5 reasons to ferment food
Food fermentation
Not exactly the sexiest sounding way to describe a way of conserving food, is it? Wait until you hear the science behind it…Just kidding. We can guarantee you that fermented food CAN be sexy, because it is simply delicious & is full of health benefits.
Food fermentation is an ancient technique/form of food preservation. It is still presently done - foods like wine, cheese, yogurt and kombucha are examples of it. They are made using a natural, anaerobic process where microorganisms (such as yeast and bacteria - we told you, sexy) convert carbs (starch and sugar) into alcohol/acids. The alcohol and acids act as the natural preservative that render the zesty and tart flavour of the fermented foods. Probiotics are also key by-products of this fermentation process. They are beneficial bacteria that are important for our gut-health and have been associated with a range of health benefits.
Alright, moving on from trying to convince you the appeal of fermented food. We now share the top 5 reasons to ferment food.
Top 5 reasons
Health benefits
Believe it or not, some fermented foods can be more nutritious than when unfermented. Here's why:
Improves digestive health - as mentioned, the fermented foods are packed with probiotics. Meaning, these foods facilitate in restoring the balance of the good bacteria that your gut needs.
Boosts immune system - on top of regulating your gut health, the probiotic content of these foods has the ability to boost your immune system and therefore, strengthening your body's capability to fight off infections.
Eases digestion - As the process of fermentation breaks down the nutrients in the food, it basically already does it for you so your body can digest it easier than when unfermented!
Depth to your diet
Who doesn't love a good mountain of cheese on top of their pasta dish? Or using miso as a marinade to create an umami flavour? Or! (last one), adding kimchi to your fried rice to bring it to a different level? There is such a variety of fermented foods, and pairing them with the right ingredients will simply elevate your eating experience. Needless to say, fermented foods are healthy AND they add an incredible element to your menus.
Food preservation
Aside from bringing a whole new flavour to the unfermented version of your foods, you get to store them for much longer as well. At CHOMP, we love it when you can reduce food waste and make it taste better for a prolonged period of time. By preserving it in the brine and keeping the containers refrigerated, your foods can last for over a few months!
Money savings & DIY food
By saving food from going to waste, you are also saving money. And what better way to prevent food and money waste than by making your own kimchi (for example)? Follow this link to learn about how to ferment food and more details on the science behind it.
DELICIOUS
We are just going to leave you with a list of fermented foods because on their own, they will convince you to eat more of them. I mean, it has convinced us already…
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Olives
Tempeh
Miso
Salami
Sourdough bread
Beer
Kombucha
Wine
Kefir
Yogurt
Cheese
