Leftovers

Garlic fermentation is an interesting topic that has been previously discussed in a prior posting, but have you heard of black garlic? This product is fresh garlic that has been fermented in a high-humidity environment at a high temperature for a period of time. As fermentation occurs, the cloves begin …

In the pursuit of fitness and physical well-being, exercise enthusiasts often seek ways to optimize their performance and recovery. While traditional sports drinks and supplements have long been relied upon for these purposes, emerging research highlights a lesser-known yet potent ally: fermented milk. Packed with beneficial nutrients and active cultures, …

The Inuit, an indigenous population of the Arctic region, have a long history of fermenting a variety of foods. Some of these foods are made from fermenting sea mammals, especially seals, which are said to be the foundation of their diet. A wide variety of foods can be made from fermenting seal, …

Fermented foods, with a history spanning nearly 10,000 years, exhibit significant diversity in the 21st century. Each fermented food harbors a unique microorganism population, and when consumed, nutrients and microorganisms may persist to interact with the gut microbiome. This review explores key food fermentation pathways, the role of microorganisms, potential …

We’ve acquired knowledge about various fermented foods both from our classes and previous posts. In this post, I want to expand on this topic by introducing more examples of fermented foods and their associated benefits. Kvass: A traditional fermented beverage originating from Eastern Europe, typically made from rye bread, kvass …

As discussed in class, galactose plays a key role in the browning reaction observed in cheese products. In detail, browning occurs through an intricate interaction(Maillard reaction) between reducing sugars, like galactose, and amino acids released from protein breakdown. In this post, I aim to delve deeper into the potential implications …

Consumption of fermented foods provides supplements of different types of probiotics, which have the function of enhancing the human’s immune system. Briefly, the probiotics from fermented foods mainly function in the human gut, and for the immune system, immunomodulation can be triggered, leading to a more balanced immune response. The …

Picking is a process of extending the shelf-life of food by either anaerobic fermentation in brine or immersion in vinegar (read more here). This technique has a long history and is used worldwide. In this topic, we will focus on the anaerobic fermentation pickling process around the world. Sauerkraut is …

Kefir is a fermented milk product originating from the Caucasus Mountains. Health benefits of kefir have long since been recognized – kefir even means “feel good” in the original language. For production, kefir grains (symbiotic association of yeasts and bacteria enclosed in polysaccharides) are added to milk (or other liquids) …

Did you know that cocoa must be fermented before the bean can be considered consumable? I recently had the opportunity to visit a cocoa farm while in Costa Rica. I found the production of this specialty crop very interesting and hope you all will as well. This review provides a …

A recent trend among consumers, scientists and nutritionists is an increasing interest on the potential probiotic gut health benefits of fermented foods. This includes fermented foods being surveyed as the top “super food” on multiple published lists for consecutive years. Some scientists/researchers have set out to investigate these claims by …

Sausage fermentation heavily relies on the existence of LAB (lactic acid bacteria) and benefits from it in many ways. Fermented sausages are produced in different countries with similar ingredients and procedures. To make sausages, usually, pork is chopped and mixed with salts and seasonings before fermentation. LAB plays an important …