what to do with thriving water kefir grains?

[WaturMama]

I just started making water kefir a few weeks ago. The grains are thriving and now fill almost 1/2 the quart jar. What do folks do with all the extra? How many do you keep for back up and how do you keep them? Do you just throw them away if you start to have more than you can store? (That seems sad.)

[mommy212]

Hey maybe you can send them to me :) lol

[lizzylou]

I could give them a good home! (Seriously. I'll pay for shipping).

[Lazurii]

You can eat them.  They do provoke a very strong yeast-die-off reaction if you do that, so proceed with caution.  You can also use the to ferment foods instead of whey, I like to use them when I make fermented black bean dip.  They are also great to dump into your compost pile, they speed things up.

Or you could send some to me, I would love a few.    Mine aren't doing so hot.

[babywearer_anon]

You can dry them quite easily. Just rinse with non-chlorinated water and spread thinly on a clean tea towel. Then I just shake them every so often until they seem totally dried out. Usually takes 2 days.

You can then give them away, mail them, or store for your own future use. 

The only thing with drying them is that I've heard you have to make a few batches to get them going again.

[saalmc]

Oh, I'd be happy to take some off your hands as well!  I was just thinking of buying new ones online.  Happy to pay for shipping!

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