Freezing Kefir Mushroom: What You Should Consider

If you want to freeze a kefir mushroom and thus extend its shelf life, this is generally not a problem. In this article, you will find out what needs to be considered.

Freeze kefir mushroom – this is how it works

Freezing a kefir mushroom is not difficult as long as you keep a few important points in mind.

• Before you can freeze the mushroom, you must first rinse it thoroughly under running water. The best way to do this is in a sieve.
• Important: Use a plastic sieve. The kefir mushroom must not come into contact with metal, otherwise, it would be damaged.
• If the kefir fungus has been thoroughly rinsed off, it still has to dry before freezing. This works best if you lay it on a cotton cloth or several layers of kitchen paper overnight.
• Put the dry mushroom in a freezer box or freezer bag. Before you put the mushroom in the freezer, dust it thoroughly with dry milk, i.e. milk powder. The mushroom must be all over and well covered with it.
• Prepared in this way, you can store the kefir in the freezer for up to a year.

How to reactivate the kefir fungus

Thawing means stress for the kefir culture. You should therefore allow yourself enough time for this.

• Get the frozen kefir out of the freezer and put it in cold water for a few minutes first.
• Next, rinse the dry milk thoroughly under running water. It is important to remember not to use metal in any work step.
• Place the kefir mushroom in a clean container and cover it completely with milk. Put the jar with the mushroom in the fridge.
• Depending on how long the mushroom has been frozen, it may take a long time for it to activate again and start fermenting. Then you can produce healthy kefir with all the ingredients again.
• Until then, repeat the steps in twelve-hour increments. So take the kefir out of the milk, rinse it, and put it back in a clean container.
• The kefir mushroom must be well covered with fresh milk each time.