Homemade Sauerkraut - Making your own sauerkraut is possible to do at home.
Sometimes I truly surprise myself....making this sauerkraut is a complete and total surprise.
Don't get me wrong. This didn't happen accidentally. I knew I was making homemade sauerkraut. I even planned it out. The complete and total surprise comes from the fact that I've never liked sauerkraut.
In fact I always made horrible faces whenever someone would simply mention the word sauerkraut.
My mom is a sauerkraut fan and buys it from the grocery store from time to time. My husband also loves sauerkraut! I didn't like it. I wouldn't touch it. I wouldn't even buy it for my dear sweet husband!
Then slooooowly things started to change. My brother made the first batch of homemade sauerkraut. He stated it was quite good and unlike anything you could buy in the store. I was not convinced.
Then we were given a couple of old ceramic crocks from Rod's grandmother, along with her recipe for sauerkraut! No way was I going to use it, but the crocks looked great in our living room! Finally my sister decided to make it! What was going on here?
I decided to get on the band wagon and start reading up on this strange fermented cabbage. I became intrigued....but still wasn't going to be a fan! No Way!!!
For this batch, I used a huge cabbage. It weighed 3 pounds. You can use any size cabbage you want. You are only limited to the size of your container.
I used one of the old sauerkraut crocks that came from my grandparents. You can find new crocks here.
How do I make sauerkraut?
- You start by cutting up all your cabbage.
- Once your cabbage is cut, you begin layering it into your crock. Between each layer, you sprinkle salt. I used canning salt because it doesn't have any additives like a non-caking ingredient or iodine.
- The absolute hardest part was getting all the cabbage into my crock. The picture above shows just half the cabbage. I had read that a 3 pound cabbage could fit into my crock, but it was full at just half way! The trick, pushing it down. I had to use my fist and push, and push, and push..... you get the idea. Finally I was actually able to get all the cabbage into the crock. Then the waiting begins.
Check your cabbage every couple of days. Slowly the liquid will start to be released from the cabbage. You want your cabbage covered with this liquid after two to three days days. If it hasn't you will need to create a brine (water and salt) to cover the top.
My cabbage had drastically decreased in size after two days, but it took three days for the liquid to reach the top. I then added a weight to keep the cabbage from floating up. I used a glass dish with a quart jar filled with water to give it some weight. The entire top of the crock was kept covered with a clean dish towel.
At the beginning you do need to check your crock every couple of days and remove any scum that may appear. You can see in the pictures some whitish bubbles. I removed those bubbles each time I saw them.
You also want to check for mold or discoloration. Mine did not have an issue with mold or discoloration. Wild Fermentation states it isn't a problem and can simply be removed.
Your sauerkraut is ready whenever you think it tastes good. The longer it keeps, the stronger the taste. I kept mine going for 4 weeks.
Once done, I simply transferred the kraut into clean quart canning jars and put into the fridge. I decided not to seal the kraut in jars. You can, and it will keep for a long time in your pantry, but heating it kills all the probiotics that naturally occur in homemade sauerkraut.
The only problem...I have 8 quarts of sauerkraut in my fridge! I'm not certain how quickly we can eat all that kraut!
My husband says the sauerkraut is great. And I must admit, I do like it! There is a nice crunch to the cabbage still and a tang from the fermentation.
I eat it as a small side salad. I'm still not certain I could slather a hot dog with sauerkraut, but I definitely don't make faces at this delicious homemade sauerkraut!
So tell me.....Do you love sauerkraut?
Other Food Preservation Recipes
- Dried Pears
- Freezing Raspberries
- Freezing Rhubarb
- How to Roast Peppers
- Canning Pickles
- Canning Apple Pie Filling
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If you loved this recipe you'll LOVE all the others in this category. Check out all my canning recipes here!
Homemade Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 3 pound Cabbage
- 2 Tablespoons salt (non-iodized)
Instructions
- Chop up cabbage
- Layer into a ceramic crock or other food grade container.
- Sprinkle salt between layers.
- Push each layer down so the cabbage is compacted.
- Cover with a clean cloth, check daily to make certain liquid starts to cover all cabbage.
- Place a clean weight on top. Keep covered with cloth.
- Check every few days to remove and scum or mold.
- You can begin tasting kraut after a week. The longer it keeps, the stronger it gets.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Anne says
I tried your recipe. I’m 1 week in. There isn’t enough liquid to cover the cabbage. Should I add water?
