Just realized my carrot ferment has divided my cooking circle over brine clarity

I prefer a cloudy brine as a sign of active culture, but several friends argue it indicates spoilage and prefer crystal-clear liquids. This came up after my latest batch, which tastes perfect to me but looks murky. Where do you stand on judging ferments by appearance versus taste?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee.kelly7h ago

Cloudy brine is usually a good sign in ferments, not spoilage. That murkiness comes from live cultures that are actively working, which often means better flavor. If it tastes perfect, the appearance shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

the_luna4h ago

Ever sniff test yours before tasting? I always give mine a quick smell first, if it's funky but not foul, it's usually fine. The cloudiness is just the bacteria doing their thing.

johnson.gray3h ago

Sandor Katz wrote that cloudiness... means healthy fermentation.