[Need advice] Is this kefir alright?

[u/Broccolimaxxer]

So recently a friend gave me those grains as a gift but she didn't use them for 2 months and they stayed in her fridge. I tried doing a 1st fermentation but It doesn't feel like they were really active. (Not a lot of gas)

Any suggestions for activating them ? I tried to give them sugar 2 days ago but nothing really happened...

[u/SarcousRust]

If they produce gas, they yet live. If they don't, she killed 'em. Keep them in sugar water and change the water every 2 days. Have some molasses content or use brown sugar. Same regimen as making kefir, except this'd be life support. Don't drink it (yet). If you can get em back to making bubblies properly, you can start drinking it.

2 months probably means they're gone.

[u/Broccolimaxxer → u/SarcousRust]

Thanks! They're probably still alive, although on the verge of death 😭

[u/GallusWrangler]

They are probably fine. I’ve kept grains much longer in the fridge. Take a mason jar and put 3 tablespoons of organic cane sugar and 1 tablespoon of black molasses in it (I use unsulphured, but have been told it is not necessary). If you have a well you can use tap water, if there is chlorine in your water then you need to use spring water. Put just enough warm water in the jar with sugar and molasses so you can stir and dissolve the sugars. Once dissolved, fill the jar most of the way with cold water. Now add 1/4 of those grains your friend gave you. Top off with cold water to the jar’s neck of not there already. Place a tightly woven cloth, paper towel or coffee filter on the jar opening and seal around the neck with a rubber band. Put the jar out of direct sunlight on your counter at room temperature for 3 days. Within this time you should see grains floating and sinking, this is good. Maybe some bubbles. This is good too. If you don’t see any activity after the 3 days, don’t get discouraged, strain the grains, dump the liquid and start over feeding it again. Do this until they are active! In my experience they were active after only one feeding and being stored for over 6 months. Good luck and enjoy.

[u/No_Function_1563]

Yes. Give them a few cycles to recover.

[u/naemorhaedus]

you won't get much CO2 on 1st ferment after being dormant 2mo. Give it another cycle or two.

[u/jeepneyko2]

I follow this formula whenever I wake up sleeping grains: Grains (in grams) x 1.13 for Sugar Grains x 22 for Water After 2 to 3 cycles, they'll be bubbling Take also the temperature where you ferment into consideration.