storing kefir grains

[my_baby_love]

I did a search about this topic and didn't find quite what I was looking for, so sorry if these questions are redundant .

We are leaving on a trip for about 8 days and I was wondering how to store my milk and water kefir grains while we are gone. I read that I should add double or triple the sugar to my water kefir grains, but then I got conflicting info on putting them in the fridge or not. Also, would I then need to add more water, or not? Will both of them keep ok if I just put them in the fridge with their usual amounts of milk/sugar water? I basically just don't want to kill them. Any tips?

[dogmom327]

For water kefir, just make a sugar water solution (1/4 cup sugar per quart of water) and put them in the fridge (lid on the jar).

For milk kefir, just put the grains in fresh milk with a lid on the jar in the fridge.

Both should be fine while you're gone, but I would recommend getting them out of the fridge and brewing normally again within a day or two of coming home. Cold causes the growth and fermentation process to slow considerably but at some point they run out of food (usually a few weeks) and ultimately being slowed down long term isn't the best thing for the cultures--but won't hurt them for this short period of time.

[ltlmrs]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

For water kefir, just make a sugar water solution (1/4 cup sugar per quart of water) and put them in the fridge (lid on the jar).

For milk kefir, just put the grains in fresh milk with a lid on the jar in the fridge.

Both should be fine while you're gone, but I would recommend getting them out of the fridge and brewing normally again within a day or two of coming home. Cold causes the growth and fermentation process to slow considerably but at some point they run out of food (usually a few weeks) and ultimately being slowed down long term isn't the best thing for the cultures--but won't hurt them for this short period of time.

This is what I've done in the past and my water kefir lasted for two and once even three weeks.