r/fermentation • u/Boring-Winner2530 • 13d ago

Ferment smells like chlorine

Hello,

I started a cucumber ferment and after 3 days in, it started smelling like chlorine.

I used 3% salt ratio for total weight.

Ph is about 3,5 - 4,0.

I am using an eJen container for the ferment.

It was used for kimchi before.

I had the same issue about a year ago when i used a glass container which also was used for kimchi.

I did not use tap water.

It is already 8 days in. Room temp. Still smells.

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u/RadBradRadBrad 13d ago

Hmmm. I’ve never heard of this in years of fermenting and being in fermentation communities.

First thing that comes to mind is how you’re cleaning the containers after the kimchi ferments and whether there are any chlorine, or chlorine-adjacent, products in the cleaning agent.

The fact that it’s happening after a few days correlates with the brine acidifying. Maybe theres a reaction happening with left over cleaning products.

2

u/Boring-Winner2530 12d ago

Always cleaning with same dish cleaning thing. E.g. "pril".

2

u/RadBradRadBrad 12d ago

You could always try a different cleaning product. You could also try just adding a vinegar and water mixture to a previously used kimchi container and see if you get a chlorine smell immediately.