria responsible the moment it enters your system. It's safe to keep already fermented milk kefir on the counter (without the grains) for an additional 3-10 days depending on how warm or cool your house is. A fresh batch of milk on the counter containing kefir grains can be left for upwards to 4 days, depending on your milk to grains ratio. For example, 1 T kefir grains in 8 ounces of milk will usually be fermented by the end of the second or beginning of the third day depending on how warm you house is; however, you can occasionally leave it on the counter for an additional 1-2 days without killing your grains. Rule of thumb: the warmer your house is, the faster the kefir will ferment. Conversely, the cooler your house is, the slower the kefir will ferment. That in mind, if you live without air conditioning or in tropical climates you might want to leave your milk & grains in your fridge on occasion to ferment; otherwise you'll end up making more than you can drink.
If you have a habit of freezing & forgetting about them for days it might be wise to cover them. Otherwise, if you quickly freeze then transfer to an airtight container, no need to cover.
Similar to humans, cats, dogs, trees, birds, bugs & people, I don't know how to make kefir grains. But I do know you can buy kefir grains if you do the following google search: "where to buy kefir grains near me". You should get a list of shops and individuals selling them.
"Bacterial type viruses"? Last time I heard they were completely different organisms. "We get different strains of cold viruses & flu viruses & bacterial viruses, because bacteria thaw out of the ground (5:32-56)"? I think this lady should just keep on with her kefir & let biology class be taught by the biologists.
True. I misspoke the differences between bacteria & viruses. However, it's common knowledge that bacteria lives in soil. Furthermore, microbiologists reveal new strains of bacteria 'waking up' as the planet warms, similar to how kefir grains wake up when removed from the fridge or freezer. It's also common knowledge that viruses that infect animals jump from one species to another resulting in the creation of new ones. Scientists are constantly creating new antibiotics, etc. because bacteria & viruses constantly evolve & grow. This too is common knowledge.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork strange that someone should refer to you as "this lady" rather than speaking directly to you, like a normal, decent human being
Finally, one of the simplest and most clear tutorials I've seen...THANK YOU! 👌🥛
Thanks!! This is exactly the info was looking for right now. My grains are multiplying prolifically & I need a break from them. I avoid long waffling videos. This one was perfect! 👌
true My friend recently pull them out from freezer 3 years old and gave it to me First batch was thin and not developed Second went great They are alive!
Awesome!!
Thank you For pronouncing kefir properly.
Thank you 😊 shot direct and to the point. I liked and subscribed...
Clear and very helpful tutorial. I thought this would be a daunting process but it’s so easy. Thank you!
So glad!
This is the first video I've seen that pronounces "kefir" correctly. Thank you! lol
According to a radio host to whom I listened the other day, we all have "verbal tics", ways of saying things that annoy other people. I laughed while listening because I know I have a lot of verbal tics lol! That said, I'm glad I was able to pronounce kefir correctly, one less verbal tic lol!
Thank you for the video. You can buy a device to vacuum seal mason jars with metal caps with hand or battery pump, one type for regular and another for wide mouth jars. This would eliminate the need to put the jars is zip lock bags to prevent freezer burn. One can also buy plastic bags and rigid glass or plastic containers which are specially made to vacuum seal with a battery powered vacuum pump. In all cases you can take out the amount of frozen kefir grains you need and vacuum reseal and refreeze.
Awesome; thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much for this video. I am new to making water kefir. Made two batches and both were totally flat. No idea where I went wrong so I have a book on order to teach me. No space in fridge so this is the perfect solution for me while I wait for the book to arrive and the most straight forward, faff free instructions I have seen. Thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Please remember that cooler temperatures slow down fermentation, meaning it will take much longer to ferment water kefir & milk kefir if you put them immediately into the fridge, which is why they're best left on the counter 2-3 days before changing the water/milk.
