One of my most popular posts continues to be my tutorial on how to use a reCAP Mason Jar lid into a to hack together a flexible, cheap, DIY lacto-fermentation crock.
This is a super easy DIY project, but it does require getting your hands on a homebrewing-style airlock and the right-size bung to fit to the reCAP lid.
For folks who don’t have a homebrew store nearby, Nicole of the urban homesteading-supply store FarmCurious has developed a fermentation kit in conjunction with reCAP that includes all the components you need to make your own reCAP Fermentation kit, just like what I use to make small batch and experimental ferments. Also included is a recipe booklet with fermenting ideas to get you started.
One of the great things about this particular fermentation set up is it’s flexible. When you aren’t fermenting jars of everything you can get your hands on, the reCAP lids are awesome for turning any mason jar you’ve got into a food storage vessel, a water bottle, a smoothie container or more.
I use reCAP lids all over my house. There are reCAP topped mason jars in my pantry right now filled with molasses and olive oil that I bought in bulk. I’ll put some homemade applesauce or some yogurt in a little half-pint jar for my son and pop a reCAP on the jar and have an easy, less-mess way for him to drink his snack. Take that, super-expensive fruit-squeeze pouches and GoGurt.
The Kickstarter!
Nicole recently launched a Kickstarter to fund bringing her reCAP Fermentation Kit to the market. It’s been overwhelmingly successful and I encourage you guys to check it out and, if you like this kind of thing, please consider supporting Nicole and the FarmCurious kickstarter. I have, and there are some great fermenting-focused prizes for supporters.
The Giveaway!
Nicole is offering NW Edible readers a chance to win a free reCAP Fermentation Kit. This kit includes two wide-mouth reCAP lids, two perfectly sized food grade, silicone bungs and two standard three-piece airlocks. There’s full instructions and a recipe booklet included to get you started, too.
To enter to win, like the FarmCurious Facebook page* (tell Nicole that Erica sent you!), then just leave a comment below telling me what your favorite thing to ferment is! Let’s share our best fermentation ideas.
I’ll go first – I am a huge fan of spicy, lacto-fermented turnips.
Contest open until Thursday, June 12th, 8 pm PST. One entry per person. Winner will be notified by email and shall have 48 hours to claim their prize! Good luck and happy fermenting!
*Don’t do Facebook? I can respect that. Just note in your comment that you are a social media conscientious objector and we’ll call it good.
Hot Sauce
I’ve never fermented anything (yet!) but have been wanting to for years! Was seriously just thinking about how I need to buy a fermentation kit yesterday, then voila! Here’s your post with a giveaway..how fun!
LOL, not that I recently made a comment on your original thread…pleasantly surprised to see this first thing this morning! 😉
Liked on FB. I’ve been fermenting for about a year and my hands-down favorite is thin slices of carrots with thinly sliced ginger and garlic. My only regret is that I don’t want to use really nice thin farmers market carrots to make a new batch right now! I’m going to have to make a few big batches in the fall.
The reason I was excited about this setup is that I’m trying to push myself past that 3-5 day initial ferment and give things quite a bit more time to see how flavors develop. I have two quarts of whole radishes with dill, garlic, mustard, and peppercorns going with airlocks in a cool space in the garage. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
I’ve only tried kimchi and sauerkraut so far but I really want to try kombucha and kefir!
I can’t wait to make all sorts of things – sauerkraut, turnips, radishes, beets, cucumbers…so many choices!!
Spicy peppers, jalapenos, pickles, I really want to start doing this, yum!
I don’t do Facebook. I love making yogurt and pickles with fermentation.
I love fermented classic sauerkraut, and would love to try out an easy DIY version and other more adventurous treats!
I like to ferment sauerkraut! I would like to try fermenting other veggies though…
My favorite is just good old-fashioned garlic-y, dill-y green beans!
Liked the facebook page and as for my favorite, a good quality dill cucumber pickle.
I went and liked her FB page. I’m a fermentation virgin; still researching the potentials. I’d love to win & get going for real!
I haven’t successfully fermented any veggies yet. I would LOVE to start. I want my family and I to enjoy the flavor and health benefits.
