Tips and secrets on how to store sauerkraut at home in the refrigerator

Sauerkraut is delicious and healthy. It is the leader among products in terms of vitamin C content. It is harvested in autumn, and then consumed throughout the winter.

How and how much you can store sauerkraut at home in the refrigerator (in bags, plastic containers) so that it does not deteriorate, read the article.

Storage preparation

Sauerkraut is harvested in large volumes, and then removed to a cool place.

Before storing a product, you need to properly prepare it. This stage includes the following steps:

1. Cleaning the head of cabbage from dirt, removing excess foliage from it. Only dense healthy forks are left for slicing.
2. Pruning cabbage stumps, rinsing vegetables in warm water and drying them.
3. Preparing cans or containers for storing products. The container must be thoroughly washed with hot water and baking soda.

   You can pour boiling water over the container to surely destroy all microbes. Some housewives prefer to steam sterilize jars.

Before proceeding with the final cutting, you need to assess the condition of the fork from the inside by cutting it into 2 halves. They should have a uniform color, no signs of rot, mold or other damage.

After completing all the preparatory activities, you need to start preparing the dish no later than 24 hours. If more than 24 hours have passed after washing and drying the heads, then they are not used for fermentation..

You will find a lot of useful information on how to store sauerkraut in this section.

How much and how to store in jars, plastic containers, vacuum bags?

Store sauerkraut in jars convenient, although they take up a lot of space in the refrigerator. However, glass is not afraid of contact with acids and does not emit harmful substances. The cans can be securely closed with a nylon or metal lid, which will restrict oxygen access.

The cabbage is stuffed into a jar as tightly as possible, after which it is poured with brine to the top, to which a small amount of vegetable oil is added. It acts as a preservative and does not affect the final taste of the dish.

Other products to extend shelf life cabbage:

• mustard seeds, wrapped in a cloth bag;
• mustard powder;
• cranberries;
• horseradish.

They are added when cooking.

In addition to cans, you can use plastic containers or vacuum bags... If you evacuate air from them, they will shrink and will not take up much space on the shelves. In such containers, products are stored for no more than 45 days.

Freezing and shelf life of the product

Sauerkraut can be frozen. After rapid cooling, it will not lose its taste and will be fit for consumption. and for the preparation of various dishes, although certain changes do occur to her.

So, cabbage stops crunching, its appearance worsens, the level of vitamin C decreases.

Procedure:

1. Dense and healthy heads of cabbage are selected, which are washed, cut and fermented.
2. The brine is drained, and the cabbage itself is squeezed. The less liquid it contains, the better.
3. The finished product is laid out in bags or containers. The weight of one package should not exceed 1 kg. Re-freezing is acceptable but not recommended.
4. It is not recommended to completely fill plastic bags, they should have up to 20% free space.
5. Excess air is expelled from the bags. If a plastic container is used, fill it to the top.
6. If the cabbage is frozen in several approaches, then each container must be marked.
7. They put the products in the freezer, on the top shelf. After 2-3 hours, it can be removed to the lower drawers.

The cabbage thaws quickly. At room temperature, it returns to its original state within an hour. After 2 hours, fermentation processes are started in it, acidity rises.

Helpful information

So that sauerkraut is stored longer and does not sour, you can use the following tips:

1. After the cabbage is fermented, it must be immediately removed into the cold. At room temperature, it will deteriorate and mold. You cannot eat such a product.
2. If you plan to store jars in the refrigerator for a long time, then you need to set the temperature in it not exceeding +4 degrees.
3. The jar must be tightly closed. The shelf life of such cabbage is 4 months. If the container is open, then the product will deteriorate in 3 days.
4. The cause of sour cabbage can be bacteria that are on the walls of the jar or container. Therefore, special attention should be paid to their processing.
5. Sugar can be used as a preservative. With it, the cabbage will be stored longer. Some housewives add vinegar to the brine, but it slightly changes the final taste of the product. Therefore, use it sparingly.
6. Freeze products without brine. You need to choose dense bags, thin plastic will tear and cabbage will have to be collected throughout the freezer.

The freezer comes to the rescue when cabbage in the main compartment of the refrigerator costs about 2 months. To prevent unused products from souring, they are transferred to bags and frozen.

Related videos

How to keep sauerkraut light and crispy in the refrigerator, the video will tell you:

Conclusion

You can store sauerkraut in the refrigerator. For 3-4 months it will stay fresh and edible.

Store it in jars, containers or plastic bags. If large volumes have been harvested, then you can put the cabbage in the freezer.