Two weeks ago I started a batch of lacto-fermented pickles. I carefully followed the recipe enclosed in the fermenting jar with air lock I bought recently. With great anticipation I’ve awaited the day they would be ready to sample. The child in me loves good pickle! I had great hopes my pickles would turn out delectable, delicious and crisp. Last night enough time had finally passed, and the moment of truth had arrived. I popped open the jar and pulled out a pickle. The center gave way to the pressure of the fork. It was a mushy mess. My pickles were a bomb…not to be confused with “the bomb”. This morning I dumped them into my kitchen compost pot.
I wish I had taken a picture of the “pickles” in the fermenting jar, but I did not. Initially the liquid in the jar was clear. The end result liquid was very cloudy even before I transferred them into jars for storage. (That’s my pretty and really yummy sauerkraut in the fermenting jar to the left.)
A mushy mess…so often bloggers share their successes. It seems fair to share some of the failures, too. These, my friends, were a failure.
I’m sure I will try to lacto-ferment pickles again, but I will search out a different recipe. Once was enough for this one. In the meantime, I’ll eat sauerkraut.
Until next time…
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
apron strings 
So sorry your pickles didn’t turn out. We always add a grape leaf to our pickles to keep them crisp. That’s what they say anyway. Hope your next batch is a wonderful success.
Hmmm, very interesting, Debbie. It seems I saw another recipe with a grape leaf in the ingredient list. I opted not to use it, but I guess I will have to give it a try. Thank you for reminding me…and for leaving a comment. Judy in MS
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ She seeketh wool, and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13 http://www.apronstringsandothertiesthatbind.wordpress.com
what a shame, not sure what went wrong . I has a little chuckle, it reminded me of when I was a child and Dad used to try and make ginger beer, we never got to drink it as it always exploded!! he persevered for a few years but finally gave up on it.
Hi Margaret,
Fortunately the pickles were no great loss. I don’t know what went wrong either. I am relatively new to making fermented foods…except for sauerkraut. I followed the recipe and the pickles were not fit to eat. That’s all I know for sure. I got a good chuckle from your ginger beer story. It sounds like Dad needed to release some gas from the container he was using to brew. One thing for sure…he had carbonation. I make water kefir and kombucha and sometimes I get lots of fizz…but so far I’ve never had an explosion. I hope I never do. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Judy in MS
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ She seeketh wool, and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13 http://www.apronstringsandothertiesthatbind.wordpress.com