OT- Lacto Fermentation Fun- Peppers and Sriracha

lkapigian

vthokie98 said:

thanks for the quick responses y'all...was able to get a ziplock of brine in there and hopefully should prevent me from having to pull out more of them.  Must be low on the salt is my guess.  My main floor keeps pretty close to 70 all day and night.  Will add a bit salt to the next time i make brine. 

Awesome, post your results 

lkapigian

caliking said:

@vthokie98 that’s Kahm yeast. Harmless, but can apparently affect the flavor if you leave it in when storing the peppers in the fridge. 

You can can skim it off when you’re done fermenting. I dropped a dry folded paper towel flat on top of it all and picked it up with tongs. Most of the yeast stuck  to the wet paper towel. The peppers and stuff in that jar have tasted fine. 

Great idea @caliking

U_tarded

Finished my first small test batch.  Wow!  The flavors are complex and the heat sneaks up on you.  We have a jalopeno plant that is producing well this was one days harvest, (pictured) some carrots, 1/4 onion 3 cloves garlic.  In about a month I’m going to have more peppers than I used to know what to do with.  Problem solved.  What’s the shelf life of this I imagine with the salt, vinegar and fermentation a couple of months?

theyolksonyou

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

bgebrent

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

Fresh bay is growing on our deck at the lake...  Shall we bring you some?

lkapigian

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

I've had luck with dry, but maybe it was the amount I used...gald the taste was great!!

lkapigian

U_tarded said:

Finished my first small test batch.  Wow!  The flavors are complex and the heat sneaks up on you.  We have a jalopeno plant that is producing well this was one days harvest, (pictured) some carrots, 1/4 onion 3 cloves garlic.  In about a month I’m going to have more peppers than I used to know what to do with.  Problem solved.  What’s the shelf life of this I imagine with the salt, vinegar and fermentation a couple of months?

That looks great, shelve life should be months and months ...they don't last long, but I've had 6 month ferment in the fridge with no issues 

U_tarded

lkapigian said:

U_tarded said:

Finished my first small test batch.  Wow!  The flavors are complex and the heat sneaks up on you.  We have a jalopeno plant that is producing well this was one days harvest, (pictured) some carrots, 1/4 onion 3 cloves garlic.  In about a month I’m going to have more peppers than I used to know what to do with.  Problem solved.  What’s the shelf life of this I imagine with the salt, vinegar and fermentation a couple of months?

That looks great, shelve life should be months and months ...they don't last long, but I've had 6 month ferment in the fridge with no issues 

That’s what I was thinking, I’m just thinking if my plants keep producing I know what I’m making for coworkers for the holidays.  Some of this and some Canadian bacon should do the trick.  

lkapigian

@U_tarded you should be fine...a little added Vinegar get the PH there if it's not already 

U_tarded

lkapigian said:

@U_tarded you should be fine...a little added Vinegar get the PH there if it's not already 

Thanks!  

caliking

lkapigian said:

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

I've had luck with dry, but maybe it was the amount I used...gald the taste was great!!

Dry bay leaves should be fine, but yes the amount may matter. My first batch if onions and such with bay leaves turned out "crunchy", but forgot to add them in a second batch and they were soggy.

I read somewhere that grape leaves can be used too. Apparently it's the tannins in the leaves that matter. Makes me think that a tea bag in the brine may also work. 

lkapigian

caliking said:

lkapigian said:

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

theyolksonyou said:

My pickles taste great, but they’re way soggy. The okra isn’t as soggy, but could’ve used another pepper and more garlic for me.  

Oh well, best thing is we try again!

need to find fresh bay leaves. Dry doesn’t work. 

I've had luck with dry, but maybe it was the amount I used...gald the taste was great!!

Dry bay leaves should be fine, but yes the amount may matter. My first batch if onions and such with bay leaves turned out "crunchy", but forgot to add them in a second batch and they were soggy.

I read somewhere that grape leaves can be used too. Apparently it's the tannins in the leaves that matter. Makes me think that a tea bag in the brine may also work. 

@caliking yes tea works....never done it but it's on the list 

theyolksonyou

Thanks guys.  I guess I need to add more to the next batch.  

lkapigian

theyolksonyou said:

Thanks guys.  I guess I need to add more to the next batch.  

One thing I have not tried that Brad Leoni on Bon Appetit does is he ferments his Half Sour Pickles in the fridge...Next time I will also keep them whole or halves VS quartered 

Legume

Order placed on Amazon earlier today.  Damn you all.  Actually, I’m looking forward to this.

has anyone tried cherry tomatoes - either full green or just semi ripe?

lkapigian

Legume said:

Order placed on Amazon earlier today.  Damn you all.  Actually, I’m looking forward to this.

has anyone tried cherry tomatoes - either full green or just semi ripe?

Awesome @legume I have not bit there is no reason it wont work, you may want to poke some small holes with a pin or Sausage Pricker ....or halve them, keep us posted 

stv8r

So how do you know when the veggies are ready?  Just wait 3 weeks or is there some other indicator?  I know the first week the smell was overpowering, but it's gotten much milder now...at a week and a half.  

theyolksonyou

I ate one. 

U_tarded

theyolksonyou said:

I ate one. 

