Milk Kefir FAQ | Overview

Introuduction

Welcome to our milk kefir FAQ overview page! We have created a comprehensive FAQ guide to address any questions or concerns you may have about milk kefir and milk kefir grains. We recommend starting with your common questions & troubleshooting FAQ first. If you don't find your answer, or are simply interested in learning more about this amazing drink, please explore our other FAQs by exploring the links below. 

Milk Kefir FAQ Links

1. Milk Kefir FAQ | Common Questions & Troubleshooting
2. Milk Kefir FAQ | Milk Kefir Grains 101
3. Milk Kefir FAQ | Milk Kefir 101
4. Milk Kefir FAQ | Equipment & Supplies
5. Milk Kefir FAQ | Fermentation
6. Milk Kefir FAQ | Straining
7. Milk Kefir FAQ | Grain Health, Care & Contamination

Detailed Milk Kefir FAQ Links

1. Milk Kefir Grains FAQ | Common Questions & Troubleshooting

• Will My Milk Kefir Grains Survive Shipping?
• I've Just Received My Milk Kefir Grains And They Aren't Working
• My Milk Kefir Smells Yeasty/Bitter
• Why Aren't My Milk Kefir Grains Growing?
  • Ambient Temperature Is Too Low Or High
  • Overcrowding
  • Infrequent Feedings
  • Type Of Milk
  • Over-Fermentation
• Why Is My Milk Kefir Separating Into A Clear And White Layer?
• Can I Use A Metal Strainer And Spoon?
• I Have A Holiday/Want To Take A Break From Making Milk Kefir

2. Milk Kefir FAQ | Milk Kefir Grains 101

• Introduction
• What are Milk Kefir Grains?
• Where do Milk Kefir Grains Come From?
• What Should Milk Kefir Grains Look Like (Shape, Size, and Texture)?
• What Factors Affect Kefir Grain Size, Texture, & Shape?
  • Origin/Strain
  • Straining Technique
  • Milk Type
  • Temperature
• Does Kefir Grain Size Matter?
• Can Milk Kefir Grains be Eaten?
• Can Milk Kefir Grains Die?
  • Temperature
  • Feeding Times
  • Refreshes With Animal Milk When Using Plant Milk
• Are Kefir Grains Reusable?
• Are Kefir Grains Safe?
• Where Can I Buy Milk Kefir Grains?
• Are Milk Kefir Grains Vegan?
• What Can I Do With Excess Milk Kefir Grains?
• How Quickly Do Milk Kefir Grains Grow?
• Why Aren’t My Milk Kefir Grains Growing?
  • Ambient Temperature Is Too Low or Too High
  • Overcrowding
  • Infrequent Feedings
  • Type of Milk
  • Over-Fermentation
• What Is the Difference Between Milk Kefir Grains and Water Kefir Grains?
  • Similarities
  • Differences
• Can I Use Milk Kefir Grains to Make Water Kefir?
• How Do I Convert Milk Kefir Grains to Water Kefir Grains?
  • Equipment and Ingredients
  • Steps
• Can I Use Water Kefir Grains to Make Milk Kefir?
• How Can I Make Milk Kefir Grains at Home/From Scratch?
• How Do I Use Milk Kefir Grains?

3. Milk Kefir FAQ | Milk Kefir 101

4. Milk Kefir FAQ | Equipment & Supplies

• Do I Need to Buy a Special Starter Kit, or Can I Use Things From My Kitchen?
• What Supplies Do I Need for Making Milk Kefir?
  • A Fine Mesh Stainless Steel or Nylon Sieve
  • A Spoon, Silicone Spatula, or Slotted Nylon Spoon
  • A Glass Jar
  • Milk Kefir Grains
  • Milk
  • A Bottle
  • A Funnel (Optional)
  • A Seedling/Reptile Heating Mat (Optional)
  • Thermometer (Optional)
• Is a Thermometer or Heating Mat Necessary for Making Kefir?
  • Heating Mat
  • Thermometer
• Is a Stainless Steel or Nylon Sieve Better for Making Milk Kefir?
  • Metal Sieves
  • Nylon Sieves
• What Milk Is Best For Making Milk Kefir?
  • Best Milk Types for Kefir
• Do I Need a Special Lid, Such as One With a One-way Valve?
• Should I Ferment With a Lid Or With a Teatowel/Cheesecloth and a Rubber Band?
  • Using a Lid
  • Cheesecloth or Teatowel
• Can I Use a Cheesecloth or Coffee Filters to Strain Milk Kefir Instead of a Sieve?
  • Cheesecloth
  • Coffee Filter
• Can I Use a Mesh to Strain Milk Kefir?
• What Size Jar Should I Use for Making Milk Kefir?
• Can I Ferment Kefir in Plastic Containers Instead of Glass?
• Can I Use a Wooden or Bamboo Spoon Instead of Metal?
• What's the Best Type of Bottle for Storing Finished Kefir?
• Can I Use an Electric Yoghurt Maker/Fermentation Device to Make Milk Kefir?

