I have pickles that have been fermenting for 3 weeks now, which in my experience is the ideal length of time. When I checked on them, there is mucousy slime in the brine. There's no unpleasant smell, and the pickles are crunchy and taste like pickles. There is some yeast on the top of the brine, but this is something I've seen fairly frequently.
Can anyone identify this slime, and confirm if these pickles are safe to eat?
Best Answer
On its page, White Film On Cultured Vegetables, Cultures for Health identifies kahm yeast as the probable culprit. Many reference sites indicate that the food is safe to eat as long as mold is not present. The yeast film should be removed as it may affect the flavor of the food and it may adversely affect digestion.
Kahm yeast formation can occur because:
You should be able to avoid kahm yeast formation in the future by following good lacto-fermentation procedures.