Keeping pickles fully submerged under the brine during the fermentation process is crucial to prevent mold growth and ensure successful preservation. You can achieve this by using simple weights or clever techniques.
To keep your pickles submerged under the brine, you can use common items like a rolled up cabbage leaf, a rock, a small jar, or specific pickle weights. Keeping them submerged helps prevent mold.
Why Submerge Pickles?
The primary reason for keeping your pickles or sauerkraut submerged beneath the brine is to create an anaerobic environment. Anaerobic means "without air" or "without oxygen." The beneficial lactic acid bacteria thrive in this environment and produce the acids that ferment and preserve your vegetables. Exposure to air, on the other hand, can allow undesirable molds and yeasts to grow, spoiling your batch.
Effective Methods for Submerging Pickles
Based on common practices and the provided reference, here are several effective ways to keep your pickles safely tucked under the brine:
- Rolled Up Cabbage Leaf: A large, clean outer leaf from a cabbage (especially useful for sauerkraut or other fermented vegetables like pickles) can be rolled up and tucked over the top of the pickles. This creates a barrier that holds the smaller pieces down.
- A Clean Rock: Ensure the rock is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. A smooth, non-porous rock that fits inside your fermentation vessel can be placed on top of the pickles to weigh them down.
- A Small Jar: A small, clean jar (like a jelly jar or spice jar) can be filled with water (or left empty, depending on the size) and placed inside the mouth of the fermentation vessel, resting directly on the pickles. This acts as a plunger to keep everything below the brine level.
- Pickle Weights: These are specifically designed weights, often made of glass or ceramic, that fit inside standard wide-mouth or regular-mouth fermentation jars. They are heavy enough to hold the vegetables down and are easy to clean and reuse.
- Follower (Disc) and Weight: Some fermentation setups use a "follower," which is a disc (often plastic or glass) placed directly on the vegetables, and then a weight is placed on top of the follower. This helps distribute the weight evenly.
- Specialized Fermentation Lids: Some modern fermentation lids include mechanisms that help compress the vegetables down or allow gases to escape while keeping air out.
Choosing Your Method
The best method often depends on the size of your fermentation vessel and what you have readily available.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Rolled Cabbage Leaf | Natural, often readily available | Can be tricky to tuck in perfectly, might not work for all vegetables |
| Clean Rock | Simple, free (if found safely) | Needs thorough cleaning, porosity can be an issue |
| Small Jar | Convenient, easy to adjust weight | Can be bulky, requires extra jar |
| Pickle Weights | Designed for the purpose, easy to use/clean | Requires purchase |
| Follower & Weight | Even pressure, good for chopped items | Requires specific equipment |
| Specialized Lids | Integrated solution, often includes airlock | Can be more expensive, requires specific jars |
Regardless of the method you choose, always ensure your weight or barrier is clean and that the vegetables remain fully submerged throughout the entire fermentation period.
