If you are looking for answers to the question, “How Do I keep my Kombucha warm?”, you’re on the right post. Keeping a Kombucha brew warm, especially in the cold months of the year can be tough but never impossible. With ingenious hacks and tricks, you can keep your brew warm and keep your SCOBY happy and active.
There are several ways you can keep Kombucha warm. These ways include keeping your Kombucha vessel in warm spots of your house like in a warm room, near the appliances, or close to the furnace. You can also use heating aids like a heating pad. Wrapping your Kombucha vessel with a heating pad keeps the brew warm and healthy. If you are on a budget and can’t afford a heating pad yet, you may use the usual string lights of Christmas lights to warm up your Kombucha. Simply wrap it all around your vessel evenly for equal distribution of heat. Another great way to keep your Kombucha warm is by using a temperature strip to monitor the temperature regularly so you can warm up your Kombucha whenever the temperature goes low.
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How Do You Keep Kombucha Warm In A Cold House?
Let’s be honest, a cold house is not an ideal place for brewing Kombucha but this doesn’t mean that you can’t ferment Kombucha in a cold house. In the next part, we will cover all the things you can do to keep your brew healthy even when you are fermenting in a cold location.
How to Keep your Kombucha Warm
Store the Kombucha in a warm spot in your house
The simplest and most affordable way to keep your Kombucha warm in a cold house is to store it in a warm spot. Different locations in your house can have varying temperatures. Choosing the location with the warmest temperature can help keep your Kombucha stay warm for a long time without you having to check on it every now and then.
Below, we’ve listed down some of the most common warm spots in a house.
- In a warm room like the laundry room
- Near a warm appliance like a refrigerator
- Close to the furnace or heater
Wrap the Kombucha vessel with a heating pad
A heating pad is the most convenient and safest way to maintain the warm temperature of your Kombucha. Heating pads are also widely available in many physical and online Kombucha stores and are inexpensive to buy. Usually, this tool costs only about $25 to $60 depending on the quality, features, and brand. Some heating pads also come with a thermostat to easily monitor the temperature.
To use a heating pad for warming up your Kombucha, simply wrap it around the Kombucha vessel and secure it with a band. If the temperature is not that cold, you can just place it under the vessel to prevent the brew’s temperature from getting low.
Use string lights
You can use any usual string lights or Christmas lights you use as a decoration to keep your Kombucha warm. They are inexpensive and are often sold at only about $5 to $50. They are also easy to find in many leading retailers and online shops.
To use string lights in warming up your brew, simply wrap it all around the vessel evenly. Make sure to wrap it all over and not just at the bottom part to distribute the heat evenly.
Monitor the temperature using Kombucha temperature strips.
A temperature strip is an adhesive device used to check the temperature of the brew. To use this, you will just have to stick it on the Kombucha vessel and read the temperature. If the temperature gets colder, you can start warming up your Kombucha using the tips we discussed above.
Temperature strips are usually cheap and easy to find in many online shops. They offer accurate reading and are great for beginner brewers who are still learning how to maintain Kombucha temperature.
Wrap your Kombucha vessel with a thick towel and keep it in a high spot.
Heat rises so high places like a high cupboard or on top of the cabinet can stay warm. This makes them a good spot for brewing Kombucha. To make your Kombucha warmer, wrap it with a thick towel while keeping it in a high spot.
How Do You Make Kombucha Warmer?
Brewing at warmer temperatures of 75℉ to 85℉ gives Kombucha a stronger tangy taste. It is the most ideal temperature for keeping the live Kombucha culture healthy. If you want to brew Kombucha at warmer temperatures like this, here are some things you can do:
- Use a heating pad and other heating tools like a heating tray and more.
- Brew your Kombucha near appliances that release heat like a refrigerator
- Keep your fermenter in a warm room like the laundry room
- Relocate your brew in a high place like the highest cupboard
- fermentaholics.com suggests placing your vessel in the oven while the oven light is on. The oven light will give Kombucha enough heat to warm it up. Monitor the temperature and if the brew reaches your preferred temperature, switch off the oven.
- Wrap your vessel with string lights or Christmas lights
- Store your fermenter near the furnace or heater
When brewing at a warmer temperature, make sure to taste your Kombucha consistently after 7 days of fermentation. The warm temperature boosts the fermentation of Kombucha and can easily turn your Kombucha into a strong-tasting beverage or vinegar.
Moreover, make sure to only brew the Kombucha at a maximum temperature of 85℉. Brewing Kombucha at a temperature higher than this can cause the live cultures in the SCOBY to die or get weak. When this happens, your brew can easily get contaminated with molds. In case your Kombucha develops mold, throw away the entire brew and start a new batch. Drinking Kombucha with molds will not just give you a bad experience but can also raise health concerns.
Do You Need a Heat Tray For Kombucha?
If you are brewing Kombucha at a place with a cold temperature, a heated tray can definitely help you keep your Kombucha warm. However, if you live in a hot place or are brewing in summer, a heated tray is not always necessary.
A heated tray is a heating equipment that is used to warm up food. It comes in many sizes and kinds and the heat can also be adjusted depending on the heat tray feature. Like a heating pad, a heating tray is a convenient device to keep your Kombucha’s temperature at your preferred temperature level. It is also generally inexpensive and easy to find. You can easily get this device for just $20 and more.
How Can I Keep My Ferment Warm?
There are several ways to keep your ferment warm. These include keeping it in a warm spot in your house like near a warm appliance or in the laundry room. You can also use a heating pad or string lights to keep it warm. Moreover, you can keep it in a high place in your house like the top of the closet.
If you are having a hard time keeping your Kombucha warm, you can refer to our complete list of tips for warming up Kombucha above.
Can I Use a Heating Pad With My Kombucha?
Certainly yes. A heating pad is a great investment when it comes to brewing Kombucha in a cold place. This device keeps the Kombucha at an ideal brewing temperature. It is easy to use and low maintenance as well. In addition, it is relatively cheap and easy to find in many leading retailers and online shops.
To use a heating pad, you can simply wrap it around the vessel and secure it with a band. If the temperature is not too cold, you can simply put it under the vessel to aid in maintaining the temperature.
Can I Cover Kombucha With Paper Towel?
The short answer is yes. Almost all kitchens have paper towels nowadays making them a convenient choice to cover Kombucha. Paper towel is a breathable material for covering Kombucha. You can simply place it over the mouth of the Kombucha and secure it with a rubber band.
While it’s okay to use a paper towel, you have to be extra careful when using this as small pieces can fall into your brew. If you can, we recommend changing the paper towel every other day to prevent this.
What Is Best To Cover Kombucha With?
Any breathable fabric that will allow air to pass through your Kombucha ferment can be used to cover the vessel. These materials will give the brew enough ventilation which the Kombucha culture needs. eveythingkombucha.com recommends using a rag, cloth, an old T-shirt, a coffee filter, and a paper towel. Make sure to secure these materials to your Kombucha vessel using a rubber band.
Kombucha that is undergoing first fermentation should never be covered or sealed airtight as some of the bacteria needed for fermentation need oxygen to stay active and alive. Without oxygen, they can go dormant and stop fermentation.
