Theory 137/Pickling/Threshold lens
Fermentation Needs a Salt Window
The claim
Lactic fermentation proceeds only within a salt window, so both too little and too much salt produce spoilage by different routes.
01Mechanism
Salt selects for lactic bacteria over competitors; below the window competitors win, above it the fermenters are inhibited.
02Prediction
Fermentation should occur within a window.
03Refutation
Fermentation increasing with salt would remove the optimum.