What can possibly be better than having some fresh, homemade kefir stored in your fridge? You can drink a glass of this cold beverage whenever you feel like it and you know that it will be incredibly beneficial for your overall health.
However, it is not always possible or convenient to store the water or milk kefir that you have just made right in the primary brewing container. Usually, it’s just too big. Or you might want to use it straight away for the next batch.
Bottles are an amazing solution for all the kefir makers out there. In fact, these vessels are, probably, the most efficient way of storing your beverage.
What are the best bottles for making kefir? What are the main factors that you have to take into consideration when buying the bottle and then storing the drink? Let’s find that out together!
Here is our full list if you are in a hurry:
1. Swing Top Glass Bottles, Set of 6
2. Swing Top Bottles w/Caps, Set of 12
3. 32-Ounce Amber Growler Bottles (4-Pack)
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Right Bottle?
Do you know the kefir that has been stored in the fridge for a while has a sweeter taste and appears to be less sour? Moreover, it is always nicer to have a sip of something cold. And what better way to do that than from a convenient bottle?
If you are into kefir production, you already know that the materials used play an incredibly important role. There are some specific types that you can’t use as it might be dangerous not only for the grains but also for your health. However, when it comes to bottles, there are a lot of safe materials to choose from. Glass options are a classic. But you can always find one made of food grade plastic or stainless steel. If you happen to come across a stoneware bottle, you can surely use this one to store your water or milk kefir as well. You want to make sure that the bottle is thick enough.
The great news is that you might not even have to invest in these bottles. The chances are high that you already have a few at home or your neighbors might have some. There has to be a lid that comes with the bottle. And if you are able to find an option with a swing top lid, things will become so much simpler (craft beers sometimes have such bottles). By the way, if you decide to use plastic vessels, make sure to store the kefir in them for only a few times. Milk kefir especially can be incredibly acidic. And the drink might end up simply ‘eating’ the bottle.
How to Bottle the Kefir?
There is nothing too difficult about the actual process.
Take a close look at the bottles. They shouldn’t have any cracks or defects as that may affect the quality of your drink. Storing the kefir in a bottle is also a great opportunity to add some flavors to the beverage. Before pouring the kefir in the bottle, add your desired flavor and only then carefully fill the bottle with your water or milk kefir.
One important thing. Make sure to leave around an inch of headspace.
You can leave the closed bottle at room temperature for up to three days for secondary fermentation. However, bear in mind that you would have to open the bottle every day to ensure that it does not explode because of the inside pressure. You can always store the bottle in the fridge right away. But you would still have to open the containers with some extra care as different accidents can occur.
How to Avoid Accidents?
Your kefir is a beverage with bubbles in it. And even though we all enjoy a carbonated drink from time to time, the bubbles can also become a problem (and turn your kitchen into a real mess). Bottles may explode due to a variety of reasons. The temperature, the flavorings, the number of grains you’ve added – everything can play a role. However, there are a few pieces of advice that can help you minimize the risk.
- Use high-quality bottles – the vessel has to be thick and without any cracks. Some might want to use the cheap beer bottles simply because they might have a few at their place. Don’t do that as the thin glass can easily burst even in the fridge. Or (in the worst case scenario) in your hand, causing some injuries.
- Find a place with lower temperatures – if you want to use the bottle for your second ferment, then make sure to store it in a cool place. Pay extra attention to your kefir during the hotter months.
- Make the bottles burp – this might be the most effective preventative measure. Try opening the bottles at least once a day and then quickly close them. However, be careful and don’t open the bottles too many times or your kefir might lose the flavor and some healthy properties. As a rule of a thumb, if your bottle is ‘hissing’, then the time has come to help it ‘burp’.
- Don’t add too much flavoring – especially, if the kefir is high in sugar.
- Pour the kefir the right way – in case you are using a few bottles to store the kefir, you would want to make sure that the last few cups that are left from your fermentation are equally distributed among the bottles.
Review: 4 Best Bottles for Making Kefir
1. Swing Top Glass Bottles, Set of 6
- Safe: Our BPA free, durable, plastic combined with our high-pressure gaskets and stainless steel closures, create a secure, airtight seal for your glass bottles with caps. This leakproof barrier ensures your contents are protected & preserved.
- Easy To Clean: Once empty, you can just pop our glass water bottles straight into the dishwasher. These glass bottles with cork are dishwasher safe and designed to be reusable.
- Marker, Labels & More: The 6 pack of swing top glass bottles comes with 6 extra gaskets, 12 bottle labels & an erasable marker. A perfect addition to any kombucha starter kit.
