LAB collection: barley, Oat?
Can LAB be collected via alternate carbohydrate sources? Washes of such grains as barley or oats?
Top answer
I would have to say yes being that LAB lives on everything and everywhere and that the starch collection will still attract the LAB from the air and that by propagating in the milk u should still get a LAB only full spectrum solution afterwards One of the ideas behind KNF is that u use what is natural to u theres not many very specific things that r done only X way i think many things r more bullet points that u wanna hit like in LAB its attract with a simple starch propagate in any animal milk i dont feel the source of starch or milk really matters as much as the method to achieve the end results Same as would be in the next step of LAB to preserve it well how much sugar u add is irrelevant because its the super saturation point u r trying to achieve and the amount of sugar u will use to get there is undetermined what matters there is u use brown sugar to lock up all the water to place the LAB in hibernation for storage Things to think of is what may work it Korea may not work in Arizona but the method still does its how to adapt to your Naturel environment and make it work for u
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
·
Sep 2026
·
5 sources
Drake's sources collect LAB from starchy rice wash left out on the counter for 3 to 7 days. (KNF Demystified, p. 31) The rinse water is low in nutrients, so milk goes in next as the food source. (Student's Manual, Basic Course, p. 13) Master Cho mixes the liquid with milk at 10:1, then keeps the whey once the curds separate. (Office Hours Ep. 67, 57:15)
Pedro found rice water gave stronger collections than other starches, since rice is nutrient-poor and pushes LAB to work harder. (Office Hours Ep. 149, 30:42) Drake also says LAB is already everywhere. (Office Hours Ep. 62, 30:10)
The library does not cover barley or oat washes. It cannot say how they compare with rice.
Sources
- 30:10 Office Hours Ep. 62 (Jan 2023) — Fermented Seaweed Recipe, IMO3 vs IMO4, Aluminum-Locked Phosphorus · “No, LAB is already everywhere, so sugar alone osmotically draws out the juice and starts fermentation.”
- 57:15 Office Hours Ep. 67 (Mar 2023) — Mosaic Virus, Banana Bunchy Top, and Making Lactic Acid Bacteria · “mix the liquid with milk at a 10:1 ratio, then once curds and whey separate, keep the whey.”
- 30:42 Office Hours Ep. 149 (Nov 2024) — Jadam Rice Wash Water, IMO-3 Troubleshooting, Animal Feed Preview · “Pedro found rice water gave stronger collections, since rice is nutrient-poor and pushes LAB to work harder.”
- p. 13 Student's Manual, Basic Course · “Since the rinse water is low in nutrients, milk is then added as a food source for the LAB.”
- p. 31 KNF Demystified · “Gather a pint of starchy water from washing rice. Put this container on the counter to collect lacto bacillus from the air for 3~7days.”
1 more answer
I have never tried with oats but I am sure it'll work, especially since rolled oats have so much starch dust, similar to white rice. brown rice doesn't have nearly enough starch to wash off, and barley is probably similar. But enough theorizing. Let me tell you what I HAVE seen work (besides white rice.) Cassava starch wash, cooked taro, potatoes, and perhaps most surprising of all, mushed up white bread and flour tortillas too. Hey, its got starch, and that is the most important thing next to using real milk. Let us know how it turns out with the barley and oats!
