r/fermentation • • 6d ago

Weekly "Is this safe" Megathread

12 Upvotes

Welcome to this week’s dedicated space for all your questions and concerns regarding questionable ferments.

Fermentation can sometimes look a little strange, and it is not always easy to tell what is safe, and what needs to be tossed and started over. To help keep the subreddit clean and avoid repeat posts, please use this thread for:

  • Sharing photos of surface growth you’re unsure about.
  • Asking if your ferment has gone wrong.
  • Getting second opinions from experienced fermenters regarding questionable ferments.

‼️Tips Before Posting‼️:

  • Mention what you’re fermenting (e.g., kraut, kimchi, kombucha, pickles, etc.).
  • Note how long it has been fermenting, and at what temperature.
  • Describe any smells, textures, or off flavors.

Remember that community members can offer advice, but ultimately you are responsible for deciding if your ferment is safe to eat or discard. When in doubt, trust your senses.

Happy fermenting!


r/fermentation • • 2d ago

Weekly Commercial Resources and Events MEGATHREAD

3 Upvotes

Because we get a lot of individual requests for posts that may violate rule 6 about limited self promotion, we have decided that we will have a weekly MEGATHREAD for people who want to post events, (virtual and in person), products and apps related to fermentation. The general rules about using this channel for self promotion still apply and the thread will be moderated.

Thread specific rules:

  1. NO SPAM still applies. Don't be posting your event multiple times and every single week.

  2. If you have produced a fermentation specific software or app and are looking for beta testers or the app is free, this is generally ok. Posts that for monetary gain (ie trying simply gain customers but not really contributing the sub) will be removed.

  3. You must fully describe what your post is about and should disclose what you have to gain from it. If you are hosting a regional fermentation conference and a inviting folks to register, for instance, make sure that it's clear what the costs, etc will be.

Finally - this idea is a TEST. If it is a total catastrophe, we will go back to a simple case by case system.


r/fermentation • • 4h ago

Other Advice on my fermented mustard?

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

This ferment is basically a toddler at this point. We've moved house three times, and doing the math is probably four years old.

Looks and smells fine, when I cracked it open, it smelt very spicy but mellowed out quickly.

Pretty sure I added onion and garlic to the bottom.

  1. Is this still safe in theory? In my head it's no different to a hot sauce that's gone on a long time.

  2. Should I strain and blend? What is the next step here?

Thanks!


r/fermentation • • 11h ago

Kraut/Kimchi Kimchi

15 Upvotes

I think my kimchi has come along nicely.


r/fermentation • • 21h ago

Other When you are new to the hobby, it taste good with everything, kraut and PB for breakfast

Post image
49 Upvotes

Actually yummy


r/fermentation • • 23h ago

If anyone’s done fermented hot honey, how can you tell if it fermented?

Post image
59 Upvotes

About 2 weeks with Jalapeños in honey. I read you don’t always see any bubbling. It tastes great. PH started and ended at 4 according to a diluted solution and Hydrion strips. How do I know if fermentation took place? I had a vacuum lid on.


r/fermentation • • 11h ago

End-of-season harvest

Post image
7 Upvotes

Freeze warning tomorrow. I now have an abundance of Hungarian and Banana peppers and a lot of green San Marzano tomatoes. What do y’all think? Just cut them up and brine them at 2.5-3%? I feel like I’m missing some opportunities by just doing that. Please share your awesome ideas or recipes.


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Ginger Bug/Soda Let this be your reminder...

Post image
749 Upvotes

Did this blackberry gingerbug coat all four walls, the ceiling, floor, everything I'm wearing and escape into the hallway? Yes, yes it did.

I'm looking forward to spending my weekend repainting 😅


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Other Mao Doufu (Fuzzy/Moldy Tofu)

Thumbnail
gallery
139 Upvotes

interesting process but honestly feel like the product was not entirely worth the effort. I fried it up (not pictured) and it was very mild, honestly tasted not far from normal tofu. maybe a little tangy with a somewhat softer texture (in a way thats distinct from soft tofu; hard to describe). pretty gnarly looking though

maybe next time I would extend process to make fermented bean curd (furu)


r/fermentation • • 17h ago

Hot Sauce My collection of homemade sauces.

Post image
5 Upvotes

r/fermentation • • 15h ago

Scotch bonnets seem to be in peak season for imported stuff where I live so fully embracing them

Post image
3 Upvotes

Only on day 5


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Kraut/Kimchi My first kimchi!

Post image
68 Upvotes

r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Pickles/Vegetables in brine Meet Gerda, my first green ferment

Post image
8 Upvotes

Recipe I used is from the Dutch book "Fermentista" by Marta and Joanna Klejman.

I used: cherry tomatoes, red onion, gloves of garlic and basil. I couldn't get the salt water (2,5%) to cover everything even as I followed instructions to fill the jar until it flowed over and sealing it afterwards. So I found a ceramic cup from my grandma, sterilised it, and used it as a weight but I am going to buy proper weights soon.