Btw, water kefir is usually flat unless you ferment coconut water or fruit juice OR do a second ferment and use a grolsch-type bottle.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Thank you :) I did a 2nd fermentation each time - 48 hours each fermentation then put in fridge in Grolsch style bottle. I only used a few blueberries so wondering if the cause was too little fruit. Am trying a 3rd batch and will use more fruit. I have frozen the excess grains for now - fingers crossed for batch 3 :)
@@smidgekat5296 Yes, probably too little fruit &/or not enough sugar in your second ferment.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork - thank you I will keep trying! :)
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork - thank you! :)
Thank you so much for making it easy. I’m in love with my little kefir grains and they have helped me tremendously with with cancer treatment and surgery recovery but unfortunately after a few months I have gotten constipated so I sadly will have to take a break and put them to bed for maybe a month.😊😢
First of all, I'm sorry to hear you've been battling cancer. 😔
That said, I'm very happy to hear the milk kefir has helped you. Such wonderful news! 😃And considering you need to put your little grains to sleep for a month, I'm glad this video helped with knowing how to do that safely.
Btw, do you have water kefir grains? I can't help but wonder if switching to water kefir while you take a break from milk kefir might offer you similar results. They're different strains of probiotics and water is less constipating. Just a thought.
Much love and healing prayers to you on your road to recovery. 🥰
Enlightening video. Thank you God bless
Bless you & thank you. 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for the advice and kindness I will definitely consider the kefir water grains! God bless you and yours
And may God continue to bless you, protect you, guide you, and be a lamp unto your feet. 🥰
One trick I use is to use bigger ziplocks. Flatten out whatever you put into the bag. Once frozen it’s easy to break off pieces when you need them.
great idea!
Good idea. I think I'll try that because I'm out of small Ziploc bags anyhow. 🎉
👍 nice , great idea 💡
informative.......I started kefir 4 weeks ago......will not do w/o......wish I had found kefir many moons ago......thanks
You're welcome Joseph. Enjoy your kefir!
Thank you for this very insightful video. My kefir grains died, but I had a load that I froze a while back, so I am on with defrosting some now. I just had to make sure I had done it right.
Glad it was helpful. Sorry you lost babies but glad you still have many remaining.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork I dont think they are dead, now, from what I am seeing when I looked earlier today. from what you said they can reactivate between 2/3 days. They had been in a jar in my fridge for a long time.
Very informative! Very nice from you, lady! Greetings from Serbia!
Thank you! 😃 Blessings to you & all of Serbia.
👏Fantastic! Perfect advice! My milk kefir grains are so happy that I can't keep up with them in the fridge. I've been juggling four bottles at once. They've multiplied beyond my wildest dreams. Excellent tutorial. It's nap time for half my grains. ✨👍
Thank You!!!!!
Very helpful. Really appreciate all the tips and tricks.
Most welcome. Glad you enjoyed!
Thank you so much. Great method that i search for.
Most welcome; glad it was helpful.
she is absolutely right. I stopped drinking milk due to unknown allergy. Unfortunately, I did not save my grains so I have to buy them again. This time, I'll freeze them when I decide to go off milk again. Or I'll just keep on making cheese/cream cheese...
Thank you for this awesome video.
I have so many grains, I will freeze them tomorrow!!😀🤗👍
I cant put myself to throw them out 😨🥺🤔
They are huge and quite beautyfull, actually 😂👍
Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰🥰😘👍
Most welcome. Happy fermenting!
I know how you feel. My kefir grains and I are friends! I don't want to kill them! I always apologize when a few go down the sink drain. 🤗✨
6:08 You say "deep, deep sleep" like a really good hypnotist.
Thanks 😆 I used to do past life regressions, which essentially is a form of hynosis. "Deep, deep sleep" is one of the phrases I used.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Yes would love to script a hypnosis video for your evil twin. Kefir is amazing!
And I see you do private reiki sessions (or did), though my use of altered states tends towards the extremely shallow and nonspiritual.
