Re: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

[Guest guest]

Your water grains have a healthy supply of bacteria as opposed to yeast.

Too much yeast makes alcohol and poor growth. You get growth from bacteria,

same as with kombucha. In a two day ferment with proper ratios so it is

done in two days, the growth will happen the second day. With kombucha,

with proper balance, growth of the scoby accelerates the last three days or

so before it is done in, say, ten days.

Marilyn

On Sun, Nov 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM, Sherre <sherre_vacek@...> wrote:

> I have lots of water kefir grains that I use and lots that I have dried as

> back ups and to mail people that need them. My grains always grow fairly

> rapidly, but this last experience was so incredible that I wanted to share

> it with you all:

>

> My daughter became very ill for an entire week, and I was making a

> homeopathic remedy that took two days to complete and I was giving it to

> her every two hours. In between those two hours I was trying to make

> homemade chicken noodle soup, etc. to nourish her. All that to say that I

> was busy 24/7 with no time to tend to my water kefir. At the end of that

> sick week, she got an abcessed tooth (a result of her dentist overlooking a

> cavity). That turned into several visits to dentists, endodontists (root

> canal), emergency room, etc. as the antibiotic they had her on was not

> working and the infection worsened until the side of her face was swollen

> to five times it's normal size due to the infection!

>

> Well, today she is well, but my grains sat for two weeks in their first

> ferment. I had 4 cups of grains sitting in a gallon jar with 2 cups of

> sugar for TWO SOLID WEEKS! I wasn't worried since I had plenty of backups

> and I was taking care of what was most important (my daughter). When I

> went to strain them, the liquid was most pleasant tasting (not at all

> vinegar-like) and my grains had grown to 6 cups! That's a 50% growth! I

> can hardly believe they grew 50% after such neglect!

>

> All I can say is WOW! These guys are sooooo hardy! Has anyone else

> experienced anything similar with their water grains?

>

> Sherre Vacek

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sherre,

what procedure do you use for drying the grains?

ie

________________________________

From: Sherre <sherre_vacek@...>

Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 9:30 AM

Subject: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

 

I have lots of water kefir grains that I use and lots that I have dried as back

ups and to mail people that need them. My grains always grow fairly rapidly,

but this last experience was so incredible that I wanted to share it with you

all:

My daughter became very ill for an entire week, and I was making a homeopathic

remedy that took two days to complete and I was giving it to her every two

hours. In between those two hours I was trying to make homemade chicken noodle

soup, etc. to nourish her. All that to say that I was busy 24/7 with no time to

tend to my water kefir. At the end of that sick week, she got an abcessed tooth

(a result of her dentist overlooking a cavity). That turned into several visits

to dentists, endodontists (root canal), emergency room, etc. as the antibiotic

they had her on was not working and the infection worsened until the side of her

face was swollen to five times it's normal size due to the infection!

Well, today she is well, but my grains sat for two weeks in their first ferment.

I had 4 cups of grains sitting in a gallon jar with 2 cups of sugar for TWO

SOLID WEEKS! I wasn't worried since I had plenty of backups and I was taking

care of what was most important (my daughter). When I went to strain them, the

liquid was most pleasant tasting (not at all vinegar-like) and my grains had

grown to 6 cups! That's a 50% growth! I can hardly believe they grew 50% after

such neglect!

All I can say is WOW! These guys are sooooo hardy! Has anyone else experienced

anything similar with their water grains?

Sherre Vacek

[Guest guest]

Sherre

Are you sharing any of your grains? I've been trying to revive mine but they are

not coming back, these were my backup ones and I'm in need of some fresh grains.

Would you be willing to share with me? I'll cover postage.

Thanks

Jen Larson

>

> Sherre,

> what procedure do you use for drying the grains?

> ie

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: Sherre <sherre_vacek@...>

>

> Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 9:30 AM

> Subject: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

>

>

>  

> I have lots of water kefir grains that I use and lots that I have dried as

back ups and to mail people that need them. My grains always grow fairly

rapidly, but this last experience was so incredible that I wanted to share it

with you all:

>

> My daughter became very ill for an entire week, and I was making a homeopathic

remedy that took two days to complete and I was giving it to her every two

hours. In between those two hours I was trying to make homemade chicken noodle

soup, etc. to nourish her. All that to say that I was busy 24/7 with no time to

tend to my water kefir. At the end of that sick week, she got an abcessed tooth

(a result of her dentist overlooking a cavity). That turned into several visits

to dentists, endodontists (root canal), emergency room, etc. as the antibiotic

they had her on was not working and the infection worsened until the side of her

face was swollen to five times it's normal size due to the infection!