Kathy says
Hi Anne,
Sometimes the cabbage just might not produce enough liquid on its own. You can add water to cover. Use filtered water mixed with pickling salt - 1 cup water: 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Kathy
Sauerkraut Billy says
This seems like such a great recipe Kathy! Thanks so much for your recipe! I love seeing such helpful and aesthetically pleasing photos to go along with the recipe as well. Can't wait to give this one a shot the next time I make a batch of kraut!
Katie @The Semisweet Sisters says
Looks delicious! I love homemade sauerkraut & I love the health benefits it has.
Kathy says
Thanks, Katie!
Lindsey says
I've been dying to try my own Sauerkraut recipe!!! Thanks for sharing, can't wait to try <3
Kathy says
If you are a sauerkraut fan, you'll want to make your own. So good!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
Love sauerkraut so much and I eat it with/on everything! I've been thinking of making my own for a couple of years now but never got the nerve up after I read some stuff about the mold that can grow on top. Now that I've seen how you have successfully made it, and checking out that Wild Fermentation site, I'm going to try it too! Thanks for sharing this recipe, Kathy!
Kathy says
Time to give it a go! You will love it!!!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
Oh my! No! I do not like the sauerkraut! I do not like it here or there I do not like it anywhere! I do love that you gave it a try and made it in your special crocks though. My mom always made pork and sauerkraut on New Years Day and made us take at least one bite for good luck. I wasn't willing to risk the consequences of not doing it, but that one bite was all I would have for the year. Now, what in tarnation are you going to do with all that sauerkraut? 🙂
Kathy says
I've got two quarts in the mail headed your way! You never know....you might like them in a jar, you might like them from afar! I don't want to mess with your New Year's luck! You must have a bite!!!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I've actually never made homemade sauerkraut but I buy cabbage often and definitely need to try this soon!
Kathy says
I hope you give it a try!
Manali @ CookWithManali says
I have never even heard of this but I like cabbage so I think I will like it! 😀
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Oh my...you've inspired me! I've always been a take-it or leave-it kind of girl...but with homemade, I'd be take-it all the way!
Kathy says
Yep...you'd better take it with this kraut!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dear Kathy, Well I'm so glad you jumped on that bandwagon. Finally. Because your sauerkraut looks amazing and I can't believe how easy is is to make. Also how short the ingredient list. Rod's grandmother had a good thing going! Good luck on eating 8 quarts!!!
Kathy says
Easy to make...just need to invest a little time!
Kathy says
It took me a while, but once I finally decided it wasn't that bad, I was all in!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Oh my gawsh, I used to HATE sauerkraut too! But my husband has always loved it, so I think I came around from just giving it a try so many times, eventually my palate gave in and decided if you can't beat em, join em! 😉 I have never tried to make it myself though! This looks amazing! My husband will go nuts over this, my dear! Thanks so much for sharing!! Cheers!
Kathy says
So funny how everyone has such different tastes...and how tastes can change over time!
David @ Spiced says
8 quarts of kraut! That is amazing. I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of kraut. I might need to test that theory again soon...I've discovered a couple of things lately that I used to dislike. So maybe kraut is next on the list. And my wife wouldn't have one bit of trouble with 8 quarts of kraut...she loves the stuff!
Kathy says
Yep...8 quarts is a ton of kraut....even for my kraut loving husband!
Katie Crenshaw says
We love sauerkraut in our household! My grandfather is German, so we have grown up eating it in meals. We love it on hotdogs and sausage dogs. My grandmother makes a German potato, sausage, and kraut dish that it is great in. My favorite meal is Bundle Kraut, which is cabbage filled with rice and meat, then rolled up and tied, and then cooked in kraut! It is so good! I will have to try your homemade Sauerkraut recipe in these dishes!
Kathy says
Wow....there's a whole sauerkraut world out there that I didn't even know existed. And I thought it only went on top of hot dogs!
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
Well, I live in an area where "Kraut" is famous. Everyone eats Kraut here! It's quite popular. So shhhh, don't tell anyone here that I've never had it. Let alone made it! But I love your idea of making it yourself and the more I read about fermented foods, the more I need to get on board. I do love cabbage though so I need to give this a whirl. And everyone in my extended family LOVES their "Kraut". Time to try!!!
Kathy says
The secret's out now, Laura! You are going to have to try some sauerkraut!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I am like you, I have never liked sauerkraut! But I do bet that the homemade version is a million times better than store bought. And that is so cool that you got to use those vintage family crocks for this recipe! Love that!
Kathy says
Yep....a million times better!