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Homemade sauerkraut is easier than you think! You’ll get probiotic benefits and a kitchen DIY project. Here’s how to make sauerkraut: a simplified guide.
Oh, hi! Welcome to Fermentation 101. We’re your hosts, Sonja and Alex. And we can’t wait for you to experience the magic of fermentation through sauerkraut! After taking you through our simplified guide to sourdough bread, we wondered: what other DIY projects can we break down? Where we landed was homemade sauerkraut. It’s easy to make, simple to ferment, and a seriously healthy probiotic-filled addition to any meal. The best part: Alex and I have researched everything so that you don’t have to. Ready to get started?
What is sauerkraut?
OK, so what is sauerkraut? In a nutshell: thinly sliced, fermented raw cabbage. Sauerkraut is made by a process called lacto-fermentation. Lacto-fermentation is a process that also makes kimchi: and all you need is salt, vegetables, and water. And it turns into one of the best cabbage recipes there is.
How does it all work? Without getting too technical: lactic bacteria is present in the vegetables. And during fermentation, it goes to work turning sugars into lactic acid. Lactic acid is a natural preservative that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. Along with preserving, the fermentation process also increases vitamin levels and improves digestibility of whatever is being fermented.
More fermented foods? Go to Top Fermented Foods to Try Now.
Is sauerkraut good for you?
In a word: Yes! Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha have become the health craze of the moment. What’s all the fuss about? Fermented foods can give your body a dose of healthy probiotics, which are live microorganisms crucial to healthy digestion, says Dr. David S. Ludwig, a professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. So eating sauerkraut can contribute to better gut health!
An interesting note: canned sauerkraut does not contain probiotics, because they’re killed in the canning process. So making this homemade sauerkraut recipe guarantees you’ll get those live cultures right into your jar! (If you’re worried about this when buying store bought, make sure to get refrigerated sauerkraut, not canned.)
Tools for making homemade sauerkraut
OK, let’s get to how to make sauerkraut! Alex has combed through all the research to find exactly what you’ll need for your home fermentation experiments. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 quart wide mouth mason jar: A 1 quart jar holds enough for a 3 pound head of cabbage.
- Fermentation lid and helix weight: A helix weight is used to hold down the cabbage so that it stays submerged during fermentation. The fermentation lids have airlocks that let gases created during fermentation to escape but doesn’t allow bacteria in. As an alternative, you could use a fermentation stone to weigh down the cabbage; then place a cheesecloth on the mouth of the jar and secure it with a rubber band. But these lids and weights are so slick, we recommend using them if you’re serious about fermentation.
- Cocktail muddler or wooden spoon: This is used to pack the sauerkraut into the jar.
That’s it! For a kitchen DIY project, it’s a pretty low ask. Ready for the good part? Keep reading.
Tips for how to make sauerkraut
Before you get to the recipe below: let’s talk about a few tips! Here are a few things we learned along the way about how to make sauerkraut:
- Cut the cabbage into shreds using our easy method. Have you had these problems with cabbage? Uneven pieces, the knife slipping, cabbage all over the counter? We did, until we learned this: how to cut cabbage…the right way!.
- Use a room temperature cabbage. This might sound silly, but you’ll need to squeeze the shredded cabbage with your hands for about 10 minutes. And there’s nothing worse than putting your hands into freezing cold cabbage! The easiest way to do this is to have it at room temperature.
- Squeeze a LOT. The squeezing part takes quite a long time, and your hands may get tired. Take a break if you need to! You’ll need to get the cabbage to the point where it is the texture of sauerkraut: the fermentation doesn’t do that. So squeeze away! You’ll be amazed by how 3 pounds of cabbage will reduce down into only a few cups.
- Use fermentation lids and weights (shown above.) The weights keep the sauerkraut submerged in the jar so it doesn’t mold: they’re seriously slick and our new favorite trick. Throw the jar in a dark, room temperature place and let the fermenting begin.
- Taste starting on Day 6. Every environment is different, so you’ll want to taste your sauerkraut until you find a flavor you enjoy. This can be between 6 and 12 days; we find it is usually good by Day 7.
Ways to eat sauerkraut
There are so many ways to eat sauerkraut: you can literally just toss it in a salad or grain bowl to liven it up! Here are a few of our favorite ways to eat sauerkraut:
- Sandwich: In a vegetarian Reuben. Or just melt Swiss cheese onto bread with sauerkraut. Put it over the top with Russian dressing (oh wait, that’s a Reuben!).
