Simply so, how do you know if water kefir is bad?
There's no way to tell what the cause is, so if your grains are no longer performing well as they once were, then we can assume they are damaged. If they are happily floating up and down, or just up, but your water kefir still tastes fabulous, then don't worry.
Also Know, can you over ferment water kefir? When water kefir is finished, it tastes a bit sweet still. If you prefer it more sour you can over ferment it. If you leave it for a very long time it may become even to sour to drink. After long fermentation, it becomes more sour, even vinegar-like in taste.
Similarly, you may ask, is it OK to drink fizzy kefir?
Assuming that it tastes okay, feel free to drink it or use it in any other way. If it tastes super sour or just not as good as it should, discard it. It makes no sense to force yourself to drink something you find unappealing. If your kefir seems okay-ish, but you find its taste way too sour, get rid of it.
Did I kill my water kefir grains?
You most likely did not kill your grains. They can take a pretty good beating in my experience. They do need some time to adjust. So just keep feeding the more sugar water and just discard it if it's too sweet for you.
