When combining my finished LAB serum with organic molasses to make it shelf stable, I was having a difficult time getting them to combine, so I gave the jars a shake. Now there's a layer of sludgy separation and I suspect the shaking may have caused enough trauma to kill the bacteria. Can anyone weigh in?
I don't shake mine. I just pour the LAB over the molasses and let it sit. Oh, and I have a one-way valve in the top of my finished LAB container to keep it from blowing up as they eat the molasses.
Yah, I normally don't either. The LABS just wasn't combining via stirring, so I gave it a shake without really thinking about the fact that I was dealing with a living culture. It doesn't look right to me, so I think I'll be starting over. Too bad a did a huge f'n batch this time. It's 4 quarts and a pint.
I do gallon batches and if it doesn't turn out, then it goes into my septic system to feed those microbes!
Heya RD, I couldn't resist Before you ditch it, what does it smell like? If it passes the smell test and doesn't evoke a gag reflex, it may be okay. If it has a slight vinegar smell but not as strong it's most likely okay. If you're still uncertain, rather than ditch it, use it in a compost pile or mix it into some used soil that's gonna sit so it won't be a complete loss. @Biggobelly Your username sounds like what I would write about myself in the description part of a dating site