PROBIOTICS for you and your chickens

[Miss Lydia]

When I strain the stuff that stays in the strainer I put back into the jar to start a new batch and the liquid in the bowl goes into a jar to drink..Isn't that the way your suppose to do it?

 

[vmdanielsen]

I generally do not stain mine. I have a big grain. I use only one(grain). I pick it out with a spoon, start my next batch(with the grain) and just drink what remains in the jar or make smoothies with it( the creamy kefir). Depending on the size of your grains, you make need to use a coarse strainer to strain it for the grains, for the next batch. If you want thicker kefir to drink, you my need to strain with a cheesecloth, to take the whey out. I think Ernie made some sort of cheese with it. If you let a lot of the liquid come out of it (the whey) the remains (in the cheesecloth) will be thicker. The whey is perfectly good to drink or use, but I wouldn't really consider it kefir....maybe kefir whey?. Does this answer your question?
Ginny


edited to hopefully make it more understandable!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

so if I want a quart of kefir, I should be using everything in the strainer except a spoonful that will go back into the jar for the new batch?my strainer is stainless steal and has very small screen, so maybe I would be better off using a colander instead so I get more of the think stuff[whey] to drink, I am sorry but I am confused a little. right now what stays in the strainer is probably close to 1 cup thats the thick stuff. I think my problem is my strainer the holes are just too tiny.

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

I may be doing it wrong also. So lets compare how we are doing it to see if we are doing it the right way. I'm sure there are more than one method to get the same results.

1. I put 1/4 cup of Kefir Grains (Marbles) into a quart sized glass jar & cover with 3 cups of whole milk.
2. Then I put a paper towel over the top, and use a hair band to hold it in place.
3. I then put it into the cupboard for 24 hours, gently shaking it 3-4 times or every so often.
4. The next day I pull out my plastic strainer and a medium glass bowl.
5. I put the strainer into the glass bowl, and pour the Kefir in to the strainer.
6. If some of it is to thick to go thru the strainer, I gently shake the strainer, while it's still in the bowl of Kefir
and some of the thick kurds wash into the bowl away from my grains.
7. Once I get only the Kefir grains remaining in the strainer, I use a plastic spoon to put them back into my
glass jar for the next batch.
8. I pour the fresh Kefir from the glass bowl into a glass jar. I add 1tsp vanilla & 1 Tbs. honey. Stir it well,
and then refridgerate for 2 days to mellow the taste.
9. After 2 days, I make Kefir smoothies or ice cream or just drink it.

The only time I notice its really thick is during the straining process. After that, its more thicker than milk, but not as thick as yogurt.
Am I doing it right?

 

[emarble]

Quote:
Hi Trish
Yea try a collander with small holes and strain the grains that way and tap the collander then return all of the grains back to the! Make sure that you are striring it really good (Not hard stiring just stiring with a plastic or wooden spoon to mix it well so it strains good) Return all of the grains back to the jar and add a qurat of milk or so! If you use a quart jar then you just fill it to within about an inch of the top (Roughly)

Ernie

 

[emarble]

Quote:
Hi Trish
Yea try a collander with small holes and strain the grains that way and tap the collander then return all of the grains back to the! Make sure that you are striring it really good (Not hard stiring just stiring with a plastic or wooden spoon to mix it well so it strains good) Return all of the grains back to the jar and add a qurat of milk or so! If you use a quart jar then you just fill it to within about an inch of the top (Roughly)
It is OK to leave some curds on the grains but you want to get all the grains back into the jar (At least the bigger ones)

Ernie

 

[Miss Lydia]

After reading your method i am sure it's my strainer. the holes are so tiny that nothing is going through except the liquid even if I gently shake the strainer from side to side. So off to get a different kind of strainer or I will try my colander first... thanks for clarifying it for me.

 

[emarble]

Quote:

 

[emarble]

Quote:

yep the only different thing I do is I just add all the grains back to the jar and add milk remember to stir before you put the cover back on! I really don't worry about having too many grains going back till I get over 3/4 of a cup then I split them and make 2 batches Then when both get over that amount! Then that is when I share with you all!!

Ernie

 

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
Maybe you are not waiting long enough...check out this site and see if it helps http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/fermenting/kefir_howto.shtml