Hot take: I don't clean my jars before fermenting and it's always fine

2 comments

2 Comments

Wash my jars every single time. Leaving old bits or soap residue can mess with the good bacteria you want. I had a whole batch of sauerkraut go moldy once from a dirty jar. It's just not worth the risk of wasting all that food and time. A quick rinse with hot water takes two seconds.

mary_hart4d ago

Watched my friend Sarah lose a big batch of kimchi because she reused a jar without washing it. She thought a quick rinse was enough, but old chili paste stuck to the sides. The whole thing turned pink and fuzzy after a week. She was SO upset, all those veggies gone. Now she scrubs everything with hot water and vinegar. It's a lesson she won't forget.