Table of Contents
How does a fermentation crock work?
After a water-sealed crock is packed, two half-circle weights are placed into the crock to keep your ferment submerged. Then, the lid is placed into an open moat which is then filled with water. Now, outside air is prevented from entering the crock and carbon dioxide gases created during fermentation easily bubble out.
What do you use a crock for?
Traditionally, and before the advent of refrigeration, crocks were used in American kitchens to hold foodstuffs such as butter, salted meats and pickled vegetables. The crocks were invariably made of stoneware, a durable, economical ceramic that remains water-tight, even without a glaze.
How do you ferment without a crock?
Put the cabbage in a large non-metal bowl. Add about 1 tablespoon of canning salt per pound of shredded cabbage. Mix the salt and cabbage with your hands for a few minutes, until the cabbage starts to make its own liquid and starts to turn translucent. Let the salted cabbage sit for about 30 minutes, then mix again.
What can I ferment in my crock?
Using specially designed crocks for pickling and fermenting, it’s easy to make your own pickles and fermented foods, such as kimchi.Use fermenting and pickling crocks to make these delicious treats: Ruby Red Caraway Sauerkraut. Smoky-Sour Dill Pickles. Napa Cabbage & Ginger Kimchi.
What can I use for fermentation weights?
A Small Ceramic or Glass Dish Mini jelly jars, condiment dishes or small dessert ramekins that fit inside the mouth of the jar work very well to weigh down fermenting veggies. Partially fill the jar with water to create extra weight or add these jars on top of fermentation weights to help keep vegetables submerged.
Do I need fermentation weights?
In a closed system like the FARMcurious Fermenting Set (or other airlock system) a weight is generally not needed because the airlock keeps the environment oxygen-free and safe from contamination of yeast and mold. Without oxygen, you can’t grow yeast or mold!Oct 20, 2015.
What does crocks mean in English?
1 : one that is broken-down, disabled, or impaired so many old … crocks with one foot in the grave— Angus Wilson. 2 slang : a complaining medical patient whose illness is largely imaginary or psychosomatic. crock. verb (2).
How much do old crocks sell for?
Collectively, antique stoneware crock values range from $500 to $400,000. However, actual antique crock selling prices depend on whether the crock has the iconic cobalt blue design.
What is a water seal fermentation crock?
A water-sealed fermentation crock or a sauerkraut crock is a stoneware pot that is used to prepare fermented food. It holds cabbages and vegetables in a brine solution and comes with a sealed top. The difference from a sealed crockpot to an open one is a moat around the opening where the lid fits on.
What is a ceramic crock?
A crock is a pottery container sometimes used for food and water, synonymous with the word pot, and sometimes used for chemicals. A gypsy’s crock is a (traditionally three-legged) cooking pot.
Is fermented and pickled the same thing?
Here’s what you need to remember: Pickling involves soaking foods in an acidic liquid to achieve a sour flavor; when foods are fermented, the sour flavor is a result of a chemical reaction between a food’s sugars and naturally present bacteria — no added acid required. Apr 4, 2016.
What is the healthiest fermented food?
The healthiest fermented foods. Kombucha. Kombucha, which is made from a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) mixed with sweetened black or green tea, has been around for more than 2,000 years—and for good reason. Kimchi. Kefir. Lacto-fermented pickles + other vegetables. Sauerkraut. Miso. Tempeh. Yogurt.
How do you clean fermented crock?
Cleaning Your Fermenting Stones/Crock Scrub the mould off as much as you can. Put the stones in a pot with a few tablespoons of vinegar and hot water or fill the crock with vinegar and hot water (not boiling). Leave overnight. Rinse the stones/crock.
Can I use rocks as fermentation weights?
Rocks – The right size and shape rock will make a perfect weight. Be sure to boil them first for about 20 minutes to kill any competing or harmful bacteria. Marbles tied a in cheesecloth or muslin – Marbles work well because they can easily fit whatever size or shape jar you are using.
Can you get botulism from sauerkraut?
Will lacto-fermented pickles or sauerkraut give you botulism? No. Fermenting foods creates an environment that botulism doesn’t like.
Why are fermentation weights unglazed?
“With traditional ceramic porous weights, the unglazed surface can absorb bacteria present in your ferment. When something goes wrong in the fermentation process, the bad bacteria or mold can be absorbed into the porous stones.
What is the purpose of fermentation weights?
The point of a fermentation weight is to weigh down your vegetables during fermentation, which means it actually needs to weigh enough to hold things down. We’ve used other weights in the past where we would have to layer a couple in order to keep things submerged.
What are glass fermentation weights used for?
These heavy, tempered glass weights perfectly fit into a wide mouth Mason jar to hold your fermenting vegetables under the brine and press out any air pockets, leaving a tiny space around the edges to let out fermentation gasses. Glass weights that are not tempered often crack in half during fermentation.
