Can you make kefir by adding some to milk?

[Boot]

Someone told me you can do this. I've tried it with some success but it's not as good as the original drink that I buy from the store (they make it there). Do I need to buy the proper starter kit?

[dogmom327]

If you are using the powdered starter culture (it's different than the actual kefir grains) you can get at the store or that's used to make the kefir they sell at the store it does typically work--at least for a few batches (sometimes less though). Basically you are using it the same way you can make yogurt, using a bit of the previous batch to make the next batch but the bacteria weakens with each batch.

If you are looking for the most cost effective way to make kefir in the long term, get a set of kefir grains. With proper care (it's easy), they last indefinitely and kefir made from kefir grains has more strains of probiotics than kefir made from the powdered starter culture. Kefir grains are added to milk, allowed to culture, removed and added to new milk.

[JMJ]

I'm curious about this to buy me time before I look for a more permanent solution. How much kefir/milk do you use? How do I know it worked and when it's time to give up recycling my kefir?