My Yogurt Cultures Are in the Air

[sylvie]

I poured some milk in a small pan with the intentions of warming it for the cat. It got pretty hectic here and I completely forgot about it, went to bed. When I awoke this morning I spotted the milk and as I went to place it on the stove I noticed the milk didn't move. I smelled it, thinking that it soured and curdled but it was yogurt! Tasted like yogurt!
I did not place any cultures in the milk, never used this pan for making yogurt.
I do make yogurt regularly. My room air must contain it.
Evidently I only need to breath to get yogurt cultures, lol. Similar to the "memory of water" theory, lol.
I have noticed that I need less to culture yogurt, less time, too.
Has anyone else had this happen?

I should mention that my sauerkraut is made in another part of the house. Could I just show the cabbage the sauerkraut and voila!, more fermented sauerkraut!

This got me wondering about kefir and other fermented foods, as long as they aren't cross contaminated.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

You've got goooood beasties!
I think I'm having to build the colonies of good beasties at my place. All my first ferments went bad. They are getting better & quicker as time goes on.

I have to wonder if the good boys will crowd each other out, like you said, cross contamination. I do all my ferments in one cool, dark corner of my kitchen cabinet, just so they won't be in the way.

Do you keep all your ferments separate?

 

[FarmerDenise]

I know that this works for yeast, when baking bread, that's why San Francisco sourdough is so unique.
I can imagine that it would work for other fermentations also.

 

[sylvie]

Yes, I do keep them separate, just for convenience sake. My fermented vegetables are in an almost unheated room and are there from square one. I heat with wood in the kitchen area which can get a bit toasty and causes too rapid of fermentation for my tastes.
The yogurt likes the warmth.

FD- That's good to know that all the effort is perpetually rewarded.
Wonder if that would work with zones in the house? Like a preponderance of each so that cross contamination wouldn't get a foothold.

 

[Occamstazer]

That is so cool!

 

[abifae]

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