Thanks for the video. This answered my questions.
What a great, simple tutorial. I am about to defrost. New subscriber!
Great video! Thanks for the correct pronunciation!
Thank you. You let me know what i needed to do. I just started an antibiotic that requires me to not consume ANY milk products for 2 weeks. And i have more than enough keefer made and in the fridge. So i followed your advice and double bagged my grains in the freezer. When i can consume milk again. I'll drink down what i have then use the frozen ones to make more.
Awesome! So happy to hear this video helped.
My kefir grains reproduce so fast in one week! I have double! I have had grains before never reproduced this quickly. I use 2-3 gallons of whole milk a week just to keep my grains and of course they give me lots of kefir yogurt and VERY thick.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. My experience with milk kefir grains is similar; they do extremely well in full fat whole milk and best in full fat raw milk.
My grains are small and are not reproducing.... Any advice :(?
@@ignaciol.vasquez9019 do you wash them before fermenting milk? Make sure you do not wash them just strain the kefir off and it is ok to leave a little bit on them, the n return to the fermantation container and add your wholemilk. Also only wash the container once a week without soap! Just rinse and scrub with water and dry completly.
@@arwenrosalie3031 I do not wash them... And they are still small 😭
Where did you get those Kefir grains?
Great video. Thanks.
Thank you for that very clear informative video. I'm new to fermenting and have just started making milk kefir about 2 weeks ago and enjoying it very much: relating to the kefir grains in a very personal happy way! 🙂 I've passed on a tbsp of grains to a colleague who is now on a happy path to enhanced health too!
A couple of queries for you and I'd be so grateful for your help:
1) can you place the grains in silicone containers (like those little OXO containers?) to freeze? Or in silicone ice-cube trays? If using the ice-cube trays, should they be then placed in a plastic (ziplock) bags?
2) can you re-freeze those grains that were frozen before? Like, after you've used the before-frozen grains for some time and you need to freeze them again?
Thank you very much!
Thanks for sharing; that's awesome!
Yes, you can use silicone ice-cube trays. As long as you cover them with something to protect them from freezer burn while they're freezing in the ice cube tray they'll be fine. After they're frozen, you can store them in a ziplock bag in the freezer. OM goodness yes! I re-freeze my water kefir & milk kefir grains many times throughout the year. As long as they're stored properly in the freezer and fed sufficiently when they're not frozen, they'll last a very, very long time!
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Thanks a 💐 for that! When covering the grains for freezing, do the containers need to be airtight?
@@christine8203 No they don't. I usually cover with cling wrap. They freeze really fast!!
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Understood...Thank you! 🌹
Thank you for the correct pronunciation of KEFIRR
Amazing info♥and to the point 😊thanks a million🙏🏼💖🙏🏼
Most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for your help! Very good video
5:43 Viruses and bacteria are totally different organisms. Please don't confuse them.
The only thing I disagree with is when you said 'bacterial viruses' .. Bacteria and virus are two different things.. Strep throat is bacterial.. but the flu is a virus... Hopefully drinking the kefir will boost our immune so we wont catch either one!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤thanks for the information!
Super helpful, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
You answered all my questions, thank you. ,👍😊🥛
Awesome!
Very good info .. thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Interesting. Thanks. I have been making milk kefir for a couple of months now here in the Philippines and have frozen some and some "resting" in the fridge.
Sounds like you have an intuitive sense about things. 😉
thank you.. very useful video..
Welcome 😊
Btw I tried the straw technique to no avail, but I summed up the grains in a strip at the bottom of the bag and rolled it up to the top squeezing out the air through a little opening in the ziplock 😊
That works!
I never knew you can freeze them. Thanks.
Most welcome; glad the video was helpful!
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork i have not started as yet! I have ordered the grains, so it's on the way. 😊😊
Hi, first thank you for this video very well explained, I have one question, lets say I just strained my milk kefir and now I have the grains in the strainer, can I just take them as they are, without rinsing and put them in the jar to go to the freezer? Appreciate your time to answer, thank you again.
