Review: Secrets of Pickling Workshop

Thank you for coming out to both of our pickling workshops!

Thanks also go out to chef and returning workshop facilitator Andrea Potter (Rooted Nutrition) and to Urban Digs Farm, which donated some of the vegetables used for the workshops.

Didn't get a chance to join us but want to know what all the excitement about pickling is about?

The list of fermented, or pickled, foods around today is staggering: bread, coffee, pickles, cheese, beer, yoghurt, tempeh, and soy sauce, among many others. These foods are transformed during the production process by microscopic organisms that help preserve foods while enhancing flavour.



So, what exactly is fermentation, and how does it work?

Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lactofermentation, during which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in food, creating lactic acid.

Natural fermentation of foods has been shown to preserve nutrients in food while also helping to break the food down into a more digestible form.

Why eat fermented foods?

There are several great reasons to start making and eating fermented foods:

1) Probiotics: Consuming fermented foods and drinks will introduce beneficial bacteria into your digestive system and help the balance of existing bacteria. Probiotics have been shown to help improve bowel health, aid digestion, and improve immunity.

2) Absorb food better: Having the proper balance of gut bacteria and enough digestive enzymes helps you absorb more of the nutrients in the foods you eat.

3) Budget friendly: Lots of different types of fermented foods are easy to find in grocery stores these days, but you can also make your own whey at home for a couple of dollars or use sea salt and water to ferment many foods inexpensively.

4) Preserves food easily: Lacto-fermentation allows you to store foods like salsa, sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables for longer periods of time without losing nutrients as you would with traditional canning methods.

5) Taste: And, of course, fermented foods are also delicious!

Curious about other workshops this summer? Check out our Upcoming Events and Workshops schedule, and stay tuned for updates!