Fermentation for beginners spans a wide array of projects you can jumpstart easily, with a little help and guidance.
As a brewer, and fermenter, these are the things I wish I knew before taking a deep dive into the world of fermentation.
It is a beautiful world filled with immense potential for stunning creations, but where do you begin? What kind of fermentation do you want to do?
You will learn the top 5 must-do things to get you started fermenting the right way. You will have clarity on what exactly you want to create, and how to create it.
Additionally, you will have a list of reliable resources to launch your first successful fermentation project!
This post is all about fermentation for beginners.
5 Simple Must-Do Things to Kickstart Your FIRST Fermentation Project | How to Start Fermentation
The variety of ferments you can make can seem overwhelming between fermented foods and fermented drinks. The list is endless!
So, where do you start? How do you start? And, what are best practices so you can have ferments that are safe? Let’s dive in.
1. Figure out what you want to ferment, and why?
First thing is first, we must understand what kind of ferment you are interested in. Whether that is fermented food or fermented drink.
Types of ferments you can make:
- Kimchi
- Sauerkraut
- Pickles
- Hard cider
- Wine
- Beer
- Mead
- Kombucha
- Fermented soda (yes, soda!)
- Russian kvass
- Sourdough
With fermentation projects you can really dive into your creativity. You can use a variety of flavors and ingredients to spark something new. For example, an herbal wine or a fruit wine, even an herbal beer!
Maybe you already know what kind of ferment you are interested in, or you need some guidance on what you want to start:
A question that will help you understand which direction to take is, why do you want to ferment?
Many people want to start fermented projects for health purposes. Others want to start creating homemade drinks to share with family and friends. Plus, many other reasons!
RELATED POST: 11 Traditional & Beautiful Fermented Drinks for Gut Health From Across the Globe You Can Make at Home
2. Get resources that help you achieve your desired ferment.
An easy thing to get hung up on: where to even begin!
But, don't worry, there is a reliable resource with exactly what you need to do to get started with any kind of ferment you choose. Whether that be books or courses, something is bound to help you get started the right way.
Best Fermentation Books for Beginners
Art of
Fermentation
Wildcrafted Fermentation
Wildcrafting
Brewer
These three books will get you started fermenting the right way with fermentation recipes for beginners.
Wildcrafted Fermentation will take you through all the fermented foods and preservations.
The Art of Fermentation is a classic taking you through all types of fermented food and drinks. From sourdough to drinks to fermented meats (yes, really!). If you are interested in all things fermentation for beginners, this book is AMAZING.
Wildcrafting Brewer is a personal favorite. It teaches you how to harness the natural environment's abundance of yeast and flavor to create something unique to you.
The principles in Wildcrafting Brewer are staple practices. If you are looking to connect with nature in a new and profound way, this book (and author) are perfect for you.
What about some more traditional style ferments? Like wine, beer and spirits?
Though, the books above can give you some great starting points to jumpstart your fermentations. Many people prefer to practice more structured and elegant styled brewing and winemaking.
Best FERMENTED BEVERAGE BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS
Wine, Mead, Cider
Beer Brewing
Distilling
Wine, beer, and spirits are long lasting fermented crafts that have taken over society. From bars to breweries to Napa Valley, alcoholic drinks play a huge role in our culture.
When I started brewing beer, I got a beer making kit from a local beer store and flew by the seat of my pants! The Big Book of Homebrewing is a local home brew store in of itself.
Endless recipes from all-grain brewing to extract brewing. Perfect for beginners and anyone interested in dialing in your beer making skills.
Wine making, on the other hand, can be taken in various different ways. From traditional grape wine kits or crafting up fruit wines at home wine making has something for everyone.
Wildcrafting Brewer teaches best practices for using your local terroir to create concoctions while The Joy of Brewing Mead, Cider, and Herbal Wine will give a different approach.
Groundwork Recipes, Tips, & Essentials
- Transformative Yarrow & Plum Wine Recipe Guaranteed to Intrigue Any Wine Lover
- Make a Perfect Beer on Your First Try | Beginner Beer Recipe
- 21+ Game-Changing Homebrewing Essentials No One is Talking About
- Irresistible Sneak Peak into How to Make Kvass in 9 Simple Steps
- Exclusive Wine Making Equipment List for Elite Wine at Home
- How to Make a Yeast Starter in 8 Simple Steps | Harness Wild Yeast
Lastly, a very reliable resource is your local home brew store. Individuals who work at home brew shops tend to be knowledgable about their products and various fermentation projects. Ask them all the questions!
3. Get the best equipment that ensures safety, lasts, and is budget friendly.
Now, we know what we want to make and we have books on how to do it. So, let's get the equipment you need to be successful on your first ferment!
