Is it possible to heat kefir in the microwave? Is it harmful?

Immediately I would like to clarify the key point: you can heat kefir and other dairy products in the microwave. This does not seriously affect their beneficial properties and does not make them harmful. The maximum will reduce the number of beneficial bacteria in its composition due to the heating process itself. The only exception is breast milk, but mainly because it should not be subjected to any heat treatment at all.

The truth and the myth of kefir in the microwave

So, kefir. It is believed that all beneficial bacteria will die from heating this fermented milk product in the microwave, or even harmful compounds will appear. Experts from purity.bigbadmole.com/en/ and a large part of the scientific community confidently state that this is a myth and speculation of people who are ignorant of the principles of the stove.

Confirmation of this can be found in reputable scientific publications, which, among other things, are available on the Internet. None of the studies revealed any harmful effects on the products. And there are still quite a lot of them.

However, there is a “but”. Any heating of kefir will lead to a reduction in the number of beneficial microorganisms. This has nothing to do with microwaves, but is a consequence of heating the liquid.

How to warm up kefir

The most reliable way to “warm it up” is to leave it to stand at room temperature for some time. Yes, for a long time, but that will be of most benefit to him. With all other options, including a water bath, bacteria will die in greater numbers. Critical for them is even a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.

If kefir still needs to be heated in the microwave, then you need to remember important rules:

First of all, it is worth looking at the instructions for the microwave: there may be important recommendations on how best to heat fermented milk products in a particular model.
The impact should be short-term and medium intensity - from quick and sharp heating, kefir will curl up.
10-15 seconds will be quite enough, and if possible, then less. Liquids are heated in the microwave much faster than all other products, so they require increased attention and caution.
It is worth remembering that the liquids in the microwave are heated unevenly, and you need to mix the kefir, and then only check if it is heated enough. If not, put on another 5-10 seconds.
Always use cookware with a label that states that it can be used in a microwave oven. It is not recommended to heat fermented milk products in a plastic container, even if it has a corresponding icon. Glass or ceramic is best.
Heating is allowed only in open dishes without a lid.
Kefir and other sour-milk products can be heated only once.

It’s okay to heat the sour milk in the microwave. This is perfectly acceptable and does not carry any harm in itself. And following the above rules, you can do this with the least harm to the bacteria, which kefir is so valuable.