Bless you & thank you. Glad the video was helpful. Yes. In fact it's best that they have a little residue milk on them before you freeze them.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Thank you!
@@aniquadros did you freeze them in the jar. ?
@@markmaxwell4890 yes, well it was a square glass Tupperware with air tight lid, then I put it inside of two ziplock bag. It worked pretty good.
Hello. Thank you for the video. I have had my grains in the fridge with some milk for the last few days and wondering if they can go straight to being frozen or if it is better for them to be active and then straight to the freezer? Thanks again
I've never seen so many kefir grains in my life. 😳
Thank you ❤🙏
Helpfull,thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, thank you!
Just wondering what the process is for making kefir cubes?
Cheers!
Simple. Make milk kefir. Strain the grains and pour the fermented milk in an icecube. Secure in a plastic bag while freezing to prevent freezer burn. Once frozen, remove the plastic and store your iced milk kefir cubes in a freeze-safe container.
Hope this helps. 🙂
Nice
Thank you so much 😊
Most welcome!
Thank you.
Most welcome Iva!
I noticed that you didn't rinse them before freezing. I read many other sources that say they should be rinsed beforehand. Your way is way easier so I'm going to give it a try. What are your thoughts on rinsing the grains and patting them dry before freezing?
I have never rinsed my grains before freezing and never had a problem when using them again.
OMG, my life is far too busy to be that meticulous. That's something my detail loving Virgo husband would do. I'm a triple Aries. I just want to "Get er done!" lol!
Hi. I've read that you need to first dry them out slightly and sprinkle milk powder before freezing to protect them. But this is much simpler .. what are your opinions on that strategy?
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thank you ! 🙂🤞
Thanks for the useful video! What is the longest time i can keep my grains in the fridge with milk (without changing the milk). Can i do that for more than 2 weeks?
Most welcome. Glad it was helpful. Your grains should be good for about 4 weeks before needing a new supply of food.
thank you
When i start fermenting the milk after freezing my grains for one month, the kefir texture was not ok, the smell and taste are fine, but it was not creamy as usual, did i lost my kefir or there is a way to get the same Kefir back?
It will take a few consistent batches before you get that nice creamy texture back. The grains are awake, but not at optimal operation.
How much kefir should a person drink in a day? Thank you,
If making ice-cube size chunks, do I first freeze the grains in an ice-cube tray (NOT silicon) and then transfer them to the double enclosed container
Yes. Exactly that. Add a little milk if you think it will take you a few days to feed them after they've defrosted. Otherwise, no need to add milk. Simply freeze in ice cube tray, transfer to double enclosed container to prevent freezer burn and freeze again.
I went out for two weeks, before leaving, I strained and left my grains dry out for some minutes, then put them inside a glass jar and let it in the freezer, no milk 😱. I already defrost them, and added milk. I'm waiting to see if they are still alive. Any sign to look for if they aren't? Thank you for your video.
Don't worry; they'll be fine!! Just give them a little bit longer than usual (1-2 days extra) to fully wake up.
Thank you so much!
@@autumnfairy11 are they alive now. ?
Grazie
Thank you for sharing. Will you tell me please why some of my kefir grains got flattened. Thank you in advance.
If you froze them then defrosted them and observed they were flattened, it's probably just because they were jammed up tightly against other grains. If this is the case, no worries. They'll plump out again once you use them several times during fermentation.
thankfull.
QUESTION: Do you rinse your milk grains before you freeze them?
No I don't - for the reason that while they're defrosting, they have a little food to wake up to before I put them into fresh milk.
So I can cover my grains with plastic cover while fermenting rather that a mesh cloth/paper towel?
