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.

Bowl of shredded cabbage — Massage the shredded cabbage to release the liquid

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.)

Helix weight and fermentation lid — A helix weight is used to hold down the cabbage so it stays submerged and doesn’t grow mold.
The fermentation lid lets gases escape and doesn’t let bacteria in.

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, chickpea burger or black bean burger.

This recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.