List of fermented foods

Fermented foods are foods and beverages that have undergone controlled microbial growth and fermentation. Fermentation is an anaerobic process in which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria break down food components (e.g. sugars such as glucose) into other products (e.g. organic acids, gases, or alcohol).

Types of Fermented Foods

Dairy Products

• Yogurt - A food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as yogurt cultures, which ferment lactose, the sugar in milk.
• Cheese - A dairy product, derived from milk and produced in a wide range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein.
• Kefir - A fermented milk product that originated in the Caucasus Mountains, made with kefir "grains", a yeast/bacterial fermentation starter.

Vegetables and Fruits

• Kimchi - A staple in Korean cuisine, is a traditional side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish.
• Sauerkraut - Finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria.
• Pickles - Cucumbers that have been pickled in a brine, vinegar, or other solution and left to ferment for a period of time.

Grains and Legumes

• Miso - A traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and the fungus Aspergillus oryzae.
• Tempeh - A traditional Indonesian soy product that is made from fermented soybeans.
• Sourdough - A bread product made by a long fermentation of dough using naturally occurring lactobacilli and yeast.

Meat and Fish

• Salami - A type of cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat, typically pork.
• Surströmming - A type of fermented Baltic Sea herring traditional to Swedish cuisine.

Health Benefits

Fermented foods are rich in probiotic bacteria so by consuming these foods you are adding beneficial bacteria and enzymes to your overall intestinal flora, increasing the health of your gut microbiome and digestive system and enhancing the immune system.

See Also

• Fermentation in food processing
• Food preservation
• Probiotic

This is a non-exhaustive food and drink related list.

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