Thanks so much for this video. I was wondering if you could help me get milk kefir grains to my stepmom in Texas. She doesn't know any neighbors that have them. I live in Brazil and was thinking how I might get a portion of my grains to her when I go there in December. But, if you have a reliable source you would recommend, I would steer my stepmom in the right direction. I would like a reliable source if you have one that my stepmom could contact. Thanks and waiting on your answer.
I highly recommend Yemoos www.yemoos.com/collections/cultures-milk-kefir-grains or Cultures For Health shop.culturesforhealth.com/products/milk-kefir-grains. That said, this seller has over 100 positive reviews and cost much less: www.amazon.com/Organic-Kefir-Grains-Probiotic-Culture/dp/B00RFCSMYW/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=milk+kefir+grains&qid=1565454214&s=gateway&sr=8-2
You look good with your new hair doo
Thanks!
Hi Dear - when you freeze in ice cube trays is it ok to not cover them until they freeze and the quickly move them to bags?
Should be alright. Too, if you aren't chemical sensitive, you can simply toss them into a ziplock bag and bypass the ice cube tray method altogether.
DO YOU HAVE TO RINSE THEM OUT IN COLD WATER, BEFORE YOU FREEZE THEM OR DO YOU JUST FREEZE THEM, WITHOUT RINSING OUT THE MILK ?
I don't rinse them. I simply freeze them with the milk still on them.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.
Hi! Thanks for your video! Instead of cow milk to wake them up, can I use coconut milk? Thanks
Yes you can. When I was vegan I used coconut milk almost exclusively for my milk kefir grains. However, I did notice they didn't thrive in the same way as when they were in real milk which is why I'd ferment milk once a week to keep them strong, healthy, & proliferated.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork yes, I heard about it. I'm not vegan, however milk doesn't make me and my husband fell good. I'm trying to be 100% dairy free. Do you have another suggestion to use instead of milk? What do you think about water and sugar? Thank you again!
@@samanthaespada7838 Any type of nut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, rice milk, etc, will work. Milk kefir grains will not survive in water & sugar because they consist of bacteria & yeast that are specific to milk, just as water kefir grains consist of bacteria specific to water. Best to use water kefir grains if you desire to use water & sugar.
Please tell what's the best time to take Kefir? Some websites are saying it is best to take at night.
I think the best time to consume anything is when your body wants/needs it. For example, my body prefers a little kefir before every meal to aid in digestion. That said, it's possible websites say night is the best time because that's when the body is in it's rest & digest phase.
HI, I do it the same way as you. However now I have defrosted some kefir, but the taste is really awful. How long can it take for them to become ok again, or are they dead? Should I strain them with fresh milk or just add some extra milk?
Personally I've never experienced a difference in taste as a result of freezing. Out of curiosity, what does "awful" taste like? Is it overly sour, skanky, rotten tasting ... can you describe it?
It might prove helpful to simply make 1/4-1/2 cup of milk kefir every other day until your grains fully wake and get going again AND to simply refrigerate your finished milk kefir to allow it more time to sour without the grains.
Not sure if this was helpful but fingers crossed it was. 🥰
Do you freeze kefir grains directly in glass jar or in icecube tray and then transfer to glass jar and continue freezing and then in plastic bag in jar in freezer? Thanks, I'm Aries ♈️ too ❤😊
Hi dear ,suppose i m going for vacation for a week can i freeze most of my grains but keep few grains in fridge for a weak withsome milk ?
Yes you can. And now you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about it. 🥰
I have a question .. I collect extra grains every week in a jar and keep them I the fridge while changing the milk every week or so.. I am new to this and my grains are multiplying like crazy..can I keep doing that till I collect a big amount then freeze? I don’t want them to die in the fridge. Thx🌹💖
yes you can. I currently have 8 cups of grains in 1 litre of milk in a one gallon jar in my fridge which I too change every once a week. your grains are tenacious living organisms - they'll be fine in the fridge until you decide to freeze them.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork thank youuuuuu ♥i really appreciate it 😊
Do you need to wash grains to get ride of milk before freezing them? Thanks
no you don't.
