All Topics  
Sauerkraut

 
Sauerkraut

   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link






 

Sauerkraut



 
 
Sauerkraut (German
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
: , Yiddish
Yiddish language

Yiddish is a non-territorial High German languages of Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. Unlike other such languages, Yiddish is written with the Hebrew alphabet as opposed to a Latin alphabet....
: ) is finely shredded cabbage
Cabbage

The cabbage is a leafy garden plant of the Family Brassicaceae , used as a Leaf vegetable. It is a herbaceous, biennial plant, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, forming a characteristic compact, globular cluster ....
 that has been fermented
Fermentation (food)

Fermentation in food processing typically refers to the conversion of sugar to alcohol using yeast under anaerobic conditions. A more general definition of fermentation is the chemical conversion of carbohydrates into alcohols or acids....
 by various lactic acid bacteria
Lactic acid bacteria

The Lactic Acid Bacteria comprise a clade of Gram-positive, low-GuanineCytosine, acid-tolerant, generally non-sporulating, non-respiring rod or cocci that are associated by their common metabolic and physiological characteristics....
, including Leuconostoc
Leuconostoc

Leuconostoc is a genus of Gram-positive bacterium, placed within the family of Leuconostocaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains....
, Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria. They are a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group, named as such because most of its members convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid....
, and Pediococcus
Pediococcus

Pediococcus is a genus of Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They usually occur in pairs or tetrads, and divide along two planes of symmetry, as do the other lactic acid cocci genera Aerococci and Tetragenococcus....
. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid
Lactic acid

Lactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemistry processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C3H6O3....
 that forms when the bacteria ferment the sugars in the cabbage. It is therefore not to be confused with coleslaw
Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a salad consisting primarily of shredded raw cabbage. It can also include shredded carrots.There are many variations of the recipe which include the addition of other ingredients, such as red cabbage, grated cheese, pineapple, or apple....
, which receives its acidic taste from vinegar
Vinegar

Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic acid . It also may come in a diluted form....
.

The word comes directly from the German language
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
, which literally translates to sour cabbage.






Nutrition Facts







Discussion
Ask a question about 'Sauerkraut'
Start a new discussion about 'Sauerkraut'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Sauerkraut (German
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
: , Yiddish
Yiddish language

Yiddish is a non-territorial High German languages of Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. Unlike other such languages, Yiddish is written with the Hebrew alphabet as opposed to a Latin alphabet....
: ) is finely shredded cabbage
Cabbage

The cabbage is a leafy garden plant of the Family Brassicaceae , used as a Leaf vegetable. It is a herbaceous, biennial plant, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, forming a characteristic compact, globular cluster ....
 that has been fermented
Fermentation (food)

Fermentation in food processing typically refers to the conversion of sugar to alcohol using yeast under anaerobic conditions. A more general definition of fermentation is the chemical conversion of carbohydrates into alcohols or acids....
 by various lactic acid bacteria
Lactic acid bacteria

The Lactic Acid Bacteria comprise a clade of Gram-positive, low-GuanineCytosine, acid-tolerant, generally non-sporulating, non-respiring rod or cocci that are associated by their common metabolic and physiological characteristics....
, including Leuconostoc
Leuconostoc

Leuconostoc is a genus of Gram-positive bacterium, placed within the family of Leuconostocaceae. They are generally ovoid cocci often forming chains....
, Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria. They are a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group, named as such because most of its members convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid....
, and Pediococcus
Pediococcus

Pediococcus is a genus of Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria, placed within the family of Lactobacillaceae. They usually occur in pairs or tetrads, and divide along two planes of symmetry, as do the other lactic acid cocci genera Aerococci and Tetragenococcus....
. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid
Lactic acid

Lactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemistry processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C3H6O3....
 that forms when the bacteria ferment the sugars in the cabbage. It is therefore not to be confused with coleslaw
Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a salad consisting primarily of shredded raw cabbage. It can also include shredded carrots.There are many variations of the recipe which include the addition of other ingredients, such as red cabbage, grated cheese, pineapple, or apple....
, which receives its acidic taste from vinegar
Vinegar

Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient, acetic acid . It also may come in a diluted form....
.

