5 Reasons Why You Should Learn How to Ferment Foods

How to Ferment Foods
How to Ferment Foods

Fermentation is the process through which bacteria and other microorganisms break down substances. It’s through controlled fermentation that we are able to produce cheese, wine, beer, yogurt, kombucha, and a variety of other delicious products.  What you might not be aware of is that fermenting food at home can be relatively easy. But is learning how to ferment your own foods worth the effort? Here are some of the reasons why the answer to that question is “yes”.

1 – It’s easy to get started

Getting into fermenting foods is as easy as running a google search and buying a starter kit. There are plenty of sites that can teach you how to make kombucha, cheese, wine, and more. And many brands have put together beginner-friendly starter kits that come with all the tools, instructions, and cultures you need to get your at-home fermentation efforts off to a good start.

2 – It’s safer than it sounds

The idea of allowing microorganisms to grow on your food before consuming it can sound yucky. Especially when you’re doing it yourself at home. But the truth of the matter is: fermenting foods is fairly safe. Not only do fermentation recipes include steps meant to ensure that no harmful bacteria will grow on the food, but the fermentation process itself will eliminate harmful pathogens.

That’s because the microbes used to ferment foods are experts at outcompeting harmful pathogens. So by the time the fermentation process is done, the food in question will be safe to consume. More than safe — fermented foods are generally good for your health, and they contain plenty of beneficial bacteria that can help promote gut health.

3 – It saves money

Since most people don’t know how to ferment foods at home, plenty of brands charge a premium for taking care of that process. You’ll be shocked by how much cheaper it is to make your own cheese or yogurt compared to buying it from a store. And the price difference can be even bigger when it comes to Kombucha and other more exotic fermented foods and beverages.

Over time, you can even start making some money yourself by selling fermented foods to friends and family. Just make sure you’re not breaking any local laws before you start selling.

4 – It gives you agency

Fermenting your own foods also gives you total control over the process. You can choose which materials to use, which recipes to follow, and you can tweak different parts of the recipe yourself. This allows you to create an end product that matches your tastes perfectly. And if you want to make sure you’re eating organic or vegan products, this gives you more control over that as well.

5 – It can be fun

Finally, fermenting your own food is just plain fun. Plenty of people take fermentation up as a hobby. There’s always something new to learn, new foods to try to ferment, and you get to enjoy the results of your hard work once the fermentation is done, which can be a ton of fun.

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I'm NOT a doctor! I'm just passionate about health and healthy leaving. The information on this website, such as graphics, images, text and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. The content is not intended to be complete or exhaustive or to apply to any specific individual's medical condition.