Clear brine turned into a science experiment on my counter

I was trying a 3% salt solution for my first batch of pickles last Tuesday and forgot about it for two days. The whole jar got this weird white film on top and I thought it was ruined, but someone said it might just be kahm yeast. Has anyone else scraped that off and still ate the pickles, or is that asking for trouble?

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3 Comments

averywilliams4mo ago

Is it really worth risking your guts over some pickles? I mean, I get not wanting to waste food but kahm yeast is a whole different thing than just a little mold you scrape off. That stuff can mess with the flavor and maybe even give you a bad time digestion wise if you're sensitive. I've scraped it off before and ate the pickles, they were fine for me, but I also didn't have a weird film that looked like a science project. If it smells off or looks slimy under the film, toss it. Your health isn't worth a jar of pickles.

6

kim8194mo ago

Yeah that "science project" part really hits it, if it feels wrong to you just toss it.

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pat_coleman4mo ago

Exactly. Once it starts looking like a science experiment, you're already in risky territory. I've had jars that looked fine on top but when I dug deeper, the brine was cloudy and slimy underneath. That's a hard pass. Better to toss one jar than to spend a day hugging the toilet wondering if you made a bad call. Plus, with fermentation, it's not just about visible mold or yeast - the bacteria balance can shift and create stuff that's technically safe but tastes nasty. Like that waxy, filmy texture? Even if it won't kill you, why eat something that reminds you of pond scum?

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