>

> Well, today she is well, but my grains sat for two weeks in their first

ferment. I had 4 cups of grains sitting in a gallon jar with 2 cups of sugar

for TWO SOLID WEEKS! I wasn't worried since I had plenty of backups and I was

taking care of what was most important (my daughter). When I went to strain

them, the liquid was most pleasant tasting (not at all vinegar-like) and my

grains had grown to 6 cups! That's a 50% growth! I can hardly believe they

grew 50% after such neglect!

>

> All I can say is WOW! These guys are sooooo hardy! Has anyone else

experienced anything similar with their water grains?

>

> Sherre Vacek

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

For drying water kefir grains, I place them in a nutmilk bag (which is a fine

weave drawstring bag). I hang from somewhere to dry; that takes a long time.

Sometimes I'll place a fan nearby to speed up the process because my family

complains about the " kefir " smell throughout the house. Once dried completely,

you'll notice they have shrunk since all the water is evaporated out. I then

place in a Mason jar and fill all the way to the top to eliminate as much air as

possible, and store in my dark pantry. I have found that two tablespoons of

dried kefir grains will rehydrate to 1/2 cup of fresh grains. I rehydrate in

sugar water until fully plump, dump that water, then start making delicious

water kefir!

Sherre Vacek

>

> Sherre,

> what procedure do you use for drying the grains?

> ie

[Guest guest]

Yes, I'm happy to share my grains. E-mail me off-list at " sherre_vacek (at)

" , include your mailing address, and I'll send you a PayPal invoice for

the shipping.

Sherre Vacek

> >

> > Sherre,

> > what procedure do you use for drying the grains?

> > ie

> >

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: Sherre <sherre_vacek@>

> >

> > Sent: Sunday, November 6, 2011 9:30 AM

> > Subject: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

> >

> >

> >  

> > I have lots of water kefir grains that I use and lots that I have dried as

back ups and to mail people that need them. My grains always grow fairly

rapidly, but this last experience was so incredible that I wanted to share it

with you all:

> >

> > My daughter became very ill for an entire week, and I was making a

homeopathic remedy that took two days to complete and I was giving it to her

every two hours. In between those two hours I was trying to make homemade

chicken noodle soup, etc. to nourish her. All that to say that I was busy 24/7

with no time to tend to my water kefir. At the end of that sick week, she got

an abcessed tooth (a result of her dentist overlooking a cavity). That turned

into several visits to dentists, endodontists (root canal), emergency room, etc.

as the antibiotic they had her on was not working and the infection worsened

until the side of her face was swollen to five times it's normal size due to the

infection!

> >

> > Well, today she is well, but my grains sat for two weeks in their first

ferment. I had 4 cups of grains sitting in a gallon jar with 2 cups of sugar

for TWO SOLID WEEKS! I wasn't worried since I had plenty of backups and I was

taking care of what was most important (my daughter). When I went to strain

them, the liquid was most pleasant tasting (not at all vinegar-like) and my

grains had grown to 6 cups! That's a 50% growth! I can hardly believe they

grew 50% after such neglect!

> >

> > All I can say is WOW! These guys are sooooo hardy! Has anyone else

experienced anything similar with their water grains?

> >

> > Sherre Vacek

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sherre,

Could I use a dehydrator to lessen the drying time. I have a dehydrator...lowest

setting is 97 degrees.

Mai

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Re: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

For drying water kefir grains, I place them in a nutmilk bag (which is a fine

weave drawstring bag). I hang from somewhere to dry; that takes a long time.

Sometimes I'll place a fan nearby to speed up the process because my family

complains about the " kefir " smell throughout the house. Once dried completely,

you'll notice they have shrunk since all the water is evaporated out. I then

place in a Mason jar and fill all the way to the top to eliminate as much air as

possible, and store in my dark pantry. I have found that two tablespoons of

dried kefir grains will rehydrate to 1/2 cup of fresh grains. I rehydrate in

sugar water until fully plump, dump that water, then start making delicious

water kefir!

Sherre Vacek

>

> Sherre,

> what procedure do you use for drying the grains?

