Do not forget to add water into fermenting cabbage

Do you make your own sauerkraut at home? Many of us do because it is a true elixir full of vitamins, which we need especially during the winter. Fruits and vegetables from supermarkets often contain many chemicals and preservatives but not enough vitamins. If you do some work during the autumn you can have excellent sauerkraut for the winter. How long can homemade sauerkraut last and how should you store it? We shall answer both questions in the following lines.

Sauerkraut can easily last throughout the entire winter

If you store your sauerkraut in the right place and at the right temperature it will last a very long time. A room with a temperature of around 5 degrees Celsius is ideal because the fermentation process is slowed down. A garage or cool basement is okay too. We store our sauerkraut in a basement all year round and the temperature is around 12° C. However, higher temperatures require more frequent care. You cannot leave an earthenware pot in a warmer room and simply forget about it.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Adding water regularly is necessary

Sauerkraut in an earthenware pot must always be submerged in water – or rather in the juice otherwise it will start to mould and you don’t want that. So, make sure to top up the juice with salted boiled water. Do not ever use unsalted water that has not been boiled. If you do, your sauerkraut will lose its sharpness, it will not be as sour as it should be, and simply put, it will not be right. If you take out the sauerkraut squeeze the juice out to keep the juice in the pot. Remember to store extra juice at the beginning when you pressing the cabbage. Put it in the fridge and use it to top up the earthenware. If you run out, use the salted, boiled water.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Clean regularly

Do not forget to remove the white stuff that regularly forms on the surface and on the walls of the earthenware container. Wipe the stone or wood that you used to weight the cabbage down. Last but not least, replace the water in the water plug.You will know right away if the plug ran out of water because the smell will be everywhere.

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán