Hi,
I have this question going on in my head so I better ask...
I've seen plenty of videos of commercially/traditional methods made salami where they just throw them in basement to ferment/cure and they claim the penicillium nalgiovense is naturally present in the ambient there so there is no artificial application of it.
So, I normally ferment my first batch inside my curing "chamber" (modified fridge) but once I have some going and it gets set for curing I can no longer ferment there (temp and humidity too low).
Since I like to overlap batches I need a different place to ferment. I figured out that I have an unused large cooler that I set upright (simile a tiny fridge) and attached a couple of grid shelves so I can ferment there before moving to the curing setup.
My question is: Is it convenient to completely sterilize the fermenting cooler after the batch is removed or since nothing is touching the walls is it better to leave any traces of Pen.Nalg. mold that might be present inside and just wipe the bottom where the fluids drip? After all isn't that what those basements are doing?
Let me know if this is not clear or if pictures are needed...
Thanks,
Fernando