> ie

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Mai,

I would NOT use a dehydrator for drying your water kefir grains. Heat speeds up

the fermentation process, and actually, you are wanting to stall that

fermentation process by drying them at room temperature. When I place a fan

close by to speed the drying process, it is blowing room temperature air, not

heated air.

Of all the information I have gleaned from this list, other lists, and searching

the internet, I have never heard or read that one could dry their grains with a

dehydrator, so please do not do that unless you hear from someone who

successfully does that consistently with no problem.

With your extra grains, you can either dry some, share some with friends, eat

them whole, or blend them into your raw smoothie.

Regards,

Sherre Vacek

>

> Sherre,

>

> Could I use a dehydrator to lessen the drying time. I have a

dehydrator...lowest setting is 97 degrees.

>

>

> Mai

[Guest guest]

I may be mistaken, but I believe Marilyn has successfully dried grains

with a dehydrator. Cheers, Joyce Simmerman

[Guest guest]

I use a dehydrator every time. It is the best way. But I have a dehydrator

that doesn't get too hot. Use a thermometer if there are any doubts. Put

the kefir grains on a paper plate first.

Thanks,

Marilyn

On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 1:43 PM, Joyce M. Simmerman <nativelegal@...>wrote:

> I may be mistaken, but I believe Marilyn has successfully dried grains

> with a dehydrator. Cheers, Joyce Simmerman

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

what is the purpose of drying the grains. Are you talking water kefir or milk

kefir?

thankyou

s

God Bless America

________________________________

From: Marilyn Kefirlady <marilynjarz@...>

Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 1:04 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

 

I use a dehydrator every time. It is the best way. But I have a dehydrator

that doesn't get too hot. Use a thermometer if there are any doubts. Put

the kefir grains on a paper plate first.

Thanks,

Marilyn

On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 1:43 PM, Joyce M. Simmerman <nativelegal@...>wrote:

> I may be mistaken, but I believe Marilyn has successfully dried grains

> with a dehydrator. Cheers, Joyce Simmerman

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Interesting to know that. Please share the brand and model you use. I've been

wanting to purchase a dehydrator, but did not know if I could trust those " turn

knobs " that indicate the temperature. Would like to get one that someone has

used successfully.

Sherre Vacek

>

> > I may be mistaken, but I believe Marilyn has successfully dried grains

> > with a dehydrator. Cheers, Joyce Simmerman

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hello Sherre,

Just wanted to share with you the dehydrator brand that I use. I love Excalibur

brand for many many reasons,low heat and temperature regulation among them. I

wrote about them at

http://www.raw-food-diet-magazine.com/best-food-dehydrator.html

Jane Humes

[Guest guest]

Marilyn,

What temperature should the dehydrator not exceed if you are drying the MKG or

WKG? I have a dehydrator and have noticed a difference in temp if I use less

trays than if I use more trays. Also, how long do you dehydrate for? What

EXACTLY is the full process for dehydrating them?

Thanks,

Al

Re: Report on My Water Kefir Grain Growth

>

>Interesting to know that. Please share the brand and model you use. I've been

wanting to purchase a dehydrator, but did not know if I could trust those " turn

knobs " that indicate the temperature. Would like to get one that someone has

used successfully.

>

>Sherre Vacek

>

>

>>

>> > I may be mistaken, but I believe Marilyn has successfully dried grains

>> > with a dehydrator. Cheers, Joyce Simmerman

>> >

>> >

>> > ------------------------------------

>> >

>> >

[Guest guest]

I dry them for shipping purposes when there will be delays in delivery,

like sending to Europe, etc. Also for a back up.

Marilyn

On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 5:22 PM, s <cstevens3625@...>wrote:

>

>

> what is the purpose of drying the grains. Are you talking water kefir or

> milk kefir?

>

> thankyou

> s

>

> God Bless America

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 11:59 AM, <ouched63188@...> wrote:

> Marilyn,

>

> What temperature should the dehydrator not exceed if you are drying the

> MKG or WKG?

100 deg F.

> I have a dehydrator and have noticed a difference in temp if I use less

> trays than if I use more trays. Also, how long do you dehydrate for?

Until they are dry. Most of the time 2 days.

> What EXACTLY is the full process for dehydrating them?

>

Put your kefir grains on a paper plate and put it in the dehydrator.

Marilyn

>

> Thanks,

> Al

>

>