The word comes directly from the German language
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
, which literally translates to sour cabbage. Sauerkraut is a traditional German
German cuisine

German cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of Germany. It has evolved as a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change with variations from region to region....
, Serbian
Serbian cuisine

The Serbian cuisine is a heterogeneous one, influenced by Cuisine of the Mediterranean , Oriental and Austro-Hungarian.It has unique mix of various traditions; Serbian confectionery are places where koljivo, baklava, nut roll and sachertorte live in perfect harmony....
, Slovenian
Slovenian cuisine

There is no such thing as a single, uniform, distinct Slovenian cuisine. In the opinion of some experts, there are more than 40 distinct cuisines in a country, whose main distinguishing feature is a great variety and diversity of land formation, climate, wind movements, humidity, terrain and history....
, Croatian
Croatian cuisine

Croatian cuisine is heterogeneous and is therefore known as the cuisine of regions, since every region has its own distinct culinary traditions....
, Slovak
Slovak cuisine

Slovak cuisine varies slightly from region to region. It was influenced by the traditional cuisines of its neighbours and influenced these as well....
, Polish
Polish cuisine

Polish cuisine is a mixture of Slavs and Germanic culinary traditions. It is rich in meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables , and spices, as well as different kinds of noodles the most notable of which are the pierogi....
, and Czech food
Czech cuisine

Czech cuisine has both influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries. Many of the fine cakes and pastries that are popular in Central Europe originated in the Czech lands....
, but it is also a prominent feature of traditional cuisines of Belgium and The Netherlands
Dutch cuisine

Dutch cuisine is shaped by the practice of farming, including the cultivation of the soil for raising crops and the raising of domesticated animals and the history of the Netherlands of the Netherlands....
 (zuurkool), Estonia
Cuisine of Estonia

The traditional cuisine of Estonia uses meat and potatoes varieties, which today is influenced by many countries. Today it includes many typical international foods....
 (hapukapsas), Latvia
Cuisine of Latvia

Latvian cuisine typically consists of agricultural products, and meat features in most of the dishes. Since Latvia is situated on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, fish dishes are also often served....
 (skabi kaposti), Lithuania (rauginti kopustai), Denmark (surkĺl) and other Northern
Northern Europe

Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as including the following countries and dependent regions:...
, Central
Central Europe

Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern Europe and Western Europe Europe. In addition, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Southeastern Europe may variously delimit or overlap into Central Europe....
 and East European cuisines, such as the Northern parts of Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino)
List of Italian dishes

These dishes are representative of Italian cuisine....
, Romanian
Romanian cuisine

Romanian cuisine is diverse. It blends different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character....
, Serbian
Serbian cuisine

The Serbian cuisine is a heterogeneous one, influenced by Cuisine of the Mediterranean , Oriental and Austro-Hungarian.It has unique mix of various traditions; Serbian confectionery are places where koljivo, baklava, nut roll and sachertorte live in perfect harmony....
, Bulgarian
Bulgarian cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe. Essentially South Slavic, it shows Turkish cuisine, Greek cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine influences, and to a lesser extent Armenian cuisine, Italian cuisine, Mediterranean cuisine and Hungarian cuisine ones....
, Russian
Russian cuisine

Russian cuisine derives its rich and varied character from the vast and multicultural expanse of Russia. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in an often harsh climate, with a combination of plentiful fish, poultry, game , mushrooms, Berry, and honey....
, Ukrainian
Ukrainian cuisine

Ukrainian cuisine has a rich history and offers a wide variety of dishes. The cuisine of modern Ukraine is based on traditional Ukrainian recipes, Ukrainian recipes also bears influences from its neighbors' cuisines like Russian cuisine, German cuisine, Turkish cuisine and Polish cuisine, Lithuanian cuisine, and what can be called the Soviet...
, Hungarian and Belarusian
Belarusian cuisine

Belarusian cuisine derives from the same sources as those of its neighbours - Lithuanian cuisine, Cuisine of Ukraine, Polish cuisine, and in later times Russian cuisine....
. It is also part of the native cuisine of Alsace Lorraine in North Eastern France (choucroute). Finally, it is no less popular in many parts of Northeast China
Northeast China

Northeast China is a geographical region of China. It is separated from Russia largely by the Amur, Argun, and Ussuri rivers, from North Korea by the Yalu River and Tumen River, and from the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region by the Greater Khingan Range....
, Northern China
Northern China

Northern China or North China may mean:* North China* North China Plain* Northern and southern China - rough geographic regions in China...
, the USA, Chile
Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean....
 (chucrut), and Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
.

History

Fermentation of cabbages in salt and acidic liquids dates back to prehistoric times and probably was described first by Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder

Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient author, naturalist or natural philosopher and naval and military commander of some importance who wrote Natural History ....
 during the first century AD. Modern preparation techniques are thought to have been developed sometime between AD1550 and 1750.

In his 1772 Treatise on Scurvy, James Lind
James Lind

James Lind was a pioneer of naval hygiene in the Royal Navy. By conducting the first ever clinical trial, he developed the theory that citrus fruits cured scurvy....
 discussed the ability of German seamen to withstand long sea voyages without succumbing to scurvy
Scurvy

Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus....
 compared to seamen from other countries, and pointed to their consumption of fermented cabbage as a defining difference.

