fermenting White stuff - post bottling

[PurpPepp]

I’m concerned this is mold, but it could also be an ingredient??

Summary details:

- fermented with blackberry and sweet potato

- pH post ferment ~3.5-4 (using acidic litmus paper, so precision is lacking)

- 50:50 mix of mash to fresh mix of sweet potato, blackberry, jalapeño and persimmon vinegar (vinegar to the point where the final mixture appears to be ~pH 4)

- pasteurized by bringing above 180F for 10 minutes.

- hot bottled and inverted for 1 hour.

- stored on shelf for ~2 weeks before white spots.

Please give advice!

 

[salsalady]

Interesting.... in maybe not a good way...

As it looks like spots, i am wondering if it is seeds. Bringing to above 180f for 10 minutes is not enough to properly cook produce.

Given the fact the spots appeared after 2 weeks, i would be very leary of using the sauce. I'd bin it.

Check by opening a bottle. If it goes pffft, starts bubbling or kind of explodes out of the bottle, that would be confirmation.

Disappointing after the hard work.

Maybe others will chime in.
SL

 

[PurpPepp]

Hello @salsalady, it wasn’t obviously pressurized when opened. No unusual odors. I tasted a small sample and it tastes like it did when bottled.

Opening video on iCloud here: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0551txMgObhXaLnsEz9W1Bw0Q

Honestly, I would eat a little myself. But I gifted two bottles to friends. I’m going to ask them to toss it.

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Looks like a fat. Was the sweet potato roasted in any oil? Also, persimmons have oily seeds and this oil can present itself later.

I’m going to ask them to toss it.

Yes, always err on the side of caution with food safety.

 

[PurpPepp]

Looks like a fat. Was the sweet potato roasted in any oil? Also, persimmons have oily seeds and this oil can present itself later.

Yes, always err on the side of caution with food safety.

The sweet potato was just boiled and mashed, no oil.

The persimmon vinegar is similar to apple cider vinegar, just made with persimmon juice. I purchased it at a Korean specialty store. This is the stuff: https://mykmarket.com/products/502997?

 

[The Hot Pepper]

Prob mold then

 

[SatanicFlatIron]

did you empty the bottle to see if that circular white spot was a seed or mold? (i had a similar spot and luckily it was a seed...)