Guest guest Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I hope it is okay to post this. From Dom's site Kathe Freezing Kefir Grains [both water and milk kefir-grains] One method for storing kefir grains for periods of up to 2 months, is by freezing spare grains. To freeze effectively, wash the grains with pre-boiled COOLED water. Pat-dry the grains between pre-ironed cooled white toweling to remove excess moisture. Place the grains in a jar or in a plastic bag, seal and put in the freezer. With milk grains, first add some dry milk powder, [DMP] adding enough to completely cover the grains with the DMP, seal jar or bag and then freeze. DMP is mixed with the milk kefir-grains as a cryoprotectant agent to prevent freezer burn. Although I've found that kefir grains are viable for up to one year with this method, this length of time may completely remove the yeast component found in healthy kefir grains [if frozen for longer than 2 months, but not specifically]. Because of this potential, freezing kefir grains as explained above, is best performed for a period of no longer than 2 months. If DMP is omitted with freezing milk kefir-grains, then a period of no longer than 1 month is recommended. Otherwise the yeast component of kefir grains may become damaged, especially so if thawed and frozen due to poor freezing conditions or poor freezer mechanism in the freezer. Note, do not add fresh milk or other water-based liquid with kefir grains meant for freezing, for the water will rupture many of the organisms, destroying the organisms during freezing. This is because water expands at 0 deg. C or freezing point. __________________________________________________________________ Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new . Click on Options in Mail and switch to New Mail today or register for free at http://mail..ca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2010 Report Share Posted September 7, 2010 So it is OK to freeze the grains in milk, and then thaw the chunk out,... and put the grains in milk? Then everything will be normal? Thank you. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 Hi ... It has turned out fine for me. I had positive input from some people before I did it. I would not try it routinely though and only if I had extra grains. Also, as Marilyn commented .. it is not an especially " fast " for recovery, as for her purposes. Best ... Joyce Simmerman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing them using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was dated 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang buster within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch to freeze for back up. Dom and Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 You have the record on longest lived kefir grains in the freezer. Must have to do with the vacuum sealing. Thanks for the tip. Marilyn On Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 4:49 PM, Dom Palumbo <dompalumbo@...> wrote: > I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing them > using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was dated > 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang buster > within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch to > freeze for back up. > > Dom and Carol > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 So then the question is - will this work for WATER kefir? Freeze then in sugar water? Ev On 9/8/2010 4:49 PM, Dom Palumbo wrote: > I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing them using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was dated 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang buster within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch to freeze for back up. > > Dom and Carol > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 <<<> I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing them using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was dated 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang buster within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch to freeze for back up.>> Did you freeze in a bit of milk, a lot of milk, or did you strain them (no rinsing) and then vac seal; or strain then rinse and vac seal? My vacuum sealer doesn't do well with any liquid - it sucks the liquid up into itself and makes a mess before it seals it. Thanks for you help (or anyone else's input as well)... I have a little extra right now and want to make some backup grains this weekend. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Hi Beth, I rinse with water, drain well, and freeze in a jar. If you want to vacuum seal, get your finger on the seal button and press it before it starts sucking up water. That's how I did all my strawberries this year. Marilyn On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 1:52 PM, BJDMohr <jdeamohr1@...> wrote: > <<<> I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing > them using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was > dated 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang > buster within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch > to freeze for back up.>> > > Did you freeze in a bit of milk, a lot of milk, or did you strain them (no > rinsing) and then vac seal; or strain then rinse and vac seal? My vacuum > sealer doesn't do well with any liquid - it sucks the liquid up into itself > and makes a mess before it seals it. > > Thanks for you help (or anyone else's input as well)... I have a little > extra right now and want to make some backup grains this weekend. > > Beth > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2010 Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 I strained the kifer, put them in a vacuum bag, then hit the start button with your finger on the seal button, as Marilyn said, as soon as the liquid gets near the Machine hit seal. I may try seal in a half pint canning jar using the accessory for doing that. From: marilynjarz@... Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:41:00 -0400 Subject: Re: Freezing Grains Hi Beth, I rinse with water, drain well, and freeze in a jar. If you want to vacuum seal, get your finger on the seal button and press it before it starts sucking up water. That's how I did all my strawberries this year. Marilyn On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 1:52 PM, BJDMohr <jdeamohr1@...> wrote: > <<<> I lost my grains. I remember I had froze some grains by vacuum sealing > them using my foodsaver. I searched my freezer and found the pack. It was > dated 2007. I didn't have much hope for them but they came back like gang > buster within 2 or 3 days. I was shocked. I will be creating another batch > to freeze for back up.>> > > Did you freeze in a bit of milk, a lot of milk, or did you strain them (no > rinsing) and then vac seal; or strain then rinse and vac seal? My vacuum > sealer doesn't do well with any liquid - it sucks the liquid up into itself > and makes a mess before it seals it. > > Thanks for you help (or anyone else's input as well)... I have a little > extra right now and want to make some backup grains this weekend. > > Beth > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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