How To Maintain Your Ginger Bug Soda Starter

Ginger bug maintenance instructions

Time needed: 1 minute. Equipment: a glass jar with a cloth cover. Maintenance feedings - feed your Ginger Bug every day with:

• 1 tablespoon raw sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated organic ginger
• 1/4 cup filtered chlorine-free water

Maintenance tips

Continue feeding your Ginger Bug every day. Keep your culture warm (between 75F-85F), covered with a muslin cloth, and in a dark spot.

• No Ginger? No Problem: Once your Ginger Bug is bubbly and active, you can remove grated ginger from your daily feedings (just feed sugar and water).
• No Bubbling? If your Ginger Bug ever stops bubbling, add grated ginger back into your daily feedings until bubbly again.
• Missed Feeding: If you miss a feeding, feed your Ginger Bug a standard feeding as soon as possible. More than one missed feeding in a row can hurt your culture. PLEASE DO NOT skip feedings during the first week of your Ginger Bug rehydration.

What if I can't feed my ginger bug everyday?

A Ginger Bug can be stored in the refrigerator for short periods. If you will be traveling or simply cannot feed your Ginger Bug daily at room temperature, you can store your culture in the refrigerator and feed it weekly. ONLY store your Ginger Bug in the refrigerator if you absolutely cannot feed your Ginger Bug at room temperature each day. Only a very active, strong, bubbly Ginger Bug can be successfully stored in the refrigerator.

Here's how to keep your ginger bug in the fridge

Follow these steps to safely store your culture at refrigerator temperatures:

• Feed your Ginger Bug right before refrigeration.
• Pour your Ginger Bug culture into an airtight glass container. Seal and place in the refrigerator.
• The cool temperatures will slow down fermentation and create a semi-dormant Ginger Bug.
• Ideally, feed your Ginger Bug culture once per week while stored at refrigerator temperatures.

Waking up a refrigerated bug

Once you are able to feed your Ginger Bug daily again, here's how to wake up your dormant Ginger Bug.

• Remove your Ginger Bug from the fridge and place it back at room temperature.
• Switch from the airtight lid back to the muslin cloth cover.
• Feed your Ginger Bug.
• Continue feeding your Ginger Bug for several days until bubbles begin to form.
• Once bubbly, your Ginger Bug will be ready to make soda again.

Why did my ginger bug stop bubbling after refrigeration?

When you place your Ginger Bug culture into the refrigerator, the cooler temperatures will dramatically slow down the fermentation process. Slow fermentation equals fewer bubbles. It will take several days of feeding your Ginger Bug at room temperature before you will see bubbles again.

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Slow fermentation equals fewer bubbles. Patience and warmth bring the bug back.