Fermento is a well-known starter culture that is used for fermenting semi-dry sausages. It’s needless to say that it’s an essential ingredient since it speeds up the curing process and helps preserve the meat. In addition, it’s responsible for adding tanginess to the sausages. Furthermore, it helps minimize the harmful bacteria spread while promoting the spread of beneficial bacteria and lactic acid. However, it can be extremely challenging to find this preserving agent, but we have a variety of Fermento substitutes!
What To Look In Fermento Substitutes?
It’s already mentioned that Fermento can speed up the curing and fermentation process, which makes sure the sausages are ready for smoking and drying. In addition, it creates a tangy flavor and adds a pungent aroma. It also makes the sausages safe to eat by reducing the growth of unsafe bacteria and spread. For this reason, you need to look for something that adds a similar flavor and aroma to the sausages. So, to help you out, we have rounded up some options!
- Citric Acid
Citric acid is a natural ingredient that adds acidic or sour flavor to recipes. It’s one of the most nutritional supplements used as a food additive and is a great replacement for salt. Moreover, when used as a Fermento substitute, it helps improve the flavor and acidity. It has multiple benefits, such as acceleration in energy and enhancement in nutrient absorption.
Citric acid helps preserve meat as it can slow down bacterial growth. So, to use the citric acid in the fermentation of the sausages, it’s recommended that you mix it with water – you can opt for two ounces of citric acid in one ounce of water. The best thing about citric acid is that it’s easier to find in the form of pepper seasoning, apple cider seasoning, and garlic salt.
- Prague Powder Number 1
Commonly known as Insta Cure 1, it’s made from 93% salt and 7% of sodium nitrite. It can be used in the meat curing process, especially the meat that has to be cooked. For this reason, it’s suitable for pastrami, jerky, fish, sausages, and bacon. It’s a reasonable alternative for Fermento preservatives. It is known for its pink appearance and has a smoky and salty flavor that’s perfect for making sausages.
It’s a promising choice to prevent food poisoning and helps improve the flavor while preserving the meat. However, since it has a pink color, it can change the appearance of the meat. For meat, you can opt for one teaspoon of the powder for every five kilograms of meat. All in all, the experts recommend using it for air-dried hams, salamis, and pepperonis.
- Dextrose Monohydrate
Dextrose Monohydrate can be used to replace sugar-based ingredients as it is made from corn. It can be used in sweet recipes but can be used in meat preparation as well since the sweetness level is minimized. It’s a healthier substitute for sugar and can replace Fermento as it promises improved flavor and quality of the sausages. In addition, it can be replaced with xylitol, fructose, and corn syrup.
- Buttermilk Powder
Fermento is a dairy-based product, and the primary ingredient is milk, which is why it can be replaced with buttermilk powder. You can use the buttermilk liquids or solids to replace Fermento during meat curing and fermentation. It’s recommended to opt for a 1:1 substitution. Also, you can use whichever buttermilk you want, including organic buttermilk.
- Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the easiest to find replacements for Fermento, and many people usually have it at home. Yogurt can be defined as the nonfat and semi-dried milk that’s fermented, which you can use as a substitute for Fermento. All in all, you can use whichever yogurt variety you find, including plain and whole yogurt.
- Hela Germet
This ingredient is widely used as a starter culture in North European as well as Southern sausages. In most cases, the sausages are dry, which is why Hela Germet makes a promising substitute. It adds a pungent flavor and leads to lower pH levels. In addition, it enhances the flavor and adds the classic flavor – it also improves the color. As far as the availability is concerned, you can purchase it from the grocery stores.