According to the recipe, this should stay fermenting in a closed off jar for at least 7 days in a temperature between 18 and 22 degrees celsius. In those 7 days I have to clean both the jar and bowl with cold water daily. After that it goes in the refridgerator and will stay good until 8 weeks. My home is steadily 20 degrees celsius these days.

What worries me is that the recipe states the jar should be closed off airtight, but in this subreddit, I see everyone using stuff like waterslots and suggesting on letting things burp.

Is Gerda actually going to be okay? 🥲 Or will she explode?


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Loaded these up today for hot sauce!

Post image
44 Upvotes

Left is Sereno, jalapeno, tomatillo, garlic and onion with a bell pepper cap. Right is habanero, garlic, shallot, onion and green apple.


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Seasonal Lebanese Olives Fermentation

Post image
272 Upvotes
  1. soak cracked olives in fresh water for two days to debitter them.

  2. 10% salt brine (of the water weight) with lemon slices & green chilli pepper + any aromatics of your choice.

  3. they're ready to eat at 3-4 weeks. and can keep fermenting for up to 2-3months.

Cool fact: traditionally to measure 10% of salt, they used to put an egg in the water and keep adding salt until the egg floats since scientifically eggs float at 10%-12%.


r/fermentation • • 22h ago

Other Can an egg incubator be used to make black garlic?

2 Upvotes

It seems to me that an egg incubator might work to make black garlic. They're meant for long-term use and to maintain temperatures and humidity for the entire time. I'm sure there must be a reason this wouldn't work, but I'm darned if I can figure out what that reason might be.


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

This will provide me sour soups this winter.

Post image
13 Upvotes

Red cabbage, green cabbage (about 5 days old), beets (1 day old).


r/fermentation • • 21h ago

Water kefir help pls

1 Upvotes

I have been fermenting for 4 weeks now, I do a 2 day f1 and a 2 day f2. During f1 there is a large amount of bubbles produced but after two days of f2 there is never any fizz at all, and the flavor is off not like store bought kefir at all, at first it was too sweet so I halved the sugar and it is a little better but it is still not kefir like in flavor, there appear to be bubbles when I shake it but again no fizz, I have tried refrigerating it and still nothing.

I also tried increasing fermentation time and nothing changed.

If anyone wants to know I use white cane sugar and have been adding raisins dried figs or brown sugar every few ferments. I also obtained the grains as dried grains online if anyone wants to know.

I really need help figuring out what to do, please can you contribute ideas.


r/fermentation • • 16h ago

Moldy Sauerkraut, what am i doing wrong?

Post image
0 Upvotes

I gave up on homemade sauerkraut a while ago due to a low success rate, but decided to give it another try. I used a fermentation crock that I meticulously cleaned with bleach before adding my cabbage and beet mix. I pushed the stones down to make sure everything was fully submerged. That was 5 days ago. I left it covered until today, but when I took a peek to see how it was doing... mold everywhere.

Any tips on what to do differently next time?


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Kefir Can't figure out kefir

0 Upvotes

I love kefir and got a pack of cultures (grains?) at my local health food/crunchy store the other day. Instructions say to heat the milk, let it cool, and add the contents of a packet and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours. I'm sleepless in bed right now so I'm not copying the instructions exactly but I followed them to a T.

Everything I read says to strain the kefir "grains" out after the kefir ferments but how are people doing that? I can't keep wasting liters of milk. I was so excited by the lovely tang yesterday's attempt got but when I tried to run it through cheese cloth it all just sat on top. Any suggestions?


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Ginger Bug/Soda Ants got into my ginger bug

0 Upvotes

Like the title said, ants started to get into my ginger bug after 3 days of fermentation. I have since the place a plate of water on the bottom of the jar to prevent it and it's the 5th day now and fermentation seems pretty good. After some google search I figured I should probably discard it and make a new batch but it seems fine. So should i discard it or just keep it going? (there're like 20-30 ants inside, no mold or off-putting scent)


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Curtado

Post image
2 Upvotes

Sorry … Curtido


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Educational Documented benefits to gut health?

3 Upvotes

My girlfriend and I have gotten into a discussion about the impact of fermented food on your gut health. The positions are between A) it is more beneficial for your gut health due to it being fermented or B) there is no documented benefit that goes beyond what eating a similar serving of raw vegetables would do.

Can you help us settle this?? Thanks in advance


r/fermentation • • 2d ago

Ginger Bug/Soda My first home brewed ginger beer!

108 Upvotes

It came out absolutely delicious. Its a shame i discovered this right before planning on going keto/low carb 😭😭


r/fermentation • • 1d ago

Kefir Looking for Kefir grains

0 Upvotes

I’m in search of kefir grains in the Katy, Houston area. I want to attempt making kefir at home. TIA.