How to Make Homemade Sauerkraut
Homemade sauerkraut is a wonderful nutrient-rich food that is slightly tangy and a touch effervescent. It makes the perfect accompaniment to any meal because sauerkraut is high in good bacteria called probiotics, as well as enzymes. Both aid the digestive tract by improving gut health and assisting with digestion, allowing for our bodies to better absorb nutrients from the food we eat.
Step-by-step instructions
Be sure to watch this YouTube video as I walk you through the step-by-step process of making homemade sauerkraut.
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Now that you have made a fermented food, how about giving Cultured Dairy a try? Be sure to check out these videos to learn more:
More Fermented Foods Recipes
Once you make homemade Sauerkraut, here are more fermented food recipes that you’ll enjoy:
- How To Make Homemade Mayonnaise in 1 Minute With An Immersion Blender
- How to Make Fermented Giardiniera – Probiotic Rich Italian Pickle Relish
- How to Make a Ginger Bug for Making Probiotic Rich Fermented Drinks
- How to Make Fermented Carrots – A Probiotic Rich Food for Gut Health
- Simple Fermented Ketchup Recipe That Tastes Like Store Bought
- How to Make Fermented Salsa – Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners
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How to Make Homemade Sauerkraut
Ingredients
- 1 head Cabbage
- 2 tablespoon Coarse ground Celtic sea salt
- 1 Apple
- 1 Filtered water
Instructions
- Remove a few outer leaves of the head of cabbage and reserve.
- Cut the head of cabbage in half and cut out the core. Reserve the core.
- Slice each half of the head of baggage into thin strips.
- Place the shredded cabbage and the salt in a bowl and pound with a “kraut pounder” (see video) or similar utensil, such as a potato masher, for approximately 5 minutes until the cabbage begins to release some of its juices.
- Place the shredded cabbage and salt mixture in a half gallon sized jar that has a lid.
- Quarter the apple and remove the core and seeds. Coarsely chop and add to a blender.
- Coarsely chop the core of the cabbage and also add to the blender.
- Add water to the blender sufficient to cover the chopped apple and cabbage core. Whirl in the blender to make a slurry.
- Add the apple/cabbage core slurry to the shredded cabbage and salt mixture in the half gallon jar.
- Stir the mixture together in the jar and then press it down to compact it. (If you prefer, you can do this in a bowl and then transfer it to the jar. However, I do find it is better to do this in the jar so that you are assured of having the correct amount of cabbage with the correct amount of salt. If you do this in a bowl, you may not be able to precisely know how much cabbage will fit into the jar.)
- Take the reserved cabbage leaves and fold them and put them into the half gallon jar on top of the shredded cabbage mixture.
- Take a small 4-ounce glass jelly jar and put it into the half gallon jar on top of the folded cabbage leaves. The jelly jar will work as a weight to hold the entire mixture underwater.
- Add additional water, if needed, to reach the neck of the half gallon jar allowing for approximately 1 inch of headspace. Place the lid on the jar.
- Place the filled half gallon jar in an undisturbed place such as the corner of a kitchen counter, on top of a refrigerator, or in a cabinet or pantry that has a room temperature range somewhere between 68°F and 72°F. (SEE "RECIPE NOTES" BELOW.) The jar should also be out of direct sunlight as ferments do not like temperature fluctuations.
- After a few days, the cabbage should begin to ferment and you should see bubbles in the jar. Release the cap of the jar to allow some of the carbon dioxide, produced by the fermentation process, to be released. Re-tighten the jar lid.
- Re-check the jar every day and release some of the carbon dioxide by loosening the lid. Then re-tighten the lid.
- After 7 days, taste the Sauerkraut. Keep in mind that it will continue to ferment once placed in the refrigerator. If you like the taste, refrigerate it. It's now ready to enjoy. If you are not satisfied with the level of fermentation, allow it to continue to ferment up to 14 days at room temperature before refrigerating. I do not recommend fermenting the cabbage longer than 14 days as it may become quite soft and less palatable.
- Please note that initially vegetable ferments can taste a bit salty. However, over time, the ferment will become less salty as the vegetable – in this case cabbage – absorbs the brine creating a more flavorful vegetable, and the brine clinging to the ferment will taste less salty.
- As to storage, vegetable ferments need to be stored at 40°F. This can be on the top shelf of your refrigerator or in the door of your refrigerator. They can not be stored at room temperature.
Video
Notes
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Hi Mary !!!!!
I’m a fermenting fool now, thanks to you !
When do I add caraway seeds to my ‘ kraut?
Hi Mary !!!!!
I’m a fermenting fool now,thanks to you !
When do I add caraway seeds to my ‘kraut ?
Hi Linda, Thanks so much for visiting! You are so funny…glad you are a fermenting fool!! Love being on this traditional foods journey with you!! You can add the caraway seeds right in the beginning when you are adding everything else into you jar. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I’m so happy to help! Love, Mary
I’m splitting my cabbage into two jars. Should I add a little extra salt?
Hi Mary
I followed your recipe for sauerkraut and made my first batch 5 days ago. The first day I released the gas and retightened the lid. After day three, I noticed the cabbage in the neck of the 1/2 gallon jar looks a brownish color.
Is this from the apple, normal or does it mean my batch may be bad?
I am waiting for 7 days before I open, remove the weighted jar and top cabbage leaves to taste it.
