Can the Maintenance Free Kefir make kefir grains?

While most of our customers prefer to use the maintenance-free kefir culture and use a little each time they make a batch, you can grow the grains from the culture if you choose.

 

To do this get one litre of non-chlorinated water and add one tablespoon of sugar, just like you were making water kefir. Then let it ferment for a week to two weeks. This is a natural process that just happens as the microorganisms in the maintenance-free kefir culture multiple and then begins to build their house, the grains.

 

Step by step instructions. 

1. Wash and dry your hands. Clean and rinse all items to be used in kefir making. Using boiling water, scald off all metal and plastic items. Glass items should be rinsed in hot but not boiling water.
2. Gently warm your filtered sugar water to 30°C.
3. Place warmed sugar water into a large glass jar or food-grade plastic bottle, leaving approximately 3 cm empty space in the top of your jar for air.
4. Sprinkle one dose of Maintenance Free Kefir into your water and gently whisk until well combined.
5. Cover the jar with a piece of tight weave cloth that will allow air circulation while preventing dust or insects from entering. Secure with a string or rubber band.
6. Store in a warm, dark place for one week.
7. If grains have not yet formed, add one tablespoon of sugar and ferment for another week.  You will see the grains beginning to form on the surface.
8. Strain and catch the grains, ready to use. 

Once you grow the grains in the sugar water, you can add them to anything to make kefir. If you add them to milk they will become milk grains as they will start to use dairy proteins to build their house.