Question about preserved lemons
I made a batch of preserved Meyer lemons and the liquid is bubbling and fermenting. I don't recall this happening with regular preserved lemons. Is this normal? If so, how long should it last?
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I made a batch of preserved Meyer lemons and the liquid is bubbling and fermenting. I don't recall this happening with regular preserved lemons. Is this normal? If so, how long should it last?
10 Comments
I agree that one's preserving methods, and the "ambient" temperature of their home, has a lot to do with what occurs, and what can occur. After about 5 days at room temp., I put my lemons in the walk-in (usually much colder, and more stable, than a home fridge) with a full covering of lemon juice, and then olive oil, for extra "protection." I haven't noticed any fermented taste, or action... I used Meyer Lemons too.
Do let us know what you've discovered? I LOVED learning about how iodized salt kills good microbes. I'm a huge proponent for Kosher Salt myself, preferring it's "warm" taste, over the bitterness in "table salt," or the high acid of sea salt.
What's your preservation method? Salt and juice? Salt and water? Something else?
A small checklist to go through:
Is there iodine in your salt?
Do you use antibacterial soaps/detergents/anything in your home?
Are your lemons organic? Are they imported?
Iodine and antibacterial soaps are often the cause of moldy ferments as they kill off the beneficial invisible beasties.
As for lemons fermenting on you... I wish I had more experience preserving lemons. Going from general theory, perhaps these lemons have a different acid content than other kinds of lemons, so will react differently and/or may require more salt than the other kind.
Going to keep a close eye on this thread as I've just started preserving my own lemons.