Spicy dilly beans! I also really love making lacto-fermented hot sauces and ‘krautchi’ with whatever the garden is bursting with, both of which tend to be in small batches and would benefit from a device like this! I also ‘liked’ the Farmcurious page.
I have no favorite fermented item but am curious to explore them. Much that I’m reading around health lately talks about the benefits of fermented food.
I’m a sauerkraut kind of guy. Being from Ky, I have fermented some corn with sugar.
I haven’t fermented yet but want to try. I didn’t know you could ferment so many things!
Still trying to get the hang of kimchi, and have successfully made delicious sauerkraut.
sauerkraut with carrots and caraway seeds! Also, really like pickled beets.
I liked the FB page and love my fermented cranberry relish, among other things.
Do I qualify even if I’ve never done any homemade fermenting? Have been curious though for the past couple of months. Would love to try my hand at kimchi! (and yep, I liked the FB page).
I’d love to try this — I adore kimchi, and would love to be able to make my own sauerkraut! And Erica — always love reading your blogs!
I haven’t fermented yet, am intimidated. But, holy cow so many great ideas on this comment thread that I might really need to start. I do love kraut and kimchi.
*Don’t do Facebook? I can respect that. Just note in your comment that you are a social media conscientious objector and we’ll call it good.
Oh I do love krauts of all variety! Thank you
Sushi kraut is the BEST! on everything.
My favorite right now is LF salsa! We’ve done sauerkraut as well, but the salsa is awesome! I’m not on Facebook, but if I was I’d follow the directions! 😉
I’m new to fermenting. So far I have made kimchi and sauerkraut. I am dying to try fermented radishes!
I’ve just started fermenting, and I love the pickled cucumbers and carrots I’ve made (carrots are so easy and delirious! Even my 8 month old likes them–softened, of course). I’ve got to say, though, that I like beet kvass the most. I get a drink, and pickled beets to add to my salads!
I just threw away a gallon of sauerkraut that grew mold 🙁 I need a set of these!
elephant garlic and cauliflower are my two favorites! (and i love, love, love this site!)
Object to facebook. Haven’t made any fermentations yet but would love to try sauerkraut and many others.
I’ve been trying to successfully ferment, since 1999. No luck. I’m pretty sure my tools need modernizing 😉 thank you! I’d love to ferment anything… Kind of like a Portlandia skit! Ha!
I’ve only fermented pickles myself… well lots of other stuff that wasn’t meant to get fermented – oops! But I eat a lot of fermented things and with the size of the garden this year, I need to do much more by myself!
I haven’t fermented anything yet. This would be a great starter to it. I too have been turned off by the expensive (though pretty) fermenting crocs. I liked on FB.
Cabbage!
S A L S A!!!
I liked her page. I *really* look forward to sauerkraut and various veggie pickles.
I am still a novice fermenter – but I love kimchi and sauerkraut
I don’t really do Facebook 😉
I have never fermented before! But sour lacto-fermented pickles are first on my list to try. So cool that you’re supporting this kick starter- what a great tool!
I haven’t fermented anything yet; but am anxious to try!
Kraut & kimchi no face book for me but the misses left a comment !
We’ve done sauerkraut for many years, but I’d like to branch out to other things including green beans and maybe kimchi or lemons… or salsa… all sound great! Love the idea of this simple system. Thanks for providing an alternative for FB “conscientious objectors”… that’s me!
Dilly beans are my favourite lacto-ferment, but I couldn’t do with out saurkraut either.. and preserved lemons omg! This kit sounds great. I’ve been Facebook-free for nearly nine months now and appreciate your respect for that choice in giving an opportunity to participate anyway.
Haven’t done any lactose fermentation, but I like sauerkraut.
That’s lacto- fermentation. (Crazy auto correct).
I haven’t done anything yet, but I desperately want to! Sauerkraut, red onions, pickles, salsa and and and… this would be a GREAT kick start!
I am a fan of good ole fashioned fermented pickles! Next I would like to try radishes. I am a a social media conscientious objector. Well, it’s not that I object to it, to each his own, it’s just not for me. Thank you for offering the giveaway and for giving us that don’t do social media a chance too : )
ps I truly appreciate your blog. You give wonderful, researched information with humor and intelligence.
So far I have only made sauerkraut. Excited to try!