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Ammonia smell in the chamber

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 03:06
by fatboyz
My little chamber is pretty full and everything is really covered well in mold. Is a lite Ammonia smell normal when you open the door. Salami's have been in 17 days and are still real soft.I put the humidity down to 70% tonight. It's been about 83% since they went in.

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 04:20
by redzed
Over active enzymatic ctivity caused by excessive mould growth. Turn down the temp to 8C for a few days, give it some fresh air and the smell will be gone. You could also take a brush and lightly remove some of the mould off the salami. A hint of ammonia is OK, but you don't want want too much for too long as it will affect the final flavour.

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 05:30
by fatboyz
Sounds good Red.I'll go turn the temp down now.

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 14:51
by Bob K
I would comment that the ammonia aroma is quite normal, and a lite ammonia smell shows that the mold is doing its job to reduce acidity. In your small chamber that is filled to capacity, any aroma will be concentrated so you will get a good whiff when the door is opened. It will subside with further drying. As redzed suggested try dropping the temp. If you drop the humidity level down to 70% at this stage of the game you are inviting case hardening/dry rim.

My2ยข :grin:

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 17:19
by fatboyz
Boy guys this is the first real try with the chamber and trusting that it's going well when it doesn't appear to be getting anywhere is very difficult. I've only air dried salami and our humidity is so low here it drys real quick, which I understand isn't ideal. I'm going to bump the RH back up!
This is like watching your kids do something the first time, you want to jump in and take over.
After a couple days at 9C what's a good temp about 13?

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 17:35
by Bob K
First time is tough. You are guaranteed to cut into one too soon, and it will be too soft. 54-55f is a good temp.