Kefir—Any thoughts

Jstroke

Thought I would ask the crew. Anyone one making it regularly or using it regularly. Any observations thoughts or experiences over the long haul. Long story short, my good old mother keeps “reminding” me to try it. It isn’t bad taste wise. Just wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze.

ColtsFan

I drink the store bought stuff regularly in the evenings. I think it help me sleep. I love the carbonated/fermented flavor. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I drink store bought regularly also.  Along with fermented veggies and stuff.   Really helped me with stomach issues.

caliking

I'm a fan. Our grocery stores stock Lifeway brand, which is pretty good.

 I make yogurt every once in a while, but not often,  as HEB has a great Bulgarian yogurt that tastes like what my mom used to make. 

Pinging @lkapigian... I believe he dabbles in the homemade yogurt game. 

Canugghead

I'm a beginner in yogurt making using IP, could use some expert tips, perhaps @lkapigian can start a new yogurt thread so as not to hijack this thread?

lkapigian

lactobacillus bacteria  Is all you u need to know. From Yogurt to Peppers , the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

Botch

lkapigian said:
...the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

wat?  

Legume

Botch said:

lkapigian said:
...the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

wat?  

The gut health bacteria is amazing. Just start with whole milk and a starter culture, you'll have yogurt.

Legume

@Jstroke did you say in the other thread that you've quit vegetables?  

Jstroke

Thanks for all the reply’s 

@Legume, you are correct.  No veg since Thanksgiving. I tried reintroducing a couple of times. It gave me some wicked gas so I quit. I’m pretty sure that ship has sailed.

Mr1egg

Makes u poop alot alot

lkapigian

Jstroke said:

Thanks for all the reply’s 

@Legume, you are correct.  No veg since Thanksgiving. I tried reintroducing a couple of times. It gave me some wicked gas so I quit. I’m pretty sure that ship has sailed.

That’s to bad about the veggies, there are ways to get Lactobacilli like Kefir , Yoghurt etc curious if fermented veggies have the same affect on you as much by adding more healthy bacteria to your gut 

Jstroke

lkapigian said:

Jstroke said:

Thanks for all the reply’s 

@Legume, you are correct.  No veg since Thanksgiving. I tried reintroducing a couple of times. It gave me some wicked gas so I quit. I’m pretty sure that ship has sailed.

That’s to bad about the veggies, there are ways to get Lactobacilli like Kefir , Yoghurt etc curious if fermented veggies have the same affect on you as much by adding more healthy bacteria to your gut 

It is an interesting thought. I will try it. Thanks for the suggestion. 

buzd504

caliking said:

 I make yogurt every once in a while, but not often,  as HEB has a great Bulgarian yogurt that tastes like what my mom used to make. 

If that's the stuff from Austin, we can find it here occasionally.  I'm a fan.

lkapigian

Botch said:

lkapigian said:
...the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

wat?  

Gut Health, spell check lol, whole milk , starter culture you’ll get yoghurt 

Canugghead

lkapigian said:

Botch said:

lkapigian said:
...the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

wat?  

Gut Health, spell check lol, whole milk , starter culture you’ll get yoghurt 

Used to make yogurt years ago in one of those incubator kits with set of mini jars, what a pain cleaning, sterilising, filling those little suckers.

Started making it again late last year in IP, finally got a chance to use the spare inner pot and pristine gasket. Game changer.

And speaking of gut health, I stopped taking probiotic tabs for regular 'movements' 

Conventional wisdom says save a couple of TBS to use as starter for the next batch, problem is it loses potency after multiple generations.

To save on expensive starters (yes I'm a cheap a**), or avoid the hassle of buying yogurt with active culture as starter, here's what works well for me: 
Start a batch with a good commercial starter, seal and freeze most of it in little pouches. As each stream loses its potency, withdraw a new Gen 1 starter from the 'sperm' bank 



Apology to OP for thread jacking, I don't have a clue if there is such a thing as propagating kefir grains?