Hi Evan, Thank you so much for your comment. Without seeing a picture, it’s hard for me to tell exactly. Ferments can be so persnickety! Sometimes there is discoloration if something pops up from under the brine and is not submerged. This is not necessarily be a bad thing – however – you need to keep an eye out for mold. Is there anything fuzzy looking? If not, you should be OK. Hope this helps. Keep me posted. Have you seen my playlist all about making different fermented vegetables? You can look through it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRuW3pBo2U2EhVspEV5d4Xs2s4pcbHbr I think you will enjoy these videos.
Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled “Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking”. It’s a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️
PS – Do you know about our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171869080205145/?source_id=210509998974645
Hi Mary
More info on above request.
On the first day I twisted lid and released the gas and retightened the lid several times. The next day twice a day instead of your instructions to do once a day. Could this have caused the brownish color at top of jar or is it possible I contaminated it? The cabbage in lower 90% of jar looks good.
Hi Evan, Thanks again for the info. Check what I said in the previous response to your comment and keep me posted. Love and God Bless, Mary
Thank you Mary.
Love your website, and your commentary.
I will be making more fermented recipes.
I’m splitting my cabbage into two jars. Should I add a little extra salt?
Hi Christine, That’s a great question. I think you should be OK but if you think you have left any brine behind, you can top your jars with a bit of salt as an insurance policy.
Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled “Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking”. It’s a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️
PS – Do you know about our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171869080205145/?source_id=210509998974645
Hi Mary,
Just wanted to let you know I followed your instructions (Apple and all) and – let it ferment for 5 days – and the kraut came out wonderfully. I basically did it in real time with you in the video – haha. You made an otherwise intimidating recipe apprehensible – thank you!
Pilar
I am so happy I have found you, Mary! You are a wonderful resource, I’ll be accessing more of your recipes as soon as I have time to cook more. Thank you
Hi Mary
I live in South Africa and our local cabbages are much bigger-looking than that in your you Tube video. I only used half a one but my sauerkraut, although delicious, is a touch salty. Could you please give me an average weight for the cabbage so I can get the ratio right next time?
Thank you so much.
Hi Sally, you want about a 2% salinity rate. So, if you have approximately a 3 pound cabbage that would mean 2 tablespoons of a course ground sea salt or 1 tablespoon of a fine ground see salt. That said, ferments will be salty in the beginning. But once you put it into your refrigerator it will mellow over the coming weeks. Keep me posted. Let me know how it all turns out. Love, Mary❤️🤗❤️
Please explain how or whether to sterilize or not to sterilize jars/lids for making sauerkraut. I have read differing views . I’ve got all of my equipment ready to roll but am hung up on this one aspect.
Thanks, Dee
You don’t need to sterilize your jars and lids but they do need to have been washed well in hot soapy water and left to air dry. Hope this helps. The bottom line is you just want your jars to be very clean…
So that you don’t introduce any bad bacteria. Love, Mary
This will be my first attempt at making sauerkraut. You specify coarse Celtic Sea Salt. Can any coarse sea salt be used? Thanks Jeanne
Hi Jeanne, Thanks for visiting. Yes, you can use any coarse sea salt – or fine sea salt, just half the amount. You want to avoid processed salts that contain chemicals or anti-caking agents which will interfere with the fermentation process. Do you enjoy making other traditional foods? If so, I have a playlist of some of my videos titled “Mastering the Basics of Traditional Nutrient Dense Foods Cooking”. It’s a series of 15 detailed videos that covers How to Make Bone Broth, Cultured Dairy, Ferments, Sourdough Starter (my foolproof stater), Sourdough Bread, Soaked and Sprouted Nuts and Beans, and How to Soak and Sprout Grains to Make your own Sprouted Flour at Home. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRuW3pBo2U3b4eu0QraZReKlGzA11h3y And please share the playlist with any other folks you think might be interested in learning about these types of things. I’m passionate about the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (of the Weston A Price Foundation) and want to help as many people as I can learn how to make Traditional “Nutrient Dense” Foods.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I’m so happy to help! And I’m SO glad you’re here!! Love and God Bless, Mary❤️😘❤️
PS – Do you know about our FB group? It’s called Mary’s Nest Modern Pioneers. Come join us! We have a lot of fun chatting about Traditional Foods: https://www.facebook.com/groups/171869080205145/?source_id=210509998974645
Thank you for responding. I am in the early stages of discovering the benefits of clean home cooking.
I have been watching your videos for some time now. I have enjoyed them. thank you. Take care and stay healthy. Jeanne
Hi Mary!
I made the Sauerkraut a few weeks ago. Followed the recipe to a “T,” and it turned out beautifully! I had some red cabbage left over, so I chose to use a half head of red cabbage and half green. The color is gorgeous! Homemade Sauerkraut, at least your recipe anyway, is sooo much tastier than canned! Plus the gradification factor of having made it myself added to my delight! Thank you so much for the detailed video and recipe. It made me feel much more comfortable trying what I considered a daunting DIY recipe. I look forward to making more of your recipes! In fact, I plan on using the extra time at home in this period of “Social Distancing” to delve into learning more of the lost ways-type of projects and recipes.
Take Care and Stay Well!
Cheri
Hi Mary, I made the sauerkraut according to your instructions and everything was going well up until the morning of the 5-6th day. There was a good inch of liquid at the top which was bubbling away nicely. I burped the jar every day and some of the liquid was leaking out on the plate underneath. This morning the liquid in the top has disappeared. Can I remedy this somehow. Kraut tastes ok but would like to leave it ferment for another couple days.
Hi Michele, Please forgive the delay! You can do one of two things. You can press down on the kraut to see if it will release any more liquid. If not, you can top it off with a bit of salted water and allow it to continue to ferment. Keep me posted on how it turns out. Love, Mary