I found out my sauerkraut jar had way more bacteria than I thought

I read a study from a university lab that said a single spoonful of active sauerkraut can have over 100 million probiotic cells. I always just guessed it was good for me, but seeing that number made it real. How do you even know if your ferment has enough of the right bugs working?

4 comments

4 Comments

elliot_mason621d ago

So how do you test it at home?

sammartinez1d ago

Well if you have to ask how to test it at home, you probably shouldn't be testing it at home.

matthewwilson15h ago

Ignore the gatekeeping, elliot_mason62. I just used cheap pH strips from a pharmacy to check the acidity was low enough. It gave me peace of mind without needing a lab.

the_viola1d ago

That lab number is a good start, but it's not the full story. The type of bacteria matters way more than just the total count. A healthy ferment will have a strong, sour smell and taste, not anything rotten or off. You can see bubbles and the brine will get cloudy, which are good signs. If you're really worried, you can buy pH test strips to check the acidity.