There is so many ways to make pickled vegs in china, different region uses different spices in it. And there is also a very similar Jar in china made of the same material. Really love your videos, long time fan here, and Keep it up !
Ingrid said she never knew why big sheets of cabbage leafs are placed on the bottom of the pickling jar every time she pickled the sauerkraut. Well, here's why: in the old times, folks are more frugal and try to use up everything that are edible. When people make sauerkraut, they would peel off the outer sheets on the cabbage (often looks not as perfect because of insect bites or yellowing) those imperfected parts or yellow parts were removed, and rest are (still edible) saved / placed on the bottom of the pickling jars. As for kneading the cabbage... She could actually avoid that step as salt (through osmosis) will withdraw excess water liquid out of the cabbage. Ever wondering why stones are used on top of the cabbage? They are used during fermentation process because they help submerging the cabbage under the liquid brine, allowing the lactic acid to lower the pH of the juice to a more "protective level" for the Lactobacillus (good) bacteria (pH 4.5 ~ 5.5)... Most dangerous bacteria cannot survive at an environment with pH value lower than 5.8. So, salt first protect the cabbage from going bad, and after 2 weeks the liquid slpwly turns sour to add an extra shield for protecting the cabbage from other harmful bacteria. As for the cloth used between the cabbage and the stone... Well, it's purpose is to help holding shredded cabbage in one place (without the help of the cloth, shredded cabbage will flow through the gaps of the stone used to keep the cabbage from floating to the top.) Buttermilk is used because it is full of Lactobacillus bacteria cultures (hence, the tartness)... It helps speed up the fermentation process, and you could go as little as 1 spoon full to activate the fermentation process. As a matter of fact, one could avoid the buttermilk if it's not easy to buy them (people in Asia for example). There are already Lactobacillus bacteria exist on the cabbage. Anyways, love all your videos! Definitely keeps us entertained in the midst of pandemic! I should do some comparison videos on fermented cabbages (Chinese / Korean / German / American)... All of them shares the same science behind them and the process of making them are very very similar! ❤️
@wingolden2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your food science stories if the sauerkrauts. If buttermilk is not easily available in Asia, you can substitute it by adding some liquid from washing rice, it will also speed up the fermentation. I always use it in my pickling.