Have you found a jar of Suisse-Chi whose date has passed? Before throwing it away, remember why fermentation was invented: to preserve vegetables for months, sometimes longer, without electricity.
1. A date about quality
Fermentierra vegetables carry a best-before date, not a use-by date for highly perishable food. After that point, the product may change – becoming more acidic or softer, for example. Nevertheless, always check the jar, seal, smell and appearance, and follow the maker’s instructions.
Why does acidity protect the food?
Lactic-acid bacteria convert sugars into lactic acid and lower the pH. A sufficiently acidic environment inhibits many pathogens. This helps make a correctly produced ferment safer, but it does not make every jar – including a damaged one – automatically safe.
2. Before opening
The current Fermentierra range is stabilised. Unopened jars may be kept at room temperature in a cool, dry and dark place, as stated on the label. Always follow product-specific guidance.
3. On opening: a hiss or no hiss?
A gentle hiss may mean that the living product has continued to produce gas. No hiss can be equally normal once activity has quietened. Expect clean acidity and the aroma of the spices. Discard the product if it smells putrid, shows mould or obvious spoilage, or the seal is damaged.
4. After opening
Oxygen enters the jar once it is open. Refrigerate it, use clean utensils and keep the vegetables under the brine where possible. It may keep for a long time while smell, taste and appearance remain normal; the label gives the definitive instructions.
A word about kahm yeast
A thin white film can occasionally form during long storage. It is often kahm yeast, but it cannot reliably be distinguished from mould at a distance. If in doubt, or if the growth is coloured or furry, do not taste it: discard the product or contact Fermentierra.
In short
Lactic fermentation is a robust preservation method. Do not discard a jar solely because of the date: inspect it carefully, and smell and taste it only if every sign is normal.