REST A GINGER BUG & START IT AGAIN | Fermented Soda Series: All the Knowledge to make Fermented Soda

Ginger bugs are a great starter for making fermented soda's. But sometimes you want to take a break from looking after your ginger bug and you want to take a break from fermented soda making.
To do so you will need to know how to rest a ginger bug.
In this video I show how to rest your ginger bug and then how to reactivate your ginger bug after your break.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Wake up feeding for your ginger bug:
2tbsp grated ginger
2 tbsp sugar
Then resume normal daily feeding.
As soon as you see bubbles it is ready to use 😀
I just successfully woke up a ginger bug that had been 6 weeks in the fridge forgotten and unfed. 3 days after taking it out of the fridge and feeding, it is bubbling again.

[@Sweetest216]

Do you add more water, too?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

@Sweetest216 not normally when I wake it up. Unless it has been in there a long time and is smelling alcoholic to water that down.
I have another video on refreshing it after use. That is usually when water goes in too.

[@BelleCooking]

Big like 👍 Thank you so much for your wonderful sharing of ginger feeding 🤩

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

You are most welcome 💗

[@LittleGardenBigDreams]

I’m enjoying your series very much Rachel. Thanks again xx Cathi xx 😘

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Thanks a bunch Cathi 💕

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

Fantastic videos, Rachel . I cant wait to have sone fresh ginger to play with now. Thank you for sharing lovely ❤🧋

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

I hope you love it as much as we do if you give it a go 😀

[@lancewylie8604]

I am standing here beside myself with anticipation for your next live feed. Tee hee

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

If I go live I need to pop out from behind the camera 🤣

[@simplyoffgrid-australia]

Great video Rachel. I really like that you can rest it and then restart it.
What do you use your ginger scraps for?
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Deb & Dan.

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Hi Deb & Dan, I have been capturing some of the key things we use the ginger for and will have a video ready to go live on Fri. It still has wonderful flavour and goodness, so great in things like baking and marinades. I love making the most of everything and no waste where possible.

[@snowman4821]

Is the amount of water you add back to the starter equal to what you already used?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

After a while you will start to get the feel is isn't an exact science and you can be a bit flexible with it.
I usually top up with what I have used. But also at times will add extra, knowing Im going to do a big upcoming batch.

[@karenpark7848]

I didn’t think to save my ginger scraps. I did remove some as it was quite full 😊 I did save the pulp from from the berries I used for fruit soda, so hopefully you have an awesome suggestion/video for using them?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

I most definitely do. I have been capturing a few of the key things we use it for and I will have a video for you ready to go live on Friday 😀

[@kartyaninair4852]

Thank you for these videos. If you are running out of ginger bug starter when you're making sodas regularly, how do you feed the starter? Do you wait till the liquid amt is a certain level??

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

You are most welcome 😀
I feed daily when out on the bench and actively using it. There is a video in the series 'Refresh a ginger bug' which helps with this. By feeding you add water, sugar and ginger which keeps increasing the volume. Then you take some out to make your soda. Of course you dont want to take all the liquid from your bug. But if making lots of soda and need more liquid you can use a bigger jar and bigger volumes. I recently created one I called 'Mega-bug- in a 1.5lt jar, so I could share some.
When not using it, I pop it in the fridge. And feed again when I pull it out. There is also a video in the series called 'Rest a ginger bug' which will help with that step 😀

[@kartyaninair4852]

@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus cool thanks. Yeah I just watched the rest and refresh. Will watch the refresh one now.

[@thenelgroup]

❤ just love your videos. Would a fermenting lid with the airlock work on a ginger bug? And was wondering if we can use just rawsugar?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Thanks for your lovely comment Sarah 💗 I personally use those tops for other fermentation, but not for ginger bug. Because it is opened daily for feeding I haven't found I have needed a lid that will release pressure. Hope this helps 😀

[@sharonpetch4680]

Thanks Rachel, enjoying your series am also a first time commenter on ANYTHING in youtube but watch many. I haven't taken the plunge with a ginger bug yet, most likely will save it until spring. How long can you "rest"the ginger bug in the fridge and it still be viable?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Thanks for taking the time to make this 1st comment and Im so pleased you are enjoying the series 💗
Its so timely you asked this question, as I neglected my poor bug and left it unfed in the fridge for 6 weeks. A few days ago I pulled it out of the fridge, let it warm back up and fed it. And after 2 days it was already bubbling! This is the longest I have gone and am pleasently surprised how quickly it has come back fully to life 😀

[@user-vc5qp2wh3h]

What do you do with the frozen ginger pieces? Thanks!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

I have a video on just this topic :)
czcams.com/video/-jWGdmtcWrI/video.html

[@taylorfowlkes26]

Hi! What do you use your ginger scraps for specifically?

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

Hi Taylor, I have a short video as part of this series that covers this very topic. I hope it helps 😀
czcams.com/video/-jWGdmtcWrI/video.html

[@taylorfowlkes26]

Thank you!

[@Bush_Edge_Homesteading_Aus]

@taylorfowlkes26 you are very welcome Taylor 😀