Lessons Learned in 2012: Fermenting

Looking back at the year that was, it’s clear to me that I’ve learned a lot about fermenting.  While much of that learning had to do with a wild obsession with hot peppers and hot sauces, there are recipes and articles written about fermenting in 2012 that weren’t restricted to my love of heat.

Fermenting is incredibly exciting to me.  It’s easy, doesn’t take much space, can be done quickly and is relatively foolproof.

We’ll be continuing our experiments with fermenting this year (and ensure we diversify our posts as well).  In the meantime, here’s a quick reference guide to the 28 articles we wrote this year related to fermenting.

Fundamentals/ Techniques

• Different Types of Fermentation: The Differences Between Wild Fermentation and Lactofermentation March, 2012
• How to Make an Airlock fit a Wide-Mouthed Mason Jar September, 2012
• Another Hot Sauce Trick: Refermenting Hot Sauce September 12, 2012
• A Quick Tip To Speed Fermenting on Cold Days November, 2012
• A Trick for Keeping Flies out of Mason Jars November, 2012
• Our Newest Fermenting Crock (20 Gallons) November, 2012

Recipes for Fermenting

• Fermented (Cranberries and Ginger) January, 2012
• How to Make Carrot and Cabbage Kimchi March, 2012
• Possibly the Best Lactofermented Hot Sauce with Whey April, 2012
• How to Make Fermented Mustard April, 2012
• Lactofermented Apple Slices April, 2012
• Fermented Honey-Garlic Pickles August, 2012
• Whey Fermented Jalapeno (and Other Hot Pepper) Slices August, 2012
• More Fermented Hot Sauce (and A Few Tricks) September, 2012
• Fermented Hot Sauce (The 2012 Version) September, 2012
• Fermented Mirepoix November, 2012
• Fermented Turnip/ Rutabaga Kraut November, 2012
• Update on Refermented Hot Sauce December, 2012

Salt Cures (Close to ferments but arguably not)

• Chili Salt October, 2012
• Pickled Hot Peppers Too Hot? Make Chili Salt November, 2012
• Salt Cured Mustard Seed Caviar November, 2012

Recipes for Cooking with Fermented Foods

• Poached Eggs with Kimchi and Potato Cakes
• A Very Canadian Chigae (or Jigae) – Kimchi Soup or Stew April, 2012
• Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits with Fermented Jalapenos December, 2012
• Sugar Cookies with Bourbon and Fermented Jalapenos December, 2012

Dehydrating Fermented Foods

• Dried Fermented Hot Peppers October, 2012
• Dehydrated Kimchi Powder October, 2012
• What to Do with Fermented Hot pepper Seeds  October, 2012