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Going on Vacation? How to Care for Kefir Grains and Travel with Cultured Foods
I'm Going on Vacation — How Do I Keep My Kefir Grains Alive and Happy?
Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to worry about your kefir grains or give up your cultured foods while you’re gone. Kefir grains are living little cultures, and just like anything alive, they need food. But they are also very resilient when you know how to care for them.
Whether you’re leaving for a week, taking a longer trip, or wanting to bring some cultured foods with you, here are my favorite ways to keep your kefir grains safe, happy, and ready to make kefir again when you get home.
If You’re Gone for One Week
If you’re going to be gone for about a week, the easiest thing to do is give your kefir grains plenty of milk and place them in the refrigerator.
If you have 1 tablespoon of kefir grains, place them in at least 2 cups of milk, though 3 cups is even better. I like to make sure they have plenty of food while I’m gone. If you have more grains, you’ll want to add more milk accordingly.
Place the grains and milk in a clean jar, secure the lid, and store it in the refrigerator. The cold slows everything way down and gives the grains a little rest.
When You Come Home
When you return, strain the grains from the milk they were resting in. I usually discard this milk, but you can also give it to pets if you’d like.
Then place your grains in fresh milk and let them make kefir again.
The first batch after being in the refrigerator may be a little slower than usual. The cold makes the grains sleepy, but don’t worry. By the second batch, they are usually back up to speed and making kefir like normal again.
If You’ll Be Gone Longer Than a Week
If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, I recommend freezing your kefir grains in powdered milk.
Here’s how to do it:
Place a layer of powdered milk in the bottom of a rectangular food storage container. Then place your kefir grains on top of the powdered milk and sprinkle more powdered milk over them until they are completely covered. The more powdered milk, the better.
Cover the container with a secure lid. You can use a food-grade plastic container, glass container, or even a silicone container.
Then place the container in the freezer.
Your grains can stay this way for several months and should be fine. When you’re ready to use them again, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw. Then place them right into fresh milk, even though they still have powdered milk on them.
It may take them a few days and a few batches to fully wake up, but they should come back and start making kefir again.
A Little Help Waking Them Up
When you thaw your grains, I like to add a scoop of Prebio Plus to help them wake up. This gives them extra food and can make a big difference in how they perform.
The first batch may take longer than 24 hours to culture because of the added food from the Prebio Plus, but that’s okay. Be patient with them. They’ve been sleeping, and they just need a little time to get going again.
Freezing kefir grains should only be done once in a while. Freezing and thawing them over and over can weaken or even kill them, but once or twice a year should be fine.
Traveling With Kefir
If you want to have kefir while you’re traveling, one of the easiest ways is to take Easy Kefir with you instead of live grains.
This is what I love about Easy Kefir when I travel: there are no grains to take care of. You can take the little packets with you, bring a jar, and make kefir when you arrive. Just add milk to the jar, sprinkle in the Easy Kefir, and let it culture.
The milk can even be cold when you start it. You don’t have to heat it first.
This makes traveling so much easier because you don’t have to worry about feeding live grains, straining them, or keeping them alive while you’re away. Each packet can make a quart and then you can use some of that kefir to make more.
Your live kefir grains can stay safely at home in milk in the refrigerator, resting until you return.
Don’t Forget Cultured Veggies
Cultured vegetables are one of my favorite cultured foods to travel with because they’re sturdy, easy, and you only need a little bit.
A small jar of cultured veggies can go a long way when you’re eating out, traveling, or eating foods you don’t normally eat. A spoonful with a meal can help you feel like you’re still supporting your gut, even when your routine is different.
If you’re flying, cultured veggies should go in your checked suitcase, not your carry-on. I like to make sure the lid is secure and place the jar inside a sealed plastic bag in case anything leaks. Once you arrive, place them in a refrigerator or cooler.
If you’re driving, cultured veggies are even easier. Just tuck them into a cooler and take them with you. They’re wonderful with sandwiches, eggs, salads, burgers, tacos, or anything you pick up along the way.
My Favorite Vacation Culture Plan
Here’s the simple plan I like best:
Leave your live kefir grains at home in plenty of milk in the refrigerator if you’ll only be gone a week.
Freeze them in powdered milk if you’ll be gone longer.
Take Easy Kefir with you if you want to make kefir while traveling.
Pack a small jar of cultured veggies in your suitcase or cooler.
This way, your grains are safe at home, and you still have cultured foods with you on your trip.
Cultured Foods Make Travel Easier
Travel can throw off your normal routine. You may be eating different foods, sleeping in a different bed, and being exposed to new places and people. Having even small amounts of cultured foods can help you feel more grounded and cared for.
You don’t have to take everything with you. Just a little kefir, a few spoonfuls of cultured veggies, or a bottle of kombucha can make a difference.
Your cultures are resilient, and so are you. With a little planning, you can go on vacation, enjoy yourself, and come home to happy kefir grains ready to get back to work.
How to Make Easy Kefir
Purchase Easy Kefir
Leaving your cultures at home?
Check out this article for what to do with your cultures at home while you're on vacation:
Your cultures (kefir, kombucha, sourdough, and water kefir) are all living organisms and need to be cared for just like a pet. I love them like family, and have found ways to take care of them when I go on vacation [...]
Listen To My Podcast
Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to leave your cultured foods behind or worry about your kefir grains. In this episode, Donna shares simple ways to keep kefir grains alive while you’re away, when to refrigerate or freeze them, and why Easy Kefir and cultured veggies are some of the best travel companions. Learn how a little planning can help you enjoy your trip and still support your gut wherever you go.
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