Jstroke

@Canugghead, all good sir. I appreciate the tips for yogurt. I will probably try both. You can “create” kefir grains, but from what I gather it is fairly laborious. I will start with either donated or bought.

caliking

buzd504 said:

caliking said:

 I make yogurt every once in a while, but not often,  as HEB has a great Bulgarian yogurt that tastes like what my mom used to make. 

If that's the stuff from Austin, we can find it here occasionally.  I'm a fan.

I think it is.

caliking

Canugghead said:

lkapigian said:

Botch said:

lkapigian said:
...the Guy health Bacteria is amazing … rock should me whole milk and a stater culture , you’ll have Yogurt 

wat?  

Gut Health, spell check lol, whole milk , starter culture you’ll get yoghurt 

Used to make yogurt years ago in one of those incubator kits with set of mini jars, what a pain cleaning, sterilising, filling those little suckers.

Started making it again late last year in IP, finally got a chance to use the spare inner pot and pristine gasket. Game changer.

And speaking of gut health, I stopped taking probiotic tabs for regular 'movements' 

Conventional wisdom says save a couple of TBS to use as starter for the next batch, problem is it loses potency after multiple generations.

To save on expensive starters (yes I'm a cheap a**), or avoid the hassle of buying yogurt with active culture as starter, here's what works well for me: 
Start a batch with a good commercial starter, seal and freeze most of it in little pouches. As each stream loses its potency, withdraw a new Gen 1 starter from the 'sperm' bank 



Apology to OP for thread jacking, I don't have a clue if there is such a thing as propagating kefir grains?

Excellent idea!

Eating some yogurt with active cultures, and/or lacto-fermented veg does wonders for gut health.

Canugghead

what the gut doc says 

lkapigian

If you do your own lacto fermentation, hang on to the brine , just as good as eating fermented foods and you can use it to jump start other ferments , even Salami 

Ozzie_Isaac

lkapigian said:

If you do your own lacto fermentation, hang on to the brine , just as good as eating fermented foods and you can use it to jump start other ferments , even Salami 

I have occasionally done a shot of brine.

kl8ton

Ozzie_Isaac said:

lkapigian said:

If you do your own lacto fermentation, hang on to the brine , just as good as eating fermented foods and you can use it to jump start other ferments , even Salami 

I have occasionally done a shot of brine.

https://youtu.be/lXdx8xX9hU4

NDG

Store bought every AM.  Kids love it too, with granola.

Ozzie_Isaac

kl8ton said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

lkapigian said:

If you do your own lacto fermentation, hang on to the brine , just as good as eating fermented foods and you can use it to jump start other ferments , even Salami 

I have occasionally done a shot of brine.

https://youtu.be/lXdx8xX9hU4

Lol!  Never seen that episode.

lkapigian

Ozzie_Isaac said:

kl8ton said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

lkapigian said:

If you do your own lacto fermentation, hang on to the brine , just as good as eating fermented foods and you can use it to jump start other ferments , even Salami 

I have occasionally done a shot of brine.

https://youtu.be/lXdx8xX9hU4

Lol!  Never seen that episode.

Jameson Shot with a Pickle Brine Shot Chaser called a Pickle Back , excellent 

OhioEgger

I've been enjoying Lifeway kefir for a few months now and I honestly feel it has made a difference (positive) in my overall wellbeing. I get it at the local supermarket, although it's sometimes hard to find the whole milk version -- most people seem to prefer the low fat kind.

caliking

As an aside, I use kefir as a substitute for buttermilk in things like biscuits, etc. The Lifeway kefir lasts a while, so I'm far more likely to have some on hand vs. buttermilk.

Ozzie_Isaac

caliking said:

As an aside, I use kefir as a substitute for buttermilk in things like biscuits, etc. The Lifeway kefir lasts a while, so I'm far more likely to have some on hand vs. buttermilk.

Substitutions in a recipe!?  Who exactly do you think you are?

Legume

How much do you all drink daily?

buzd504

caliking said:

buzd504 said:

caliking said:

 I make yogurt every once in a while, but not often,  as HEB has a great Bulgarian yogurt that tastes like what my mom used to make. 

If that's the stuff from Austin, we can find it here occasionally.  I'm a fan.

I think it is.

Yep, that's it.  Great stuff.