Fermentation for Beginners: The Step-By-Step Guide to Fermentation and Probiotic Foods Paperback – November 27, 2013 by Drakes Press (Drakes Press ) (IBRCook Books)

I have been fermenting things for a few years, but I remember how scary it was when I was just starting out. I looked for step by step instructions and photos showing how-tos and finished products. If you have never been exposed to home fermenting before you really need that kind guidance to feel comfortable with the process, at least I did - I mean, what if I did it wrong and poisoned my family?? How small do I chop or shred? Is it supposed to look like that? (I threw away my first batch of Kimchi because it looked weird - turns out it was probably fine) Now of course I know fermenting is perfectly safe (and easy), but I remember those early days.

I bought this because it had recipes that I couldn't find in my other fermenting books (miso, tempeh, rootbeer, etc.). While I generally like what I see recipe-wise I don't think this is a good beginner book; there is too much left out of the instructions for someone just starting out - things like weighing down veggies during the ferment. It is mentioned in the chapter intro, but not in the recipes. People that have even a little fermenting experience will know this and do it without being specifically told each time, but newbies really need that in the recipe. The recipe for Kombucha says to cover vessel with cheesecloth, but if you do that with a single layer of run of the mill cheesecloth all you will be creating is a fruit fly buffet. There are no photos or drawings in this book for guidance - no big deal if you know the basics of fermenting, but for a real beginner no how-to images can be a source of frustration.

I found an error in the recipe for rootbeer - it has you add the ginger bug just 10 minutes after the liquid is taken off of simmer. Big oops - that's a sure way to kill your bug. They have you add the bug after cooling too - clearly this is an editing error, but a newbie wouldn't know this.