In 1776, Captain James Cook
James Cook

Captain James Cook Royal Society Royal Navy was an English explorer, navigator and cartographer, ultimately rising to the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy....
 was awarded the Copley Medal
Copley Medal

The Copley Medal is an award given by the Royal Society of London for "outstanding achievements in research in any branch of science, and alternates between the physical sciences and the biological sciences"....
 for demonstrating that sauerkraut could be used to allay scurvy in British crews on long sea voyages.

Preparation


Storage

Traditionally, sauerkraut is prepared in a stoneware crock and the seal is created with a piece of wet linen cloth, a board, and a heavy stone. This arrangement is not fully airtight and will lead to spoiled sauerkraut unless the surface of the brine is skimmed daily to remove molds and other aerobic
Aerobic organism

An aerobic organism or aerobe is an organism that can survive and grow in an oxygenated environment....
 contaminants that grow on the surface where there is contact with air.

An alternative that avoids this problem is a type of ceramic jar that has a trough around its lid. When this trough is filled with water, the result is an airtight seal.

Glass canning jars with clamped threadless lids may also be used effectively.

Commercial-scale sauerkraut production typically employs large airtight plastic barrels fitted with one-way valves for the gas to escape.

Whatever kind of vessel is used, it must allow the escape of fermentation gases.

Fermentation

Choucroute P1030189
Sauerkraut is made by a process of pickling
Pickling

Pickling, also known as brining or corning, is the process of preserving food by Anaerobic organism fermentation in brine , to produce lactic acid bacteria, or marination and storing it in an acid solution, usually vinegar ....
 called lacto-fermentation that is analogous to how traditional (not heat-treated) pickled cucumber
Pickled cucumber

A pickled cucumber, most often simply called a pickle in the United States and Canada, is a cucumber that has been Pickling in a brine, vinegar, or other solutions and left to ferment for a period of time....
s are made. Fully-cured sauerkraut keeps for several months in an airtight container stored at or below 15°C (59°F). Neither refrigeration nor pasteurization
Pasteurization

Pasteurization is a process which slows microbial growth in foods. The process was named after its creator, France chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur....
 is required, although these treatments may prolong storage life. However, pasteurization will destroy all of the beneficial digestive enzymes and lactic acid bacteria, as well as the valuable vitamin C content, so it greatly diminishes the nutritional value without any significant benefit.

No special culture of lactic acid bacteria is needed because these bacteria already are present on raw cabbage. Yeasts also are present, and may yield soft sauerkraut of poor flavor when the fermentation temperature is too high. The fermentation process has three phases. In the first phase, anaerobic
Anaerobic organism

An anaerobic organism is any organism that does not require oxygen for growth and may even die in its presence....
 bacteria such as Klebsiella
Klebsiella

Klebsiella is a genus of motility, Gram-negative, Oxidase test rod shaped bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide-based Capsule . Frequent human pathogens, Klebsiella organisms can lead to a wide range of disease states, notably pneumonia, urinary tract infections, septicemia, Ankylosing spondylitis, and soft tissue infections....
 and Enterobacter
Enterobacter

Enterobacter is a genus of common Gram-negative, Facultative anaerobic organism, bacillus bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Several strains of the these bacteria are pathogen and cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts....
 lead the fermentation, and begin producing an acid environment that favours later bacteria. The second phase starts as the acid levels become too high for many bacteria, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides
Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Leuconostoc mesenteroides is a species of bacteria sometimes associated with Fermentation , under conditions of salinity and low temperatures....
 and other Leuconostoc spp. take dominance. In the third phase, various Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria. They are a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group, named as such because most of its members convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid....
 species including L. brevis
Lactobacillus brevis

Lactobacillus brevis is a species of lactic acid bacteria. It can be found in many different environments and in fermentation such as sauerkraut and pickling....
 and L. plantarum
Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum is a widespread member of the genus Lactobacillus, commonly found in many fermented food products as well as anaerobic plant matter....
 ferment any remaining sugars, further lowering the pH
PH

pH is a measure of the Acid or Base of a solution. It is defined as the cologarithm of the Activity of dissolved hydrogen ions . Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be measured experimentally, so they are based on theoretical calculations....
.

