• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
fermenters kitchen logo

Fermenters Kitchen

Fermentation Recipes and more!

  • Recipes
  • Mead
  • Sprouting
  • Blog
  • Salt Brine Calculator
  • Shop
    • Fermented Foods
Home / FAQs / How To Ferment Vegetables (the Ultimate Guide)

How To Ferment Vegetables (the Ultimate Guide)

how to ferment vegetables guide

Lacto-Fermentation Guide: How to Ferment Vegetables

Are you interested in learning how Lacto-fermentation works? Check out our ultimate guide on fermenting vegetables to make mouth-watering recipes at home.

Fermenting is a brilliant solution for preserving vegetables from the store or garden.

Fermenting doesn’t require a lot of tools or time. Best of all, you can adapt this simple formula for fresh vegetables; try a mixture of veggies and spices for a custom fermentation pleasure.

Ready to start fermenting vegetables? Follow this quick step-by-step guide on how to ferment vegetables at home.

Equipment Needed For Fermenting Vegetables

If you browse Amazon for fermentation equipment, you will find an endless list of supplies to choose from (scroll to the bottom to view my favorite fermentation tools).

But, if you are starting, you only need a few jars with lids and a knife to cut the veggies.

how to ferment vegetables

Prepare Vegetables For Fermentation

Give the vegetables a good wash. If you usually peel the vegetables when you eat them raw, peel them for this process. Carrots, radishes, beets, zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, and cauliflower are all great vegetables to ferment.

Chop or shred the vegetables very small; the smaller or finer they are will help them to ferment faster. It’s a matter of personal preference and how you intend to use the finished product.

For example, carrots can be chopped, shredded, diced, or cut into coins or matchsticks. At the very least, cut the vegetables into bite-size pieces.

Make this next: Lacto-fermented Salsa, Fermented Ketchup

how to ferment vegetables in salt brine

Make the Fermentation Brine

The fermentation brine is made from 1 tablespoon of salt per cup (natural, non-iodized, and chlorine-free water). The salt prevents mold organisms from growing and produces beneficial bacteria known as probiotics.

The best salts are sea salt, Himalayan salt, pickling salt, and kosher salt.

Avoid iodized salt and salts that include anti-caking agents, often in table salt and some kosher salts.

Mix the salt and water until the salt dissolves.

It is time to fill the jars. Layer the vegetables and any herbs or seasoning in the jars as firmly as possible and pour the brine over them while leaving 1-2 inches of head space.

Garlic, ginger, bay leaves, dill, fresh thyme, caraway seeds, and red pepper flakes are all great herbs and seasoning ideas.

The vegetables must remain submerged in the brine; anything exposed to air will rot. Use a fermentation weight to keep the floaties down.

For some DIY weights, read my post, Fermentation Weights: How to weigh down fermented vegetables.

ferment vegetables guide

Let the Vegetables Ferment

If using a mason jar, tighten the lid just a little to prevent any oxygen from entering, but it lets carbon dioxide escape. Pressure can build up and explode if the lid is too tight and no air can escape. That is why fermentation crocks have water seals.

Store the jars of fermenting vegetables in a cool and dark place. The ideal temperature for storage is between 65 to 70 degrees. Store the jars out of sunlight in a cupboard or pantry.

How long does it take to ferment vegetables?

The fermentation times can vary from three days to six months, depending on the vegetables, temperature, and flavor you seek.

The best way to know when it’s ready is to taste it. Once it reaches the optimal flavor and crisp, move the jars to the refrigerator to stop any further fermentation.

A great way to find your optimal fermentation time is to make several jars at a time and let some ferment longer than others. Leave one for one week, one month, three months, and so on. Keep a fermentation logbook of their progress along the way.

Fermented Veggie Recipes

Ready to get started fermenting vegetables? Try out one of the following easy Lacto-fermented vegetable recipes!

  • Fermented Carrots
  • Fermented Green Beans
  • Fermented Jalapenos
  • Fermented Garlic
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kimchi
  • Sweet Daikon Radish Kimchi

FAQs, Fermented Food

Previous Post: « Avoid Bottles Exploding During Fermentation (Safety Tips & More)
Next Post: Why Sauerkraut Turned Brown On Top (and what to do about it) »

Primary Sidebar

SaleBestseller No. 1 Ball Fermentation Lids and Springs, 32oz, Metal
Ball Fermentation Lids and Springs, 32oz, Metal
View on Amazon
SaleBestseller No. 2 Fermentation as Metaphor: From the Author of the Bestselling 'The Art of Fermentation'
Fermentation as Metaphor: From the Author of the Bestselling "The Art of Fermentation"
View on Amazon
Bestseller No. 3 Artcome 5-Pack Glass Fermentation Weights with Easy Grip Handle and Unique Texture Design for Large Wide Mouth Mason Jars
Artcome 5-Pack Glass Fermentation Weights with Easy Grip Handle and Unique Texture Design for Large Wide Mouth Mason Jars
View on Amazon

Last update on 2023-01-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Footer

FERMENTERS KITCHEN – FERMENTATION FOOD BLOG

fermenters kitchen logo

EXPLORE

  • Cheese
  • Drinks
  • FAQs
  • Fermented Food
  • Gut Health
  • Kefir
  • Kimchi
  • Kombucha
  • Making Mead
  • Pickles
  • Sauerkraut
  • Sourdough
  • Sprouting
  • Substitutes
  • Supplies
  • Top Posts

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER

As an affiliate for Amazon, we will earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We are paid commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

 

 

Legal Information

Any specific health claim or nutritional claims, or information provided on the website is for informational purposes only. Nothing on the website is offered to be a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Copyright © 2023 · Fermenters Kitchen | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED