Can You Microwave Kefir?
Even though you technically can, if you want to, the most logical answer to the commonly asked question is NO.
It wouldn't be advisable if you're up for the health and nutritional benefits most people seek from kefir. Read on to see why.
Kefir is a fermented probiotic food or drink that is considered to have many nutritional and health benefits in the human body. The word probiotic means that it contains certain live cultures of microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast.
These are good bacteria, not to be confused by the infectious bacteria that cause diseases.
These good bacteria in kefir colonize the gut to improve digestive health and immunity. Probiotics help improve heart health, mental health, and body weight.
Among many other health benefits, most of them also possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. But can you microwave kefir?
Why You Can't Microwave kefir
You cannot microwave kefir, based on what the heat will do to it. The microwave's high temperature will kill most of the gut-friendly bacteria in kefir and other probiotic foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, and miso, among others.
You can't go destroying all the benefits the good bacteria in kefir bring to the table. Additionally, kefir is a dish best consumed chilled or cool.
Heating it in a microwave would disrupt its pleasant taste and flavor, which is something you don't want if you're a big fan of this healthy mouthwatering dish.
In addition to the healthy bacterial cultures, kefir also contains a wide variety of helpful nutrients. Some of these include proteins, sugars, lipids, vitamins like VitA, VitB2, VitB12, VitD, VitK, folic acids, biotin, and amino acids, such as tryptophan.
Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus are some of the other mineral nutrients found in kefir.
The good thing if you were to heat kefir in a microwave, these nutrients would remain undamaged. The body will still benefit from them.
Alternative Ways to Use Kefir
Of course, we now have the answer to the can you microwave kefir question. However, If you must have your kefir hot or warm, there are several ways you can have it without necessarily microwaving it and killing all the nourishing bacteria.
The beauty of kefir is that it is quite versatile. You can use it as a substitute in recipes that contain milk, yogurt, and buttermilk.
• Use kefir as a salad dressing
• Kefir in soups
• Use it in smoothies
One way to go is to use it as a salad dressing in a recipe that demands some yogurt. You can also use kefir as a tangy base for a warm or cold soup, for instance, a sweet potato - pumpkin + kefir soup.
You can also use the probiotic drink as an ingredient in your favorite smoothie recipe, where it will be a bit warmer from the blender's rotations. Why not search online for some soup, salad dressing, and smoothie recipes you can try with your excess kefir?
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-health-benefits-of-probiotics#section3
https://www.care2.com/greenliving/does-cooking-kill-probiotics.html
https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/milk-kefir/five-ways-to-use-kefir/