I just started with 1 tblsp of grains. How long would it take to have 2 cups? I use raw cow milk.
If your grains are already fully hydrated, it will take 1-2 days. Raw cow milk; yum.
OMG are these from the kefirko dehydrated grains? They can grow?
These are the Kefirko grains as well as grains I already had. But yes, they multiply and grow!
Also, I need a word of advice. My milk kefir grains are not multiplying much. I have 3TB-sized clumps, and one recently did not ferment the milk for the first time! I refroze that batch to try again later on fresh milk. The milk that did not ferment, I kept, and it did change form a bit, tastes a bit like it wanted to become kefir. Will I be able to use that milk again to complete the kefir process? I don't use organic milk, but pasturized and homogenized! Using this milk may be what is slowing down the multiplication of the kefir? Raw organic milk is very expensive in Brazil, but not impossible to experiment with for kefir. Are the grains I refroze still good, that did not ferment the milk after 48 hours? It had a smooth coat over it, but the grains could be seen underneath the smooth part. Help, please!
Did you know you can leave defrosted milk kefir grains in milk on the counter for upwards to 3-4 days without harming your grains? Especially if they've been frozen, I've often found kefir grains often need an extra 1 to 2 days to ferment. That said, you can either add the grains to your slightly fermented milk for another 1-2 days after they've been defrosted or you can put the partially fermented milk in the fridge without grains at which point it will continue to slowly ferment over the next 1-3 weeks. In fact, the longer you leave the partially fermented milk in the fridge without grains (after the initial fermenting with grains) the more fermented & sour it becomes. That said, from your description of your grains, it sounds like your grains are very healthy. And yes, while raw milk is ideal we must work with what we can afford and is available. Pasteurized homogenized milk is okay; it's much better than 2% & 1%.
Can kefir help people with type 2 diabetics? How? Thanks.
Here's some articles showing how kefir helps diabetes. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318353#Seven-benefits-of-kefir
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4401881/
Can we add prebiotic fiber to the first batch after taking from freezer?
Prebiotic fibre such as inulin? Yes you can. For future readers of this particular thread, prebiotic fibre is food for probiotics and may help get the grains active more quickly.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork
Thank you
Help! My grains never came back after freezing. What might i be doing wrong?!
I don't think it's you or what you're doing wrong. Sometimes it can take a month or more before your grains "wake up" fully.
Doesn't the glass crack in the freezer
If you have liquid in them, they might; however, because I don't add milk to my grains, my jars don't crack.
Will it stay alive if frozen and packed in a bag with a cold pack on a plane trip? Should I put a little milk in it when freezing in case it defrosts in transit?
Yes it will. And yes, add a little milk.
Should we put kefir grains bag in a suit case ? .will it not die?
How often can we freeze them?
In past I have frozen my milk kefir grains 3 to 4 times a year. They're still very much alive and thriving; multiplying at a rapid rate too!
I've stored my grains in the fridge for 3 and four months just put some milk on them they will be fine
So long as they have some food to eat, they'll always survive & thrive.
Sorry, the vacuum sealing mason jars with metal lids is not a good idea, kefir does not like metal.
Than how can wecover them if we r freezing
How much kefir should you consume a day 2-3 cups? I could drink kefir milk all day.
Consume as much as your body can tolerate. Just be mindful that kefir contains calories, fat, protein and to some degree sugar, especially in shorter ferments, meaning it's a food and if weight is a concern for you, you need to treat it thusly.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork Thank you
Do the Kefir grains need to be in milk in order to freeze in ice trays?
No.
I thought plastic leeching was an urban myth passed around by people who never check for themselves. Do you have any studies that support not using plastic bags for storage? I know people say don't use metal strainer (use plastic) but you are saying plastic is bad.
