Are my water kefir grains dead?

[bigknitwit]

I have terribly neglected my water grains. They have been sitting in the same solution for a couple of months now, on the counter . Are they dead? Are they dangerous? How can I tell? Would you try to revive them, or pay the price for new ones? Help!!

[carnelian]

I had water kefir grains sitting in the same agave/water solution for probably a year. Then I started making rosehip soda again. The first time I used just whey and the soda was rather flat. The second time I decided to add my grains in + the whey. I rinsed them and used the ones that were floating--those are often the ones that are most viable. The soda had a real zing to it and I've been using them ever since. However I've not tried using them on their own yet so I don't know how much the whey contributes to the fermentation process. It didn't do much the first time tho I used a bit less than called for.

[Taedareth]

Your water kefir grains float? Hmm... mine never have.

[bigknitwit]

I refreshed them with new sugar water solution. I think I'll do it for a couple days and then start drinking the kefir. My grains have never floated either... I wonder if it has something to do with the strain - but really I have no idea.

[Jojo F.]

Sounds wacky but, you could eat some grains. Good live ones don't really taste like anything, but the dead ones will taste a little pickled.

Mine float like crazy, it looks like a homemade lava lamp!!

Try adding some sucunat and/or molasses to the sugar water. The grains like the minerals that are still left in. You could also add a splash of mineral water.