My sauerkraut looked like a science experiment gone wrong for 2 weeks straight

I started a batch of sauerkraut back in March and for the first 14 days it smelled like old gym socks and had this weird pink fuzz on top that made me want to toss it. Then suddenly around day 16 the smell mellowed out and the liquid turned clear instead of cloudy. Has anyone else had a kraut batch go through an ugly phase before turning out good?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliotm7026d ago

Yeah, I had a batch of pickles once that looked like swamp water for three weeks before they turned out amazing.

ivan_mason26d ago

Swamp water pickles. That's a new one for me. I've had jars that looked like a science experiment gone wrong, but never a whole ecosystem. Three weeks of staring at murky brine and wondering if you were growing penicillin instead of dill. Must have been a real confidence builder every time you opened the fridge. Glad they didn't end up tasting like they looked.

cora86324d ago

You used to think ugly ferments were a lost cause, right? I was the same way before a batch of kimchi that looked like it had moldy spots for a week then cleared up and tasted perfect. That experience changed my mind about tossing things too early.