Both the tried-and-true pickle and the tried-and-true sauerkraut are examples of fermented vegetables that everyone is familiar with. But a lot more than just cucumbers and cabbage can be fermented.
Almost any vegetable may be fermented, and doing so all year round is a fantastic way to receive farm-fresh produce! A wide range of cultured meals can be produced by fermenting a single vegetable or combining several different vegetables with herbs and spices. What you’ll need to start fermenting is listed below.
Fermenting Vegetables: A Guide
- SELECT YOUR FERMENTING APPLIANCES
Although there is not much specific equipment needed for vegetable fermentation, using the right equipment might be crucial when getting started. You should choose equipment based on your requirements, from the best cutting tool to the ideal fermentation vessel. Think carefully about your possibilities before selecting your fermentation tools and materials. The Masontops fermentation supplies, which go well with both regular-mouth and wide-mouth mason jars, are some of our favourites. They can be purchased separately or as a component of Cultures for Health’s DIY kits for fermented vegetables.
2. Prepare the fermented vegetables in step two.
Vegetables can be prepared for fermentation in a number of ways, including by grating, shredding, chopping, slicing, or leaving them whole. Although the method you use to prepare your vegetables is entirely up to you, some are better left whole while others ferment better when chopped, grated, or shredded.
- Select the starter culture, salt, or dairy you’ll use to ferment vegetables.
A starter culture, salt, and drained whey may all be specified in a recipe for fermented cuisine. Depending on personal preference, unique dietary requirements, and even the veggies used, the procedure can change.
Select the proper salt from the various salt varieties that are suitable for culturing if salt fermentation is the selected approach.
- To prepare the brine in fermenting vegetables, use water.
For the best-tasting fermented veggies, water used to prepare brine or starter cultures should be as free from pollutants as feasible. Prior to choose your water source for culturing, take into account the suggestions in this article.
- Weigh Down Under the Brine the Fermeting Vegetables
After the veggies have been prepped and put in the fermentation vessel of your choice, weigh the vegetables down so that they are submerged in brine, maintaining an anaerobic atmosphere for the duration of the fermentation process.
Significantly Transfer the Fermented Vegetables to Cold Storage.
It’s time to transfer the vegetables to cold storage once the culturing process is complete. It can be challenging to determine the precise moment to declare the vegetables finished while fermenting for the first time. To get the most use out of your finished vegetables, use these guidelines to determine whether they are ready for cold storage.
Our Perfect Fermented Vegetables Include:
Many veggies create wonderful fermented foods, but some are more conducive to fermentation than others. For more details, see our recipes for fermenting.However, in general, the fermenting procedure tends to produce the greatest results for these vegetables:
- Cabbage
- bean greens
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- spicy peppers
- Garlic \sOnions
- Beets
- Cauliflower