For some projects, the equipment is minimal and others the equipment list can be quite long.
It can be challenging to know what you need and how to handle the equipment when you are learning fermentation for beginners.
Let's talk safety...
Have you ever heard the story of someone making beer for the first time at home? They are super excited about it and decide to have friends over when it is ready to be consumed. Everyone comes over pumped up to try homemade beer (I mean free beer, who wouldn't come over!).
Then, by the end of the night everyone is laying on the ground groaning. They are all talking about their regrets drinking so much homemade beer. One after another, people are making rounds to the bathroom to throw up the sought after free beer...
A classic homebrewing story many people experience when learning fermentation for beginners.
The reason everyone got sick? The brewer failed to keep her equipment clean and some virus or bacteria nestled its way into the ferment, and boom!
The number one product you NEED to ensure your ferments are safe is Star Sans.
Sanitizer is crucial for fermentation projects. Star Sans will be your best friend and will ensure you are creating the safest products for you and your family to enjoy!
Depending on your desired ferment, you will need specific equipment. Luckily, I have broken down the equipment for the most popular ferments (in addition to Star Sans): fermented foods, wine, and beer.
Though, make sure to check the recipe you are using for other, more specific, products you may need.
BEST BEGINNER FERMENTATION KITS
Fermenting Foods for Beginners Kit
Winemaking Equipment Kit
Beer Making Kit & Equipment
Best fermentation kits for beginners!! Fermenting food is relatively easier than it's neighbors: winemaking and beer brewing.
Pair the Wildcrafted Fermentation book with the food fermentation kit for stunning creations!!
In the fermenting foods for beginner kit you have fermenting jars, fermenting weights, salt, and cheesecloth. Which is truly all you need to ferment foods!
The wine making equipment list is for a one-gallon batch. That is recommended for beginners until you are ready for the grand old 5-gallon batches.
Option to add the 5-gallon fermenters and wine kit.
Alternatively, the beer making kit and equipment is a CLASSIC. It is for a 1-gallon batch of beer to get you started. You can also change out the beer recipe kit for a 5-gallon recipe if you are ready for it!
Once you have your equipment on the way, you can start to find the space to put your ferment.
4. Create a space in your home for your beautiful ferments to live, plus the most important things to consider.
Your ferments are living organisms that need a safe and comfortable space to thrive. Finding a nice little home for your ferments will increase your rate of success.
But, where do you put them? What is the optimal environment for the yeasts and microorganisms to thrive?
Most important things to consider when storing ferments, they want:
- Stable temperature of around 70-75 degrees.
- Minimal light exposure.
- Depending on your ferment, minimal contact with oxygen.
Honestly, I am a brewer and wine make so fermenting food is not my strong suit. So, when storing fermented foods check what you recipes say. Look at the books mentioned above.
Most ferments, in general, want stable temperature, minimal light, and minimal contact with oxygen. For wine, beer, and cider this is crucial!
Especially when you are in your first week of primary fermentation, temperature is critical to ensure the yeast are moving at a consistent pace. When it's too hot they process the sugars rapidly. This can negatively affect your overall end product.
At times, you might have an open fermentation to allow oxygen in, but rule of thumb is to limit oxygen, at least as you learn fermentation for beginners.
5. Final thing to consider that NO ONE is talking about.
We have our books on fermenting, we have all the necessary equipment to make amazing creations, and a home prepped and ready!
Now, here are the important things about fermentation no one is talking about...
- You NEED a decent water supply.
- You must use quality ingredients.
Water is crucial in your products, whether that is wine, beer, cider, or fermented kimchi. Most tap water will contain chlorine.
Chlorine is the equivalent to The Joker in Batman. It negatively affects fermentation by inhibiting the growth of beneficial microorganisms, including the yeast. Chorine tries to stop yeast at all costs!
An option is to check with you water supplier and see if it contains chlorine. But, the easiest option is to use bottled spring water. Have a gallon or two on hand so whenever you are ready to ferment, you are prepped!
Additionally, spring water tastes way better than lots of tap water anyway!
Lastly, we must have quality ingredients!
When creating a wild yeast starter, if your starter does not bubble that is because there are too many chemicals on the skin of your fruit.
That is crazy! And also something that occurs often: an abundance of chemicals!
So, with that being said strive for organic ingredients as much as possible to ensure a safe and healthy ferment.
The 5 BEST things for fermentation basics...
- Figure out what you want to ferment.
- Find the best books on the subject.
- Gather the equipment.
- Find a nice place in your home to store the fermented creations.
- Ensure you have good water.
With all 5 satisfied, you are sure to create a stunning fermented creation. Whether that be kimchi or an herbal wine, the world is now yours.