5. Milk Kefir FAQ | Fermentation

• How Long Should I Ferment Milk Kefir?
  • If Your Milk Kefir is Fermenting Too Fast (Under 24 Hours)
  • If Your Milk Kefir is Fermenting Too Slowly (Longer Than 48 Hours)
• What Temperature is Best for Fermenting Milk Kefir?
  • Temperatures Below 18°C (65°F)
  • Temperatures Above 28°C (85°F)
• How Do I Know When My Kefir Is Ready?
• Can I Shorten or Extend Fermentation Time for Taste Preference?
  • Mildly Fermented Milk Kefir
  • Moderately Fermented Milk Kefir
  • Highly Fermented Milk Kefir
• What Happens If I Ferment Too Long?
• Can I Ferment Kefir in the Fridge?
  • Effect on Taste and Texture
  • Effect on the Grains
• Why Does My Kefir Taste Different Each Time?
  • Temperature
  • Fermentation Level
• Why Is My Milk Kefir Separating?
• How Much Kefir Should I Make at Once?
• Should I Stir or Shake the Kefir During Fermentation?
• Should I Wash My Milk Kefir Jar and How Often?
  • Summary
• Should I Ferment Milk Kefir Without Oxygen (Airtight/With a Lid) or With Oxygen (Covered With a Cloth)?
  • Aerobic/Open Lid Fermentations
  • Anaerobic/Closed Lid Fermentations
  • Comparison
• Why Is My Kefir Too Sour or Too Mild?
• How Can I Make My Milk Kefir Thicker?
  • Using Full Cream Milk
  • Adding Thickened Cream
  • Refrigerating Your Milk Kefir
  • Adding Milk Powder
  • Reduce the Temperature
  • Increase the Fermentation Time
  • Secondary Fermentation
• What Should Kefir Smell Like During Fermentation?
• Should Kefir Grains Sink or Float?
  • Why Kefir Grains Can Float
  • Why Kefir Grains Can Sink
• Is It Normal for Kefir to Form a Thick Layer on Top While Fermenting?
• Do Larger Batches Take Longer to Ferment?
• Why Does My Kefir Get Fizzy While Fermenting?
• Can I Mix Different Types of Milk in One Fermentation?
• Does the Season or Climate Affect Fermentation?
  • Temperature
  • Humidity

6. Milk Kefir FAQ | Straining

• How do I Separate the Grains From the Milk Kefir?
• Why Does Straining Milk Kefir Take so Long?
• How Can I Strain Milk Kefir Faster?
  • Equipment
  • Technique
• What Should I Do If My Kefir Is Overfermented and Very Separated?
• Why are There White Clumps in the Strainer?
• Why Have My Kefir Grains Disappeared?
• What Type of Strainer Should I Use for Milk Kefir?
• Can I Use an Electric Whisk to Speed Up Straining?
• How Do I Clean My Strainer After Straining Kefir?
• Can I Use a Metal Strainer for Kefir?
• Why Is My Kefir Too Thick to Strain?
• My Kefir Grains are Getting Pushed Through the Strainer. What Should I Do?
• Should I Wash or Rinse My Kefir Grains?
• Should I Stir or Shake Kefir Before Straining?
• How Do I Prevent Losing Grains While Straining?
• Can I Use Cheesecloth or a Coffee Filter Instead of a Strainer?
  • Cheesecloth
  • Coffee Filter

7. Milk Kefir FAQ | Grain Health, Care & Contamination

• Why are My Kefir Grains not Working?
  • Low Temperature
  • New Environment
  • Unsuitable Milk
  • Damaged Grains
  • Storage Methods
• What Should Healthy Milk Kefir Grains Look Like?
• Does Grain Size Matter? Are Small Grains Bad?
• Are Milk Kefir Grains Supposed to Float or Sink?
• Are My Kefir Grains Dead?
• Why are My Kefir Grains Mushy or Disintegrating?
• Is There Mould On My Kefir Grains or Milk Kefir?
• Why is There a White or Light-Brown Film on My Milk Kefir?
  • Signs of Kahm Yeast
  • Removing Kahm Yeast
• Can I Save Contaminated Or Mouldy Kefir Grains?
• I Forgot to Feed My Kefir Grains. Are They Okay?
• Why Do My Grains Look Like Hollow Balloons or Flat Ribbons?
• Why Do My Grains Have Sticky, Thread-Like Strings When Separated?
• How Fast Should Kefir Grains Grow?
• Should I Wash or Rinse My Kefir Grains?
• Why Do My Kefir Grains Have Orange/Yellow Patches?
• Can Milk Kefir Grains Become Cross-Contaminated With Other Cultures, Such as Kombucha?
• Why is My Milk Kefir Stringy and Elastic?
  • Removing Viili Contamination
• Why Aren't My Kefir Grains Multiplying?
  • Ambient Temperature Too Low or High
  • Overcrowding
  • Infrequent Feedings
  • Type of Milk
  • Over-Fermentation
• Why Does My Milk Kefir Taste/Smell Bitter?
  • Over-fermentation
  • Using Too Many Kefir Grains
  • Stressed Grains
  • Contamination
• Why Does My Milk Kefir Taste/Smell Like Rotten Eggs, Sulphur, or Yeast?
  • Not-Stirring Your Milk Kefir
  • Over-fermentation
  • Using Too Many Kefir Grains
  • Temperature
  • Open-Lid Fermentations
  • Contamination
• Why Is My Milk Kefir Thin or Watery?
  • Under-Fermentation
  • Milk Type
  • Temperature
• Why Is My Milk Kefir Lumpy and Gritty?