You want to make kefir… yet right off the bat, you’ve got a decision to make… which starter to use?
You see, you can use kefir grains or a kefir powder as your starter.
Uh-oh. All of a sudden, the kefir that everyone says is so easy just got complicated!
Which is better? Which is healthier?
Good questions!
Jen is asking, too:
“Which is better — kefir grains or kefir powder?” asks Jen on today’s #AskWardee. I’m sharing my thoughts below!
I broadcast #AskWardee live each Wednesday at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern) on Periscope and Facebook Live. Both the podcast and video replay of this week’s show are below. Enjoy!
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The Question
Jen wants to know:
Hello! My questions is in regard to kefir. I make my own kefir with a freeze-dried kefir starter. Once I had my first batch completed, I make my ongoing kefir out of my previous batch. What about using the kefir grains instead. Is there a health or nutritional benefit with using the grains versus the freeze-dried powder? Thank you in advance for your response!
My Answer: Kefir Grains vs. Kefir Powder
First let’s talk about what dairy kefir is, and I’ll tell you about the starter cultures (kefir grains vs kefir powder). Then we’ll get to what’s better overall.
What Is Kefir?
Kefir is a fermented dairy that’s similar to yogurt, except the mother culture is both beneficial bacteria and yeast. Yogurt is just beneficial bacteria.
The end result is thinner, more sour, and even a bit effervescent or bubbly, due to the organisms producing more gas as they culture the milk.
You can make dairy kefir with raw or pasteurized milk. It’s easier than yogurt, really. Simply plop your culture (either grains or powder) into a bit of milk, cover your jar, and let it culture at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours (adjusting up or down depending on the season of the year, temperature of your house, etc.).
Then, if you’re using grains, you remove them and put them a new batch of milk, and cover and refrigerate the finished kefir. Or if you’re using powder, you cover and refrigerate your finished kefir, using more powder for the next batch. (Or as Jen does, using the previous batch as a starter for the next batch… which is more like clabber if you use raw milk and more like a pure kefir starter if your milk was pasteurized.)
I don’t want to get too complicated, as there are nuances even with what I just described. We’re going to keep it simple and focus on the kefir grains vs. kefir powder.
What Are Kefir Grains?
Kefir grains are the mother culture for making kefir. They are soft and rubbery and look a lot like clumps of cauliflower. You put them in milk and pull them out, and can reuse them over and over again. They also grow (some do, some don’t, it depends on the milk and conditions)… so you can share with friends or make more with your extra grains.
What’s in the grains, though? The beneficial yeasts and bacteria! They live in that matrix that is like rubbery cauliflower. And when plopped into milk (or coconut milk), they eat the lactose in milk and in exchange create the thickened, curdled, sour, bubbly milk we call kefir! Kefir is full of probiotics and beneficial acids. It also has less lactose (milk sugar) than milk… the longer it ferments, the more lactose is consumed.
These grains contain at least 30 beneficial strains of bacteria and yeast, making them a true probiotic power house!
What Is Kefir Powder?
Kefir powder is a freeze-dried culture of 7 to 9 strains of beneficial bacteria and yeasts in powder form. You mix it with your milk (or coconut milk), and it creates kefir.
The resulting kefir can be used to make new batches, but not indefinitely.
Usually after a few batches, the culture will be weakened sufficiently that the kefir doesn’t really turn out. Then more freeze-dried powder needs to be mixed with milk, and you start all over again. (This is similar to using finished yogurt as your yogurt culture; it won’t work forever. Eventually, you need to purchase more store-bought yogurt or a powder culture and start again.)
So Which Is Better? Kefir Grains or Kefir Powder?
For 2 main reasons, I believe the kefir grains are better than the powder.
First, the grains contain many more strains of beneficial organisms and therefore, so does your kefir. It has more probiotic diversity! (This also means it may taste different, like be more bubbly or more sour.)
