Correct Handling of the Crockpots
The first rule is cleanliness. This does not only apply to the vegetable but also pot and lid. This is where the remarkable traits of the stoneware pay off. It can be cleaned easily and without much trouble. It only needs
to be wiped, scrubbed or rinsed off and then left to dry. Since stoneware absorbs virtually no water, the formation of mold, that is common at the surface of other materials , is eliminated. Mold formation affects taste, ingredients and preservation of the fermented vegetable.
The cover stones are replacing the previous board with cloth to weigh down the fermenting vegetable. They’re made from stoneware and come as two pieces for easier handling and better contact with the fermenting
vegetable’s juice. They also provide the necessary pressure on the vegetable for fermentation. The stones should be covered by one to two inches of vegetable’s juice. When there+s too little juice, add cool boiled
salt water (15 g [.5 oz.] salt in 1 liter [1 qt.] water). A normal crockpot requires that one cover the vegetable with a clean, washed cloth. This is not necessary with this crockpot. Here it is sufficient to put large cabbage-, grape- or horseradish leaves under the stones.
Monitor the evaporation of water in the water groove. Close the pot with the lid. Pour water (normal tap water) into the water groove. This assures that the pot is sealed airtight, an important requirement for the pot to ferment properly. Fermentation occurs in several stages. Depending on the kind of vegetable, it takes 4 to 6 weeks. Especially in the early stages, it is extremely important that no air contacts the vegetable. The lid should therefore be opened no earlier than 2 to 3 weeks into the fermentation.
During fermentation and storage of the fermented vegetable the water groove needs to be filled with water. This prevents the following:
» air coming in contact with the vegetable
» yeast forming which makes the vegetable slimy
» the upper portion of the vegetable turning bad
» dust or vermin entering
» stones or cloth turning smeary
Specifications
| Model No. |
ME7428 |
| Capacity |
Can ferment up to 7.5 liters of vegetables or 2 gallons at a time |
| Diameter |
12 Inches |
| Height |
12.5 Inches |
| Weight |
25 Pounds |
| Composition |
Ceramic Clay fired at 1200 degrees Celsius with a lead free glaze |
| Country of Manufacture |
Made in Germany |
|