You can find all sorts of science articles online discussing the unsafe use of plastic. Most sites require a subscription if that's something you desire to pursue.
Can the milk Kefir grains be stored in water with sugar in the fridge?
You can but my personal experience is that they don't do well in water; they weaken, wither, stop reproducing, and die. Keeping in mind that I currently have about 4 cups of grains ... I store them in 8 ounces of milk on the counter 2 days before changing the milk. This way I'm still creating milk kefir but in much smaller quantities and my milk kefir grains have sufficient food to remain healthy & robust. Though I still refrigerate them from time to time, I've noticed if I keep them in the fridge too long, they turn a darker shade of yellow, become hard and stop reproducing. When that happens, I remove them from the fridge and give them a couple months of fermentation time in warmer temperatures.
The Intuitive Body Foodie Network Thanks for the response, I’m new to Kefir. Having suffered from a severe bout of food poisoning, the reason I take kefir, is it safe to keep milk at room temperature for that period of a time? Sorry for all the questions!
@@JimBic72 Not to worry; questions are greatly welcomed. Ah yes. Kefir not only heals the GI tract after food poisoning, it actually helps prevent any future bouts of food poisoning as it kills the bacteria responsible the moment it enters your system.
It's safe to keep already fermented milk kefir on the counter (without the grains) for an additional 3-10 days depending on how warm or cool your house is. A fresh batch of milk on the counter containing kefir grains can be left for upwards to 4 days, depending on your milk to grains ratio. For example, 1 T kefir grains in 8 ounces of milk will usually be fermented by the end of the second or beginning of the third day depending on how warm you house is; however, you can occasionally leave it on the counter for an additional 1-2 days without killing your grains. Rule of thumb: the warmer your house is, the faster the kefir will ferment. Conversely, the cooler your house is, the slower the kefir will ferment. That in mind, if you live without air conditioning or in tropical climates you might want to leave your milk & grains in your fridge on occasion to ferment; otherwise you'll end up making more than you can drink.
Do you cover them when you put it on a ice tray?
If you have a habit of freezing & forgetting about them for days it might be wise to cover them. Otherwise, if you quickly freeze then transfer to an airtight container, no need to cover.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork ...Ok, just what I thought like just freeze the cubes until they are hard enough to place it into the bags. Thank you!
My question is how to make the kefir Grains.
Similar to humans, cats, dogs, trees, birds, bugs & people, I don't know how to make kefir grains. But I do know you can buy kefir grains if you do the following google search: "where to buy kefir grains near me". You should get a list of shops and individuals selling them.
How about a vacuum sealed bag?l
yes you can!
Are using raw milk?
You can; however, you can also use pasteurized.
Thank you so much😀
🙏🏼
your info on plastic leaching is nice believe that your brain is playing with you, the fact is different!
Perhaps you can reference your sources that refutes that. I'd appreciate it, as I'm sure many other viewers would.
Can kefir grains be consumed?
yes.
definitely they are gummy goodness
Please
"Bacterial type viruses"? Last time I heard they were completely different organisms. "We get different strains of cold viruses & flu viruses & bacterial viruses, because bacteria thaw out of the ground (5:32-56)"?
I think this lady should just keep on with her kefir & let biology class be taught by the biologists.
True. I misspoke the differences between bacteria & viruses. However, it's common knowledge that bacteria lives in soil. Furthermore, microbiologists reveal new strains of bacteria 'waking up' as the planet warms, similar to how kefir grains wake up when removed from the fridge or freezer. It's also common knowledge that viruses that infect animals jump from one species to another resulting in the creation of new ones. Scientists are constantly creating new antibiotics, etc. because bacteria & viruses constantly evolve & grow. This too is common knowledge.
@@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork strange that someone should refer to you as "this lady" rather than speaking directly to you, like a normal, decent human being
@@gregmeissner9960 Bless you & thank you Greg. I share your perspective. Alas, each of us speaks according to our level of consciousness.