I found out my sauerkraut jar had way more bacteria than I thought
I read a study from a university lab that said a single spoonful of active sauerkraut can have over 100 million probiotic cells. I always just guessed it was good for me, but seeing that number made it real. How do you even know if your ferment has enough of the right bugs working?
Ignore the gatekeeping, elliot_mason62. I just used cheap pH strips from a pharmacy to check the acidity was low enough. It gave me peace of mind without needing a lab.
That lab number is a good start, but it's not the full story. The type of bacteria matters way more than just the total count. A healthy ferment will have a strong, sour smell and taste, not anything rotten or off. You can see bubbles and the brine will get cloudy, which are good signs. If you're really worried, you can buy pH test strips to check the acidity.