Skip to main content

Fall farmers market veggies that are perfect for fermentation projects

Maybe you grew up eating sauerkraut on your brats and hot dogs, or perhaps you’re used to kimchi in your warm bowls of stir-fry or noodles. Alternatively, maybe you don’t have much experience with fermented foods at all, but you’d like to give it a try. No matter your experience level with fermented foods, it’s never too late to start something new. Of course, you can buy these foods in stores, but you can also make them yourself at home!

Let’s dive into what fermentation is, why you should try it, and some of the best foods you can make using the fermentation method.

fermentation
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is fermentation?

Back before there were freezers and refrigerators, people used a method of preserving food called fermentation. It’s a standard method that’s still used all over the world. Not only is fermented food delicious, but there are also many health benefits to consuming them.

In scientific terms, fermentation is a process where organisms convert carbohydrates into alcohol or acid. That is why kombucha has an alcohol content and why kefir has a tingly effect.

The basic process of fermentation goes like this:

  1. Preparing the food for fermenting by chopping, shredding, slicing
  2. Choosing your culture starter: Salt, whey, or store-bought starter culture
  3. Putting prepared veggies in a container with culture and water (brine) and keeping it in a cool dark place
  4. Removing veggies from fermentation vessel to enjoy

Why you should try fermentation

Fermented foods have a long list of benefits, but they’re also simply delicious! Making them from home has the added benefit of controlling what goes into them, lowering costs, and reducing the amount of food waste leaving your kitchen. Fermentation can be done with veggies you grow yourself or those you buy at a farmers market or in a store. When summer and fall harvests come around and you have an abundance of veggies you won’t be able eat before they go bad, you can use fermentation to not let them go to waste.

Similar to those infomercials from the ’90s, the benefits don’t stop there. Fermented foods are also really good for your health. Eating fermented foods regularly can improve digestion, boost your immune system, and promote good heart health.

sauerkraut
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The best veggies to ferment

There’s a long list of veggies that you can ferment; in fact, you can ferment basically every veggie that can be grown. However, some simply require more or less preparation and attention than others.

Harder vegetables that have tough flesh are durable and won’t break down during the fermentation process. They’re also simple to prepare and take significantly less time to set up for the fermentation process. All you have to do with these veggies is chop, shred, or slice them up, then cover with brine and weigh them down. These easy veggies include:

  • carrots
  • green beans
  • peppers
  • beets
  • radishes
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • cucumbers
  • onions
  • celery
  • and more…

Other vegetables can still be fermented; they simply require a bit more preparation and work to get them going. These veggies often need to be shredded or sliced, but they have enough water within themselves that you don’t need to create a brine. For example, to make sauerkraut, you slice up cabbages, sprinkle them in salt, and smash them down into the fermentation jar. After they sit for a while, the salt will pull the moisture from the cabbage leaves and create its own brine.

While this is a simple process, it does take more time and energy than the veggies mentioned above. Fermenting these more leafy greens is also a great way to consume these veggies if they’re hard on your digestive system when they’re fresh and raw. Many people struggle with digesting kale when eaten in salads, but the fermentation process can make this easier on your stomach while you still get the nutrients and benefits of the dark leafy green. These more labor-intensive veggies include:

  • cabbages (including red)
  • kale
  • spinach
  • beet greens
  • and more…

Fermenting is an excellent way to keep fresh produce longer without letting them go to waste. This is especially helpful when you have your own garden at home or you bulk buy at farmers markets. Try your hand at fermentation, and not only will you improve the flavor palate of your homemade dishes, but you’ll also boost your gut health!

Editors' Recommendations

Rebecca Wolken
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rebecca's has written for Bob Villa and a Cincinnati based remodeling company. When she's not writing about home remodeling…
Tired of roses? Here are 13 flowers to give instead on Valentine’s Day instead
Flowers that are just as nice as giving roses as Valentine's Day gifts
Someone presenting a flower arrangement to someone else

We know it's coming every year, but Valentine's Day flowers -- and other gifts -- are still hard to pick out. There's a lot of pressure to get the right thing and make sure it correctly expresses how you feel about the other person. Roses are the traditional go-to gift, especially for romantic partners, but what do you get someone who dislikes roses, or someone who you care for, but not romantically? We've got 13 flowers for you to consider!

What is the language of flowers?
Throughout the centuries, the language of giving fresh flowers has been used in mythology, sonnets, folklore, and plays. People have always been obsessed with finding meaning in everything, and flowers are no different. Fortunately, there's almost no feeling, expression, or event that can't be expressed with flowers. You just have to know which ones to use.

Read more
Do you live in climate zone 10? Here’s our guide to choosing the perfect climate zone 10 plants
What you need to know about caring for climate zone 10 plants
Tomatillo plant

One part of the country that many gardeners envy is climate zone 10, a warm sanctuary for a variety of plants, thanks to its very long growing seasons and mild winters. Made up of the southernmost parts of the country, this region has a climate that's ideal for multiple rounds of harvests. While it has specific challenges with blisteringly hot summers, it’s an overall welcoming environment for plant life. Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about zone 10 and all the plants that you can grow in it.

Where is climate zone 10?
Before we get into the specifics of climate zone 10, let’s talk about the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. When shopping for plants, you may see labels indicating a zone range — that basically tells you where the plant will be hardy for more than just one growing season. Essentially, the United States Department of Agriculture has divided the country into 13 regions, or climate zones, based on annual minimum temperature ranges. Zone 1 faces the coldest winters, while zone 13 usually has the warmest ones. Bearing this in mind, inhabitants of zone 10 will often experience warmer winters.

Read more
What to do with an old Christmas tree: 6 ways to recycle your tree after the holidays
From making firewood to mulch, here are ways to recycle Christmas trees
Ornament on a Christmas tree

Once all the Christmas festivities are over, it's time to take down holiday decorations and figure out what you're going to do with that huge Christmas tree. Unfortunately, every year a massive amount of Christmas trees end up in landfills where they don't have the opportunity to decompose and break down like they naturally would in a forest. This isn't good for the planet, and you'd be wasting a potential resource you could use for something else.

So if you're curious about what to do with an old Christmas tree and how to get the most out of it, here are some ways you can recycle it so it becomes a gift that keeps on giving.

Read more