- Packaged Safely: Our goal is to ensure you receive the best product, in the safest way. Our 6 pack of kombucha bottles with stoppers will be double bubble wrapped with dividers in a secure box.
- Mix It Up: Need a pretty glass milk bottle for your kitchen? A decorative vessel for wine or eggnog? Something to serve lemonade to the kids? Perhaps a flip top glass bottle for homemade gin? Look no further!
The bottles are made of heavy duty clear glass that has been tested. The swing top caps are made of stainless steel and durable plastic. All the pieces are dishwasher safe. You will also be getting a full set of replacement medium pressure gaskets (6 pieces). As an additional cute bonus, every set comes with small chalkboard labels and a special liquid chalk pen, so that you can easily mark every bottle. This is especially great if you like to experiment with flavors.
The flip top stoppers are leak-proof and come already attached to the bottles, so you wouldn’t need to spend any time trying to assemble those on your own. The bottles come with two sets of gaskets (high- and medium-pressure). In case, you have decided to add a lot of sugar or fruits, we would recommend using the high-pressure gaskets. The bottles are also lead and mercury free.
How to know, if the beverage in your glass bottle is carbonated enough? You can always pour the same mixture in a plastic bottle. Once the bottle is firm and feels like a brand new carbonated drink, then your kefir is ready in your glass bottles as well.
Check out the current price for Swing Top Glass Bottles, Set of 6 on Amazon.
2. Swing Top Bottles w/Caps, Set of 12
- Make Homebrewing a Breeze: G. Francis Swing Top Bottles are perfect for making your own brew from scratch
- Protect your Brew: amber glass deflects harmful UV rays
- Pick Your Size: 16.9 ounce (500 ml) bottles are available in 6 or 12 packs
- Safe and Reusable: bottles are dishwasher safe; simply clean and fill again
- Premium Swing Top Caps: get the perfect seal every time with convenient, wash & reuse swing caps
In case you need a dozen of bottles at once, this might be the best option for you. Yes, the vessels are made of amber glass and a lot of people might not like the fact that you can’t entirely see what’s going on in there. However, the amber glass protects the beverage from harmful UV rays.
The bottles are dishwasher safe and the swing top caps are easy to wash and reuse. Bear in mind that the swing tops are ceramic. The company is a family-owned brand based in the USA. Thus, they stand for the quality of their product.
Check out the current price for Swing Top Bottles w/Caps, Set of 12 on Amazon.
3. 32-Ounce Amber Growler Bottles (4-Pack)
- VALUE FOUR-PACK: You get four growler bottles and SIX phenolic seal plastic caps (yes, 2 extra lids)
- MULTI-USE: Great for Kombucha, water kefir, juicing, DIY vanilla, home brew, chemicals storage & much more
- CAPACITY: 32 oz = 1 quart = 4 cups = 950 ml; SIZE: 8.5” tall x 3.75” diameter; jar mouth inner diameter 19 millimeters
- UV PROTECTION: Amber brown glass protects from ultraviolet light which can damage live cultures; POLY-SEAL CAPS: Cap has inner cone design for a tight seal
- 2ND FERMENT SIZE: For kombucha, doing a 2nd ferment with flavorings is perfect in this 32-ounce size.
This is a great option for those who need a bigger sized bottle. With the four bottles, you will be getting six phenolic seal plastic caps (just in case). The vessels are 8.5 inches tall and 3.75 inches in diameter, so make sure that such bottles will fit in your fridge before placing the order. However, you can always use these bottles for your second fermentation.
The amber brown glass will protect the cultures from ultraviolet light. The cap has an inner cone to ensure a proper, tight seal. The caps are BPA-free.
Check out the current price for 32-Ounce Amber Growler Bottles (4-Pack) on Amazon.
4. 4 Pack of Glass Bottles
- BPA and Lead Free. Bottle size is Ideal for your daily serving sized portion control.
- It's clear exterior allow your colorful, food or natural juice product to shine through.
- Glass has high resistance to heat and cold.
- Ideal for hot and cold drinks
- Spill Proof plastic lid
The bottles are transparent, so you will be able to see what is going on inside. The lids are spill proof and made out of plastic, BPA- and lead-free. These bottles can be used for both, cold and hot beverages (just so you know). The glass is made in the USA.
A great option for those who don’t really like the swing top caps and prefer a normal lid. However, the product is not scratch resistant. So make sure to check, if there are any scratches from time to time.
Check out the current price for 4 Pack of Glass Bottles on Amazon.
Now you have 4 best bottles for making kefir to choose from. And you also know how to make sure that your new bottles do not explode. Hope our guide has helped you with your kefir production.