- Grain bowl: Try it on any makeshift main dish salad or grain bowl, or this roasted vegetable grain bowl, yellow rice bowl, or vegan Buddha bowl.
- Cheese spread: Try this: toasted bread, slather on paprika goat cheese spread, top with sauerkraut. Mind blown!
- Pasta: Instead of pesto, why not swirl sauerkraut into this havarti mac and cheese?
- Green salad: Chop some lettuce, add some sauerkraut, then top with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and black pepper.
- Potato salad or egg salad: Add a zing to this no mayo potato salad, dill potato salad, or French potato salad. Or an egg salad sandwich.
- Avocado toast: Throw it onto avocado toast with egg.
- Quesadilla: This loaded veggie quesadilla or brie & mushroom quesadilla would be great with an added tang.
- Scrambled eggs: Toss a little over the best scrambled eggs for a morning pick me up.
- Burger: It’s a fantastic tangy burger topping! Try it on a veggie burger or black bean burger.
This recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
How to Make Sauerkraut (Easy DIY!)
Homemade sauerkraut is easier than you think! You’ll get probiotic benefits and a kitchen DIY project. Here’s how to make sauerkraut: a simplified guide.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 quart 1x
- Category: DIY
- Method: Fermented
- Cuisine: German
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 medium-small head green cabbage (about 3 pounds), at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon per pound)
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
Tools
- 1 quart wide mouth mason jar
- Fermentation lid and helix weight (or a fermentation stone, rubber band and cheesecloth)
- Cocktail muddler or wooden spoon
Instructions
- Shred the cabbage. Place it in a large bowl and mix in the salt.
- Get your hands ready! Here’s the fun part: Massage the cabbage with your hands for 8 to 10 minutes until cabbage is limp and large amount of liquid is released (the liquid will be used in the jar during fermenting). The fermenting doesn’t change the texture of the cabbage, so you’ll need to massage until it’s the texture of sauerkraut. Take a break if your hands tire out! You’ll be amazed at how a huge bowl of cabbage turns into just a few cups of sauerkraut.
- Stir in the caraway seeds. Then place the seasoned cabbage into a 1-quart mason jar, tamping down the cabbage to stuff it in (we use our cocktail muddler for tamping, but you can also use a wooden spoon). Leave the liquid in the bowl for now.
- Pour the liquid released from cabbage into the jar. Top it with the helix weight and the fermentation lid: this holds down the cabbage during fermentation to make sure it stays submerged. Alternatively, you can weigh down the cabbage with a fermentation stone and use a rubber band to secure cheesecloth over the lid to allow airflow.
- Place the jar in a dark, room temperature space for 6 to 12 days. Start tasting the sauerkraut on Day 6. Once you achieve a “sour” taste that you enjoy, move the jar to the refrigerator, where it keeps for several months. (We find ours is good around Day 7.) Note: If you notice mold on top of the sauerkraut, scrape it off and keep enjoying the rest of the jar! Make sure all of the cabbage is submerged to avoid the mold.
More cabbage recipes
There’s so much to make with cabbage! Here are some favorite cabbage recipes:
- Sauteed Cabbage or Perfect Boiled Cabbage Incredible flavor! The perfect easy side dish for any meal.
- Easy Steamed Cabbage A quick and simple way to serve this veggie.
- Best Creamy Coleslaw This easy coleslaw recipe really is the best! It’s a fresh spin with a totally irresistible coleslaw dressing.
- Grilled Cabbage Wedges The grill adds smoky flavor and makes this veggie into a tasty summer side dish!
- Cabbage Salad with Apples & Walnuts This one uses feathery Savoy cabbage with tangy apples and crunchy walnuts.
Hey, can you use purple cabbage and get the same results?
I just got out of rehab for a drug addiction, and I’m trying my best to heal my body with food and healthy eating. I really appreciate your simple, and pretty, recipes and will continue using them to cook healthy meals.
Oh, and btw, few couples are able to be best friends and work together day in and day out, to put that cabbage on the table.
Best of luck!
Mark Vanderbloemen
Hi, yes a red cabbage will work fine. Thank you for the comment and hope you enjoy!
So easy and so delicious! I had a 1/2 head of red cabbage in my fridge when you posted this and got right to work. I omitted the caraway because I don’t care for it. Been eating it this last week on top of everything (peanut butter toast!) and now it’s gone. Definitely buying more cabbage this week. I highly recommend red cabbage too, it’s so beautiful!
This makes me so happy! Sauerkraut on everything :)