First batch fermented pickles.... advice

[campbellsoup]

I am on day 7. I have been checking on them every day. The brine on top is looking kinda scummy. Is this the mold Katz advised me to skim off? Are my pickles OK?

On day 3, I picked out 2 floating gnats and secured my towel a bit tighter. I was going to wait until day 12 to try em out. I added more cukes on day 2 and 3. Day 3 we were full. Anyhow....it is a small batch of baby cukes. I need to find a bigger crock (or bucket) but I thought I would start small in case I ruin a couple batches.

What do you think?

[pixiepunk]

yup, skim off the scum, that's totally normal. the gnats would freak me out, though, i don't know if i'd eat them. but i guess if they smell and taste alright they are probably fine.

i actually put a lid on my jar and they ferment just fine. i do it with my kefir as well. we have a lot of fruit flies this time of year in the kitchen and it freaks me out when they get into my ferments.

[crunchy_mama]

I would just skim and keep going- I wouldn't worry too much(but I tend not to worry much about such things).

[velcromom]

It's supposed to have a bubbly white scum on top, it's called barm and it's a good sign that things are progressing as planned! I've never skimmed unless there was any in the way when I go to put it into the frig, but I don't think it matters if you do.

[campbellsoup]

Day 10

When I checked today I decided to skim and sample. Found 1 more floating gnat in the brine Everything smelled normal - not nasty. Lifted the lid and everything looked normal. Ate a pickle. It tasted like a pickle!! It was crunchy too -- guess those grape leaves do work! I made pickles
They tasted a little like the sauerkraut I experimented with last year ..... so not exactly like pickles in a jar from the store but I think it shouldn't taste like that since it is a different process.

Seems like we are good. I will wait a bit before I feed these to my family in case I yak or something.

So now, should I move the crock into my fridge? Can I move them into a smaller container that would fit better? Do I have to keep them submerged in the brine? What now?

I got some bigger crocks! Just in the knick of time because our cucumber plants are going crazy. I am so glad my MIL is an antique nut and just has these laying around. She is happy they will be used.

I think I will try and pickle beets next. My DH just planted the second round and I will get to them before they get ginormous.