We have prepared water kefir: all the answers to your most frequent doubts

Water kefir: all the questions and answers to make natural water kefir recipe yourself!

Ivy Moscucci, expert in natural and organic cuisine, reveals all the secrets of water kefir.

Have you ever tried making water kefir? Water Kefir is a probiotic drink made from kefir grains, natural water and a natural sweetener. It is an excellent probiotic drink suitable for vegetarians and vegans that stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Furthermore, it does not contain gluten and is also suitable for celiacs.

For most people, water kefir can be safely consumed with minimal risk of adverse symptoms. Like other probiotic-rich foods, the most common side effects include digestive problems such as bloating, nausea, constipation, and cramps. These side effects tend to diminish with continued consumption.

We have collected more than a hundred questions and we have selected some of the most important to give you the answers on the most frequent doubts that arise when trying to discover its benefits, health effects and how to make this beneficial drink at home. In this article we answer the first twenty questions while you can read the answers to the other thirty here.

How can I make water kefir more gaseous?

If you want the water kefir to be more sparkling, once you have added the fresh fruit juice (extract) you can put it in airtight bottles, and let it rest for a couple of days, in this way it will produce carbon dioxide thanks to the natural fermentation.

Can i ferment water kefir for more than 48 hours?

It would be better not to ferment the water kefir grains for more than 48 hours, this is because the more time passes, the more the grains can "starve" and become damaged (especially in the hot season, when the cultivation process is accelerated due to temperatures higher).

How Do I Know If My Water Kefir Has Come Well?

The main indication for evaluating the success of water kefir is that the finished product should taste less sweet than just the sugar water or fruit juice you started the fermentation process with.

What does ready-made water kefir taste like?

The final water kefir will be quite sweet. Depending on the type of sugar used, the quantity and the time of cultivation, water kefir can also be slightly fizzy. Water kefir can be flavored with fruit (fresh or dried), fruit juices, and natural flavors.

Do water kefir grains multiply?

Water kefir grains often, but not always, multiply. Even if they do not multiply, with proper care water kefir grains can be used repeatedly to make water kefir

Can I use a plastic container to make water kefir and plastic bottles to store it?

Theoretically food-grade plastic should not cause any harm to culture but I recommend that you use glass when working with water kefir for the first time due to the potential danger that plastic can release unwanted chemicals into the kefir water and so on. negatively affect the quality of the final product.

How can I flavor water kefir?

Water kefir made with water and sugar can be flavored (after the kefir grains have been removed) with fruit (fresh or dried), fresh fruit juice or natural flavorings and spices. Fruit can be added during or after the growing process, but must be changed regularly (daily for fresh fruit, weekly for dried fruit). A tasty refreshing drink can be made by adding lemon juice to the finished water kefir (finished meant as finished water kefir after 48h). Although almost any fruit juice can be used, I recommend the most sugary and ripe fruit extracts.

Can I flavor the water kefir before fermentation?

Yes, technically it is possible to add fruit (fresh or dried) to the water and sugar at the same time you add the grains. Some cautionary notes: 1) Not all fruit is compatible with kefir grains and over time, the latter can damage kefir grains. Strawberries and figs on the other hand can be safely added during the growing process 2) Make sure to put both the fruit and the kefir grains in a cotton muslin bag before starting the growing process: the fruit (fresh or dried), it tends to disintegrate into small pieces during the fermentation process, this would make it extremely difficult to separate the fruit from the kefir grains before making a new water kefir.

Can i use juice to make water kefir?

Yes, fresh fruit juice (I recommend the organic one) can be used to make water kefir. However, it is best to have new kefir grains (freshly gifted or freshly made from starter cultures) strengthened using water and sugar (at least a couple of times) before using the juice. In addition, it is better to use separate groups of kefir grains to make with juice and those for culture with sugar water. The juice could slightly damage the crops and by moving it from the water and sugar to the juice, the flavor could suffer a lot. On average, 2l of fresh juice (extracted and possibly diluted with filtered water) with 3-4 tablespoons of kefir grains should be used.

What is the amount of kefir grains to use to make water kefir?

On average 3-4 tablespoons of hydrated kefir grains should be added to 1-2 liters of water and sugar which should be changed every 24 to 48 hours.

How do I remove the kefir grains from my finished water kefir?

I recommend that you use a muslin bag in which to keep your kefir grains, so it will be easier to move them from one crop to another. Alternatively, use a colander.

Where can I keep my finished water kefir?

Once the culture process is complete and the grains have been removed, you can bottle the finished water kefir with or without fruit juice (consider adding 15% to 20% juice at the most), let it sit for a few days to allow carbon dioxide to build up making your water kefir slightly sparkling. Water kefir can be stored in a container with a lid. Options include jars with lids and glass bottles. Bottled water kefir stored in an airtight container and subsequently flavored with fresh fruit extract (or pieces of fresh or dried fruit) will generally be more carbonated than bottled water kefir without juice due to the higher sugar content. high.

If I am making other fermented foods at home (such as yogurt, sourdough, Kombucha, etc), at what distance should I keep the water kefir grains?

I recommend that you keep a distance of at least several meters between elements that are actively fermenting at room temperature, for example, in your kitchen. When fermented foods are stored in the refrigerator with tight-fitting lids there is no need to keep a distance between them.

Where can I find instructions for making water kefir?

Click here to see instructions for making water kefir: Water kefir: How to make it at home and its benefits

When I rehydrate my kefir grains, I don't see bubbles. It's normal?

Yes. Even though water kefir is typically fizzy, a number of water kefir may need to be made before the bubbles are clearly visible. If, on the other hand, you are concerned that the grains are "working", simply taste the liquid before and after the fermentation process. Even though the finished water kefir will be sweeter, it won't be as sweet as the original sugar water. Also, the color of the liquid changes during the 48-hour fermentation (it will generally become lighter in color).

Can I drink the water and sugar used to rehydrate my kefir grains?

It's possible but I don't recommend it. Since the kefir grains at this stage were more involved in the rehydration process (and here I mean starters or kefir grains inactive for some time, which will need to be revitalized) rather than consuming the sugar, the drink will likely result in a large amount of sugar.

Can i rehydrate kefir grains for longer than 3/4 days?

I strongly suggest that you rehydrate the water kefir grains by changing the water and sugar after 3-4 days. Leaving them for a longer period in the same solution could damage them.

Not sure if my kefir grains are working properly. How do I know if they are healthy and fermenting, using sugars correctly?

The ultimate test to see if the kefir grains are working properly is that the finished kefir will be less sweet than the initial water and sugar. Additionally, kefir generally changes color over the 48-hour fermentation period.

Is there any danger that the glass container will explode under the pressure of fermenting the water kefir?

In rare cases, a bottle may burst, although the lids do not occasionally fly off, particularly when the water kefir is opened. To avoid this, do you try to open the container above a sink?

Click here to find out the recipe for making Kefir or to find out where to buy water Kefir grains as well as read the second part of the article.

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