Lizzie,
>> Up here, we can't get glass.
Sorry, I simply cannot buy that. That's Australia we are still talking about,
right? Strangely enough I bough my wide-mouth glass jars in BigW that you
mention often and there was quite a range there to choose from. If your BigW
does not have those, let me know when you are in the vicinity, I'll have them
ready and waiting for you. About $5 for a 1.2 liter jar. Alternatively, I used
800ml mayonnaise glass jars (well, I used mayonnaise first :-)).
>> So you think the chemicals in the plastic damage the Kefir - how awful.
That's *my* view. What I tried was I started *exactly* the way my mother-in-law
did it -- ceramic mug, paper towel, same milk, etc. Then, I tried reverting to
the milk I used before (Coles own brand). Boom, crash. I am back to Pura and
Farm House brands. Then, because I could not wash those mayonnaise jars by hand
I tried EasiYo containers. *My* grains did not like them. You experience can be
different but I've made my choice.
>> plastic absorbs stuff, like yogurt and milk.
Exactly, those EasiYo containers have been out of action for a while. Then, I
opened them up and the smell was awful. No one needs that. That very evening
EasiYo was gone. That thing does not seem to hold temperature well either. :-)
>> Kitchen must face south?..you got an old place,
Yep, mine is some 40-ies built weather-shield. We love it though. Very cozy.
>> You could also try putting it in a less cold room, I guess?
Nuh, I am over EasiYo. It's gone. In yogurts I only like Jalna Leben and do not
mind paying $3 for 0.5kg once in a while. I figured price is fairly close to if
I try doing it myself and mine was not as good.
>> Still looking for one of those up here, for ryazhenka making.
>> Don't people take soup to the footy (via Thermos) any longer in Oz?
Lizzie, Lizzie, just be honest with me, you are cheating here right? Same place
-- BigW -- at very least a dozen of various kinds of thermoses/vacuum flasks --
stainless steel, glass, plastic. Various degrees of insulation.
>> Do you have a glass jar that fits in the yogurt maker?
If I decide to try making Leben again, I'll likely grab a wide-mouth thermos
($15. 800ml. BigW again :-)) and will try there.
Thanks,
Vladimir.
-----Original Message-----
From: Kefir_making@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Kefir_making@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Lizzie Moore
Sent: Monday, 24 April 2006 2:21 PM
To: Kefir_Making
Subject: [Kefir_making] Vladimir's
Lizzie,
Unfortunately, I had to give up on plastic. After you mentioning EaziYo I bought
that thing and liked their one-liter wide-mouth plastic containers as I could
easily wash them by hand. Unfortunately, when I switched using them for
fermenting in only two consecutive batches kefir quality nose-dived -- not
excessive but distinct alcoholic smell/taste and separation. My grains did not
like it."
Blimey, that is terrible...I use the plastic Decore one
litre screw top jars from BigDub for Kefir and the Easiyo ones for cultured
milks and yogurt - because the former are coloured, its easy to see curd
developing at the top of the Kefir. Up here, we can't get glass. Assumed it
was the same in Melb., where we take our hot urban trends from!
So, I rushed back to glass and in about a couple batches the original creaminess
and consistency were back. Maybe it was coincidental but I do not think so"
I did manage to get thick Kefir for the first time, by
not using a screw top but a bit of a CD case, the bit that holds the CD, with
the hole in it. So you think the chemicals in the plastic damage the Kefir -
how awful.
. Since then I bought thick-glass wide-mouth jars and I do not want to push my
luck again"
I do believe glass is much cleaner - I loathe drinking
from plastic tumblers and certainly plastic absorbs stuff, like yogurt and milk.
. What discouraged me against EaziYo containers even further was that I had them
thoroughly washed with lids on standing in my cupboard. When I took one out and
opened it, there was a strong plastic smell meaning (to me) the plastic was not
good enough (food-wise) and leached chemicals. No wonder my grains did not like
them. "
I stand them on their lids, open and pray hub doesn't
touch the cupboard, which tends to produce a kaleidoscopic effect.
Actually I found that whole EaziYo package very disappointing as the main
thermos-like thing does not insulate properly and in my cold kitchen nothing
happens over-night."
Kitchen must face south?..you got an old place, they can get
pretty cold? Have a southern kitchen here (miss my northern one!)..get very
cold winter nights, far more below-zero ones than in Melb., so when it gets down
to 12 degree days I fold up a bathtowel and park that on top of the yogurt maker
for the night and that seems to help a lot... so I always get a consistent
outcome on yogurt and cultured milks. You have the jar at hand and bung
it into the maker, the second you have the boiling water over the maker baffle?
You could also try putting it in a less cold room, I guess?
I am planning on buying a wide-mouth glass vacuum flask. Then warm up yogurt
mixture and simply pour it there. I am sure it'll work perfectly -- good vacuum
flasks keep the temperature for days."
Still looking for one of those up here, for ryazhenka
making. Don't people take soup to the footy (via Thermos) any longer in Oz? I
would be interested to hear what happens if you try the towel or the warmer
room, or both. Do you have a glass jar that fits in the yogurt maker? The
Decore one litre and smaller ones fit in, also the Jalna one litre ones.
Sounds as tho you are the fermentation manager at your house! Those Greek
style cucumber dips make a nice cultured milk, using some dip to cullture -
savoury cultured milk (is it a heresy?) We are currently culturing milk with
everything we can find at the moment. Does your little girl do culturing yet?
They are never too young to start.
best, Lizzie
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