5 Ways to Ferment Almost Anything with These Unique Shortcuts

5 Ways to Ferment Almost Anything with These Unique Shortcuts

Learn how to ferment almost anything with these five unique shortcuts for using one ferment to help jumpstart a totally different fermentation.

Are You Having Trouble Fermenting?

In the world of ferments, there are all sorts of fermented foods you can make, including:

• Cultured dairy
• Sourdough starter
• Fermented vegetables
• Condiments
• Beverages
• And more!

But what do you do when you struggle with starting one or more of these fermentations? Well, I have good news! In my fermentation video, I show you some unique and creative ways to ferment almost anything.

When One Fermentation Is Thriving

When you struggle with getting one type of ferment going, the first thing you want to do is look around your kitchen and see if you have another fermentation that is thriving.

For example, might your kombucha be doing great, but your sourdough is struggling? If so, use some of your kombucha in place of water when you feed your starter. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the kombucha liquid will jumpstart your sourdough starter!

Is your ginger bug just not fizzy, but your sourdough starter is doing great? Dilute a bit of your sourdough starter with water and use that to feed your ginger bug. That “bug” will be bubbling away in no time!

As you mix and match your various fermentations to turn them into the thriving cultures that you’re hoping for, you’ll become a believer that you can ferment almost anything using one fermentation to help another.

But What If You Don’t Have a Thriving Fermentation?

But how do you get started helping one struggling ferment if you do not have any successful fermentations? There is an easy fix for this. You can purchase some plain yogurt at your grocery store—make sure it has “LIVE” cultures—and then strain it.

The liquid that strains off of the yogurt is called “whey.” This whey is rich in good bacteria, and it will help jumpstart fermentations, such as sourdough starter, as well as fermented vegetables, condiments, and beverages. As the Mandalorians say…”This is the Whey” to ferment almost anything! 😉

And here’s a little tip…before your strain off the whey, set aside a tablespoon of the yogurt to culture the milk in your fridge to turn it into yogurt. Once you start making your own yogurt, you’ll never have to buy it at the store again. Plus, you’ll have an unlimited supply of whey!

More Fermentation Videos

Now that you know that you essentially can mix and match various ferments to keep the fermentations in your kitchen thriving and happy, be sure to explore these videos. You’ll become a champion vegetable fermenter in no time!

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

1. Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
2. Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
5. Preorder The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Be one of the first to get Mary's hardcover book about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!

---

Shop for Items Mentioned in This Video

Favorite Fermentation Supplies

• Half Gallon Canning Jars
• 4-Ounce Jelly Jars
• pH Strips
• White Storage Lids
• Masontops Complete Fermentation Kit (promo code below)
• Silicone Pickle Pipes
• Fermentation Glass Weights
• Wooden Pickle Packer
• Wooden Kraut Pounder

Use promo code MARYSNST for a one-time 15% off Masontops and Breadsmart products on Amazon.com.

Favorite Aprons

• My Favorite Aprons on Amazon

Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide

• Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
• Visit my Shopping Guide page
  Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman's, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!

Recommended Reading