Second, the grains can be used over and over again, while the powder will need to be purchased again. You can stretch that out by using a small amount of powder, then culturing with finished kefir for several batches — but it won’t last forever, like kefir grains can.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits of using powdered kefir starter. It can be more convenient. Just add powder. No straining out of the grains when you’re done, and certainly no having to take care of the grains if you want to take a break from making kefir.
So that’s my answer. I’ll have links below for you to get more information about kefir and more ideas to use it, too!
Also… be sure to grab my free thick raw milk yogurt recipe that I just made available. Thick raw milk yogurt IS possible with 1 special ingredient! 🙂 Go here to get the free recipe.
Where To Buy: Kefir Grains Or Kefir Powder
Our preferred source for cultures such as kefir — grains or powder — is Cultures for Health.
TCS members, you can save 10% to 15% off your cultures and supplies if you use the coupon code you’ll find in the private member area!
For More Information:
- Why Dairy Kefir?
- 8 Yummy Ways To Eat Dairy Kefir
- FREE Raw Milk Yogurt Recipe
- Traditional Cooking School’s Cultured Dairy eCourse
- Cultured Dairy eBook & Video Package
- Get Kefir Grains or Powder at Cultures for Health (TCS members check the private resources page for your 10% to 15% off coupon code!)
More Kefir Related Articles from the #AskWardee Show:
- What To Do With Over-Fermented Kefir? #AskWardee 111
- Help! How Do I Find My Kefir Grains? #AskWardee 051
- How Long Does Kefir Last? #AskWardee 060
- My Kefir Looks _______! Are My Kefir Grains Okay? #AskWardee 015
- The ULTIMATE Water Kefir Guide (how to make it, store it, flavor it, brewing tips & MORE!)
- How To Make Thicker Milk Kefir
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I share tips and resources, plus answer your questions about Traditional Cooking!
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So how do you make kefir? Kefir grains or kefir powder?
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I am a four month user and find my kefir grains to be fabulous. I use raw goat milk and a small kefir clump gives me about 8 oz. of kefir a day. When he grains birth more (frequently), I gently chew and swallow the extra trusting their ability to do good things while going through the gut. I never rinse the kefir gains anymore and either just add more milk after drinking the kefir, or if the glass (pint Bell jar) is asking to be washed, transfer the grains to a new jar. This has worked super well so far. The longest I’ve left the grains is two weeks for a trip and put it with fresh milk in the fridge. Kefir was part thick and part alcohlish when I returned, and the grains were good to go.
Delighted Kefir Nanny
i bought a kefir starter in apple juice . i have made many bottles . it seams to be active and brown powdered stuff is growing .its been 8 months . how do i know when its not good to use . the label said use up to 8 times . maybe i am making just yeast .it makes lots of co2 .
if had it in milk i would know if it was good our not . i will just find me some real kefir grains that last forever if feed them . what i have is great if need to burp to get gas out belly works very fat . and wont let mold grow either.
Hi, Kenny.
We’re not sure that kefir grains in apple juice will grow and culture milk. You can try it. Let us know if you do. 🙂
~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
I keep reading various articles that state a starter culture as opposed to kefir grains has a limited number of uses. I have been producing kefir for over a year now from a single starter culture. The kefir seems very active and i see no reduction in potency. Surely if the bacteria is constantly fed it will continue to survive or am I mistaken.
James,
Sounds like your starter culture is still going strong, that is great! Usually over time, people report it does need more starter culture. I would keep going as long as it is strong and active. 🙂
~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team
This is a false claim that starter culture eventually weakens and needs new starter culture. I have been making bulgarian yoghurt for 2 years from one original starter culture. The culture will continue to thrive as long as it has sugar to eat. This nonsense that you have to replace cultures with new powder was invented by companies who need you to continue to buy their powders.
Is the same true for Kefir?
I use existing kefir to make new batches and they come out thick and taste tangy, the way we like it. I’ve heard that making kefir from existing kefir is less potent. It doesn’t seem to be.