Water Kefir Forgotten On My Shelf
Have you forgotten your water kefir grains on a shelf? I have! Let’s revive them and get to making bubbly, water kefir soda again. I’ll show you how I did it.
I’ve been making water kefir for several years now. Our family loves the bubbly, soda-like drink. I like serving it to my family because of its probiotic health benefits. We’ve crafted different flavors over the years like ginger ale, blackberry, and cream soda. But I think ginger ale is my favorite!
When I first started down the path of culturing and fermenting our foods, I learned about Kombucha. I had a 2.5 gallon crock sitting on top of my fridge, constantly brewing. It took about week – sometimes more depending on the time of year – to brew that batch. Meanwhile, my children anxiously awaited the mom-approved soda they were going to get. However, they were disappointed when they realized they had to wait an additional 3 or so days for the second ferment.
I quickly employed the continuous brew method. It worked great. For awhile. I’m not known for my patience. Then I discovered water kefir and how much faster I could brew a gallon of probiotic bubbly. Thus keeping more “soda” on demand.
Since that purchase of water kefir grains, we never looked back. One purchase, and I have brewed water kefir for years. I’ve shared and even frozen my grains. In the past, I would simply store the kefir grains in the fridge when I knew we were going to be gone. Well, sad to say, I left my water kefir grains setting out on the shelf. Pushed to the back. Forgotten and neglected.
So the other day when I found it, I decided to check it out and see if I could bring it back to life. You know what I found? It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be because there was a glorious colony of grains that looked alive and well!
Check Out My Other Ferments
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Of course, don’t forget sourdough!
Sourdough Starter From Scratch
What are kefir grains?
Wait, what is all this about water kefir grains you ask? Oh, I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Let me introduce you to the wonderful world of probiotics in an effervescent cup of gut health, AKA water kefir; in other words, healthy soda.
The term “grains” doesn’t refer to an actual grain like wheat or rice, rather clusters of bacteria and yeast living in a symbiotic relationship. According to Dr. Axe’s article, there are 7 benefits to kefir, a few of which are:
- Immunity
- Potentially Fights Cancer
- Supports Digestion and Combats IBS
- Improves Allergies
- Heals Skin
Revive and thrive
Back to my colony of grains. After reading this article by Cultures For Health, I realized my kefir grains were in really great shape. I was more than amazed. In fact, the grains looked healthier than when I put them on the shelf all those months ago. I remember that my grains were looking weak and diminished in volume. Now they appear as large, plump, individual grains. Just as when I first purchased them.
Apparently the kefir grains had needed a little down time. Maybe there was enough minerals and sugar for the colony to stay alive. I’m not exactly sure of the science of it all. To know me is to know that I’m the kind of gal that if it works, I’m not going to try to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Because this mama ain’t got time for that!
Tools needed for culturing and using water kefir grains
Anytime I’m fermenting or culturing, I make sure I’m using the proper equipment so that I don’t cause an undesirable reaction to the ferment. Like killing it off. That would be bad. Obviously. Duh, Bob (to quote a very old Jackie Chan movie). PSA: don’t let your kids watch it. Those kids in the movie have serious attitude issues. Just sayin’. Anyway, back to the list of tools I use:
- glass mason jar – I use two wide-mouth half gallon jar because I brew a gallon at a time for our family of 5
- plastic mesh strainer – I bought this one for the soul purpose of kefir and kombucha
- wooden spoon
The process
- I pour the water kefir grains from its container over the sink and into my fine mesh strainer. We are on a septic system and this is great for it!
- Then I give the grains a rinse from my tap water. If your tap water has chlorine or other non-desirables, use filtered water. Always!
- Now I proceed with my normal routine steps of making water kefir. You can review that here. Let me know in the comments below if you’d like to see my exact method in another post.
Video Water Kefir Forgotten on my shelf
Have you ever forgotten about the grains?
Life happens. We get busy. I don’t know, perhaps take a blog course? We become overwhelmed. All of a sudden holiday season is upon us. Did you ever forget about your grains and think that they were a bust as a result? Let me know in the comments below if you have revived them because I’d love to hear how you did it!
I hope this post encouraged you that not all is lost. Unless you can’t find your kefir grains. Then maybe they are lost. Nah, let’s just go with temporarily put on the shelf until this season, too, shall pass. And amen.
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