Authentic Homemade Sauerkraut

Learn how to ferment your own authentic homemade sauerkraut in easy to follow steps. It’s easier than you think! 

Get out those bier steins and break out the lederhosen because I love sharing the cuisine of my childhood…German Food! There’s nothing tastier than rich Beef Rouladen served with mashed potatoes (or spaetzle) and a side of Braised Red Cabbage (Rotkol).

Homemade Sauerkraut

For those who love sauerkraut, this is the standard or traditional style recipe for creating the best fermented cabbage. I love to eat it on its own, on a hotdog, or in sausage sauerkraut soup.

The final product is salty, slightly sweet and oh, so funky. The cabbage has softened slightly but is not fermented to the point of mush. Best of all, each forkful contains healthy live probiotic bacteria, vitamins, and minerals. You might as well refer to sauerkraut as THE ‘German Superfood’!

Lactic Fermentation

Sauerkraut is the result of Lactic Fermentation. During this anaerobic process, sugars and starches in the cabbage are broken down by Leuconostoc bacteria.

These bacteria are naturally present and harmless. Their job is to convert the sugars in the cabbage to produce lactic acid and carbon dioxide.

As the acid level rises, other microorganisms are killed leaving small amounts of simple alcohols and hydrocarbons to form.

These alcohols and hydrocarbons then form chemical compounds called esters which give the sauerkraut it’s characteristic flavour. 

What You Need to Make Sauerkraut

To ferment the most basic style of sauerkraut all you need is cabbage, salt and time. Once you know the ratio of salt to cabbage and the basic principles behind fermentation, this fermented treat practically makes itself.

Probably the most important tool you need to make homemade sauerkraut is a fermentation vessel. All you need is a small crock or a quart jar with a lid.

What I use is a quart jar fitted with an airlock. An airlock prevents air from getting into the jar but allows the gases formed during fermentation to escape.

How to Make Your Own Fermentation Vessel

To make your own fermentation vessel you will need a glass quart jar with a plastic lid, a rubber grommet and an airlock. You can buy an airlock at any brewing store and source the rubber grommets on Amazon.

Measure the bottom ‘straw’ part of the airlock, then drill an appropriate sized hole in a plastic quart jar lid. Fit the grommet on the airlock, then insert it into the hole. Add water and watch it bubble away as the fermentation gasses escape.

How to Make Sauerkraut

While the recipe ingredients are simple, the method takes a little practice, time, and patience. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be fermenting batch after batch of this popular German side dish.

Prepare the cabbage by removing any limp outer leaves. Slice it in half through the stem and remove the core. Slice each half in half a second time. You can use a food processor here, however I prefer to slice my cabbage by hand so I can control the size better.

Try to keep the sliced cabbage a uniform size as you slice and remove any of the thicker pieces. Save them for soup or discard.

Weigh the cabbage on a kitchen scale as you go. If you are using a quart jar as a vessel, 1 kg of sliced cabbage is a good amount to start with. This is because for every 1 kg of sliced cabbage, you will need to add 4 tsp of salt.

The kind of salt you use for fermentation is very important. Use a natural salt such as Himalayan, Sel Gris, or kosher salt which does not have any added iodine or anti-coagulants. Both will impede the fermentation process.

Massage the salt and cabbage together. You will begin to notice how the cabbage softens as the cell walls break down. Depending on the water content of the cabbage this could take 5-20 minutes.

Fresh crop cabbage will release quite a bit of moisture as you massage while older cabbage will release less. When the cabbage has softened, pack it tightly into a sterilized jar or crock and pour the brine over all. Press the cabbage down so that it is submerged under the brine.

If you absolutely do not have enough brine, do not panic! Add a 2.5% salt and water brine (1/2 tsp salt/1 cup water) OR top it up with any kind of wine. Allow to ferment at least one week and up to 3 weeks. Refrigerate.

Tips for Great Homemade Sauerkraut

There are 3 golden rules to follow when fermenting your own kraut: 

1. Use the correct salt to cabbage ratio. Using more salt will only make the sauerkraut extra salty, using too little will attract unwanted bacteria.
2. Keep it submerged under the brine. If you need to, you can do this by hand, just wash your hands and press the cabbage down until it becomes fully submerged.
3. Temperature is king. Too cool and your kraut will ferment too slowly, allowing unwanted bacteria or mold. Too warm and you may also have a wealth of issues. A temperature range of 65-70°F (18-21°C) degrees is perfect.

If you follow the above three golden rules your ferment should be happy, right? Well…maybe not. As with any natural process, there are a few things that could go awry.

Preventative measures such as cleaning your equipment and washing hands and vegetables are a great place to start. Use only fresh vegetables, not ones that are moldy or soft. If you are adding high sugar vegetables, like carrots, add them in small quantities. 

Health Benefits of Sauerkraut

Homemade Sauerkraut is a nutritional powerhouse! It has the benefits of eating raw cabbage (low in calories but packed with Vitamins K and C) while also delivering healthy probiotics to your gut.

Probiotics aid in the absorption of Vitamins and generally aid in digestion. Other Vitamins and Minerals present in Sauerkraut are:  Vitamin B6, Iron, Manganese, Folate, Copper and Potassium. 

However, kraut is quite high in sodium, so it is not recommended for low sodium diets or people watching their salt intake. 

Homemade vs. Store Bought

Homemade kraut contains live probiotics. It is best to store it in the fridge after the initial fermentation to slow the bacteria down. If you intend to store your sauerkraut for a longer period of time, consider freezing it.

Yes, you can buy jars of processed sauerkraut from the grocery store but the high processing temperature kills off the beneficial probiotics. Processed kraut still contains all the Vitamins and minerals but will be less beneficial in the long run.

If you would rather buy sauerkraut, source it from the refrigerated section of your grocery or health food store, not the dry goods aisle.

Sauerkraut Troubleshooting Guide

We’ve all been there, don’t worry. There are very few things can go horribly wrong with sauerkraut.

That said, under certain conditions a flat, thin, white to cream-colored powder yeast (called KAHM) may form on the surface. It won’t hurt you but it does affect the flavour of your kraut. Since it’s difficult to get rid of, just discard your batch and start anew.

Does your sauerkraut have a thin mold growing on the surface? This may mean that the fermentation was not vigorous enough during the early stages.

If the mold is green or grey, you can safely skim it off and keep on fermenting. Of course, if you feel more comfortable tossing it, go right ahead. Don’t give up, great kraut is worth it! 

If you see black, pink or orange mold, or it smells rotten discard it and start again (source).

Sauerkraut Variations

As the recipe suggests, there are many ways to add some extra flavours into your homemade sauerkraut. All of these make great additions to any sauerkraut ferment.

• Fresh dill
• Shredded carrot with ginger
• Cabbage with caraway
• Brussels Sprouts
• Red Cabbage instead of green cabbage.
• Beet and Ginger
• Fennel
• Apple

To add in other vegetables, be sure to chop them into a size similar to your cabbage, otherwise fermentation issues may occur. 

Can Homemade Sauerkraut Go Bad?

Absolutely. Sauerkraut does have a shelf life. After fermentation is complete I keep mine in the fridge for up to 3 months.

The best way to tell if your sauerkraut is bad is to give it the old sniff test. As with any fermented or preserved food, if it smells exceptionally foul, has changed colour, or appears moldy, toss it.