Taking a Break from Kefir

Once your grains start multiplying, I always recommend saving a backup in the freezer! This way you don't have to worry about forgetting them or someone trying to be helpful by accidentally tossing them (not unheard of!). But before you take a break, make sure your grains are well established and have been actively fermenting for 2 weeks.

Cooler temperatures slow down the fermentation process, which makes the fridge a great place to start if you need to take a break from making daily batches of kefir. 

Refrigerate for Short Breaks (up to 3 weeks)

While the fridge is a great place to give your grains a short break, some people find that if moving them back and forth from the fridge too often stresses the grains and eventually they stop reproducing. Before experimenting, save a back up in the freezer (see below)...

1. Place 1 tsp of kefir grains in a jar or container with 2-4 cups of milk. The longer the break, the more milk you need. The grains will continue fermenting the milk but at a slower pace, so you need to make sure they still have the 'food' they need!
   
   
2. Cover the container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. 
   
   
3. When you’re ready to start making fresh kefir, separate the grains and place them in fresh milk to culture as usual. It may take a few days for them to recalibrate and get back to normal but just feed them every 24 hours as you normally would!

Freeze for Long Breaks / Backups (up to 1 year)

1. Rinse kefir grains in clean, cold drinking water to remove any kefir sticking to the grains.
   
   
2. Once rinsed, pat dry the kefir grains with a clean paper towel. 
   
   
3. Cover kefir grains with paper towel and let them sit on the counter for 15 - 30 minutes to dry out a little bit more.
   
   
4. Cover kefir grains in dry milk powder and place in a sealed Ziploc bag before placing it in your freezer. 
   
   
5. When you’re ready to start making fresh kefir again, it may take your grains a few days to "wake up." Simply remove grains from the freezer and follow the activation instructions until your kefir is thickening within 24 hours again!