This plus my jar compressed a lot (like 30%). 

lkapigian

theyolksonyou said:

I ate one. 

This right here, if you are going to eat them, star tasting after a week or so....taste the brine as well, when it's the way you like, stick it in the fridge. You will also start seeing a little less activity . for Sauces, I go at least 3 weeks minimum 

theyolksonyou

lkapigian said:

theyolksonyou said:

I ate one. 

This right here, if you are going to eat them, star tasting after a week or so....taste the brine as well, when it's the way you like, stick it in the fridge. You will also start seeing a little less activity . for Sauces, I go at least 3 weeks minimum 

Pickles were a little risky for me as I HATE cucumbers. Cannot stand them.  However, I really like pickles. 10 days was fine.  No cuc taste.  

lkapigian

theyolksonyou said:

lkapigian said:

theyolksonyou said:

I ate one. 

This right here, if you are going to eat them, star tasting after a week or so....taste the brine as well, when it's the way you like, stick it in the fridge. You will also start seeing a little less activity . for Sauces, I go at least 3 weeks minimum 

Pickles were a little risky for me as I HATE cucumbers. Cannot stand them.  However, I really like pickles. 10 days was fine.  No cuc taste.  

Amazing what salt water and time will do

caliking

Just a random note to add, re ambient room temps, since it impacts fermentation projects - was reading a blog or something by an Indian lady (about fermenting rice batter for dosas/idlis/appams etc), and she mentions adjustments to the protocol for folks who keeps their homes cooler i.e. "less than 80F". 

I laughed because our crib is usually 80F or more, but almost everyone I know keeps their house at frigid temps

fishlessman

caliking said:

Just a random note to add, re ambient room temps, since it impacts fermentation projects - was reading a blog or something by an Indian lady (about fermenting rice batter for dosas/idlis/appams etc), and she mentions adjustments to the protocol for folks who keeps their homes cooler i.e. "less than 80F". 

I laughed because our crib is usually 80F or more, but almost everyone I know keeps their house at frigid temps

another week and the fermentation in my house needs to be done on the fridge top were it stays about 75 for the rest of the year.  tried it last fall on the counter and it was too cool for the ferment to really start   55 degree nights are thankfully right around the corner

lkapigian

fishlessman said:

caliking said:

Just a random note to add, re ambient room temps, since it impacts fermentation projects - was reading a blog or something by an Indian lady (about fermenting rice batter for dosas/idlis/appams etc), and she mentions adjustments to the protocol for folks who keeps their homes cooler i.e. "less than 80F". 

I laughed because our crib is usually 80F or more, but almost everyone I know keeps their house at frigid temps

another week and the fermentation in my house needs to be done on the fridge top were it stays about 75 for the rest of the year.  tried it last fall on the counter and it was too cool for the ferment to really start   55 degree nights are thankfully right around the corner

keep it in the oven with the light on, or a small heating pad

Of course if it were me,I would go the preheat the oven for something and say "what that smell?" "Oh Sh!t"

They have a collapsable proofing oven you can set in the 70"s as well

https://www.amazon.com/Brod-Taylor-Folding-Proofer-Cooker/dp/B01MEEH0SE/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536244341&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=collapsible+proofing+oven

fishlessman

lkapigian said:

fishlessman said:

caliking said:

Just a random note to add, re ambient room temps, since it impacts fermentation projects - was reading a blog or something by an Indian lady (about fermenting rice batter for dosas/idlis/appams etc), and she mentions adjustments to the protocol for folks who keeps their homes cooler i.e. "less than 80F". 

I laughed because our crib is usually 80F or more, but almost everyone I know keeps their house at frigid temps

another week and the fermentation in my house needs to be done on the fridge top were it stays about 75 for the rest of the year.  tried it last fall on the counter and it was too cool for the ferment to really start   55 degree nights are thankfully right around the corner

keep it in the oven with the light on, or a small heating pad

Of course if it were me,I would go the preheat the oven for something and say "what that smell?" "Oh Sh!t"

They have a collapsable proofing oven you can set in the 70"s as well

https://www.amazon.com/Brod-Taylor-Folding-Proofer-Cooker/dp/B01MEEH0SE/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536244341&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=collapsible+proofing+oven

the fridge top is fine, the camp i set at 54 for the house and the top of the fridge will get the bubbles happening. could just be my 1970's kitchen fridge throws off more heat than the newer models

KGilma2018

Why am I getting notifications for this thread, and how do i stop it!?!

lkapigian

KGilma2018 said:

Why am I getting notifications for this thread, and how do i stop it!?!

Click that star on the right. If it's yellow

KGilma2018

lkapigian said:

KGilma2018 said:

Why am I getting notifications for this thread, and how do i stop it!?!

Click that star on the right. If it's yellow

Thank you.  must have it accidentally.  

stv8r

caliking said:

Just a random note to add, re ambient room temps, since it impacts fermentation projects - was reading a blog or something by an Indian lady (about fermenting rice batter for dosas/idlis/appams etc), and she mentions adjustments to the protocol for folks who keeps their homes cooler i.e. "less than 80F". 

I laughed because our crib is usually 80F or more, but almost everyone I know keeps their house at frigid temps

I laughed at your use of "crib"  Seem to remember that term 20years ago