Utensils and confessions

[Guest guest]

>Do you suppose I have minimized the fermenting benefits of

the kefir grains by placing them in a glass jar that was washed with

commercial soaps? or, is there no way to really tell?

Thanks,

Good morning,

I am the least of all on this list to answer your post, so, please, except my

experiences with kefir in light of the fact I've only been culturing kefir a few

months at best, from the grains I purchased.

I use a dishwasher, using commercial soap and don't do a vinegar rinse

(however, what a great idea which I'll start to practice when I pick up more

white distilled but I don't want to use my Braggs vinegar for cleaning LOL).

I wash my jars mostly in the dishwasher. Occasionally I wash one out by hand.

I've cultured both setting out on the stove and in the refrigerator, with

excellent results for me.

The results I consider excellent, is kefir that is thicker then cream which is

smooth and creamy with a lovely flavor that I thought I'd have to sweeten but

have found

I love it just the way it is.

I've abused my grains (not intentionally) even in the short time I've had them.

Once I put them in storage in a 1/2 gal. canning jar with fresh milk in the

refrigerator and left them for 2 weeks (I had to take a break, our refrig was

maxed out with jars

of kefir and they kept multiplying so fast! I thought they were a strain crossed

with zucchini LOL) The milk even from those grains who had been hanging out in

the back of the refrig for two weeks wasn't thick, but still a lovely kefir

flavor. I put the grains into fresh milk and they were rocking and rolling

immediately without missing a beat.

I thought for sure it would take the grains a week to bring them back.

Recently, I forgot the jar on my stove when I was baking

lasagna.....ahhhhhhhhhh, the jar was pretty hot and the milk with the

grains.............lets just say beyond warm,

I was to scared to put my thermometer in the milk, or should I say " very think "

kefir . I quickly put the jar in the refrigerator hoping for the best. Thinking,

well, worst case, if I'd killed them, I knew two friends who had offspring from

mine already and

I could start back up again.

I pulled the jar out of the refrig after a few hours of cooling down, drained

the grains (didn't rinse) and put them in fresh milk that night. Those hardy

grains showed no wear from that ordeal either 3 nights ago, going right back

into top production without missing a beat again.

These grains are now ready to be divided again for the 3rd time since I got

them!

I will hopefully be bringing this split of offspring with me to our goat club

meeting

this weekend to pass along to another friend.

Now, in my true confessions writing, I don't advise abusing your grains! LOL

I am only giving my personal experiences / confessions of a bad kefir mommy

and the results which followed, hoping it will help you or someone else who

reads this.

Love, Debbie

_____________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Debbie, mine seem pretty tough too. When I have to slow down I put them

in the fridge and it doesn't seem to hurt them at all. I haven't tried

over heating them yet!

Priscilla

[Guest guest]

ROTFL! I wouldn't advise anyone using overheating to slow them down

ROTFL!!! OPPS... I am bad, bad mommy! Love, Debbie

>

>

> Debbie, mine seem pretty tough too. When I have to slow down I put

them

> in the fridge and it doesn't seem to hurt them at all. I haven't

tried

> over heating them yet!

>

> Priscilla

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie:

I just noticed this e-mail from you. Thank you for your response. I

enjoyed reading, especially the part about the goat club. I have

only used goat milk that I purchase from a nice couple that sell

their goat cheese at a local farmer's Market near where I live in

Southern California. What do you do at the goat club? Back to your

post....basically it sounds like as long as I am giving my grains the

best milk I can obtain, the grains will continue to grow. Oh, I

never wash my grains, after straining I just add them to a clean

mason jar and pour fresh goat milk over them, cover the jar (I like

effervescent kefir) and let sit out for 24 hours (sometimes longer)

on my counter. I have been fermenting my kefir for roughly 2 weeks

and they have not multiplied. Well, acutally they might have

multiplied but maybe the tiny new kefir grains are slipping through

the plastic strainer I use. Your thoughts greatly appreciated.

!

> Good morning,

> I am the least of all on this list to answer your post, so,

please, except my experiences with kefir in light of the fact I've

only been culturing kefir a few months at best, from the grains I

purchased.

> I use a dishwasher, using commercial soap and don't do a vinegar

rinse

> (however, what a great idea which I'll start to practice when I

pick up more white distilled but I don't want to use my Braggs

vinegar for cleaning LOL).

> I wash my jars mostly in the dishwasher. Occasionally I wash one

out by hand.

> I've cultured both setting out on the stove and in the

refrigerator, with excellent results for me.

> The results I consider excellent, is kefir that is thicker then

cream which is smooth and creamy with a lovely flavor that I thought

I'd have to sweeten but have found

> I love it just the way it is.

> I've abused my grains (not intentionally) even in the short time

I've had them.

> Once I put them in storage in a 1/2 gal. canning jar with fresh

milk in the refrigerator and left them for 2 weeks (I had to take a

break, our refrig was maxed out with jars

> of kefir and they kept multiplying so fast! I thought they were a

strain crossed with zucchini LOL) The milk even from those grains who

had been hanging out in the back of the refrig for two weeks wasn't

thick, but still a lovely kefir flavor. I put the grains into fresh

milk and they were rocking and rolling immediately without missing a

beat.

> I thought for sure it would take the grains a week to bring them

back.

> Recently, I forgot the jar on my stove when I was baking

lasagna.....ahhhhhhhhhh, the jar was pretty hot and the milk with the

grains.............lets just say beyond warm,

> I was to scared to put my thermometer in the milk, or should I

say " very think " kefir . I quickly put the jar in the refrigerator

hoping for the best. Thinking, well, worst case, if I'd killed them,

I knew two friends who had offspring from mine already and

> I could start back up again.

> I pulled the jar out of the refrig after a few hours of cooling

down, drained the grains (didn't rinse) and put them in fresh milk

that night. Those hardy grains showed no wear from that ordeal either

3 nights ago, going right back into top production without missing a

beat again.

> These grains are now ready to be divided again for the 3rd time

since I got them!

> I will hopefully be bringing this split of offspring with me to our

goat club meeting

> this weekend to pass along to another friend.

> Now, in my true confessions writing, I don't advise abusing your

grains! LOL

> I am only giving my personal experiences / confessions of a bad

kefir mommy

> and the results which followed, hoping it will help you or someone

else who reads this.

> Love, Debbie

>

>

> _____________________________________________________________

> Click for free home mortgage rates from top companies.

> http://track.juno.com/s/lc?

u=http://tagline.untd.us/fc/Ioyw6iifTefKpWYj8lMAY8H94XQ1DkXc3HRpQDp9GN

IPLkFNyeH3Ln/

>

>

>