Salt (sodium chloride
Sodium chloride

Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or halite, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula SodiumChlorine....
) is a major component in both the fermentation process and the flavour profile of sauerkraut, and typically is added in proportions between 0.6% and 2% relative to the amount of cabbage. For preparation at home, the USDA
United States Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive departments responsible for developing and executing Federal government of the United States policy on farming, agriculture, and food....
 recommends a greater amount of salt than is traditional, making the sauerkraut unpalatably salty unless rinsed before eating. Such rinsing removes much of the nutrient content and flavor. When traditional amounts of salt are used, temperature control is critical, because spoilage leading to food poisoning can occur if the fermentation temperature is too high. However, once made, sauerkraut is a very safe food because its high acidity prevents spoilage. USDA also recommends pasteurizing sauerkraut for storage. This is not necessary if the raw sauerkraut has been properly made and stored, and will needlessly diminish the nutritional value. A slimy or excessively soft texture, discoloration, or off-flavor may indicate spoilage.

Serving

Sauerkraut is a common and traditional ingredient in Estonian cuisine, Bulgarian cuisine
Bulgarian cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe. Essentially South Slavic, it shows Turkish cuisine, Greek cuisine and Middle Eastern cuisine influences, and to a lesser extent Armenian cuisine, Italian cuisine, Mediterranean cuisine and Hungarian cuisine ones....
, Austrian cuisine
Cuisine of Austria

Austrian Cuisine or "?sterreichische K?che" in German, is a style of cuisine native to Austria and composed of influences from throughout the former Austro-Hungarian Empire....
, Hungarian cuisine, German cuisine
German cuisine

German cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of Germany. It has evolved as a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change with variations from region to region....
, Russian cuisine
Russian cuisine

Russian cuisine derives its rich and varied character from the vast and multicultural expanse of Russia. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in an often harsh climate, with a combination of plentiful fish, poultry, game , mushrooms, Berry, and honey....
, Alsatian
Alsace

Alsace is the fourth-smallest of the 26 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the sixth-most densely populated region in France , with 222 inhabitants per km? ....
 French cuisine
French cuisine

French cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of France. It evolved from centuries of social and political change. The Middle Ages brought lavish banquets to the upper class with ornate, heavily seasoned food prepared by chefs such as Guillaume Tirel....
, Dutch cuisine
Dutch cuisine

Dutch cuisine is shaped by the practice of farming, including the cultivation of the soil for raising crops and the raising of domesticated animals and the history of the Netherlands of the Netherlands....
, Romanian cuisine
Romanian cuisine

Romanian cuisine is diverse. It blends different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character....
, Polish cuisine
Polish cuisine

Polish cuisine is a mixture of Slavs and Germanic culinary traditions. It is rich in meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables , and spices, as well as different kinds of noodles the most notable of which are the pierogi....
, Czech cuisine
Czech cuisine

Czech cuisine has both influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries. Many of the fine cakes and pastries that are popular in Central Europe originated in the Czech lands....
, Slovak cuisine
Slovak cuisine

Slovak cuisine varies slightly from region to region. It was influenced by the traditional cuisines of its neighbours and influenced these as well....
 and other cuisines of Northern
Northern Europe

Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as including the following countries and dependent regions:...
 and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is a term that applies to the geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the Europe. Throughout history and to a lesser extent today, parts of Eastern Europe has been distinguishable from Western Europe and other regions due to cultural, religious, economic, and historical reasons, even though there i...
, as well as in northern China
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. It also is eaten in the Friuli
Friuli

Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e....
 and Trentino Alto Adige regions of Italy
Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
, where it is called capuzi garbi and crauti, respectively.

Sauerkraut may be eaten raw and unadorned; in this form it is often eaten as a relish
Relish

A relish is a cooking pickling, chopped vegetable or fruit food item which is typically used as a condiment. The item generally consists of discernible vegetable or fruit pieces in a sauce, although the sauce is subordinate in character to the vegetable or fruit pieces....
 with meat dishes, for example, as condiment on bratwurst
Bratwurst

A bratwurst is a sausage composed of pork, beef, or veal.The name is German language, derived from Old High German br?twurst, from br?t- which is fine chopped meat and -wurst, sausage....
, weisswurst, or North American hot dog
Hot dog

A hot dog is a type of fully cooked, curing and/or Smoking moist sausage of soft, even texture and flavor. It is usually placed hot in a soft, sliced hot dog bun of approximately the same length as the sausage, and optionally garnished with condiments and toppings....
s. Raw sauerkraut dressed with oil and onion
Onion

Onion is a term used for many plants in the genus Allium. They are known by the common name "onion" but, used without qualifiers, it usually refers to Allium cepa....
s is served as a salad
Salad

Salad is a mixture of cold or hot foods, usually including vegetables and/or fruits, often with a dressing, occasionally nuts or croutons, and sometimes with the addition of meat, fish, pasta, cheese, eggs, or whole grains....
, while warmed sauerkraut is also commonly served on a rueben sandwich.

Variations


Variations include sauerkraut prepared from whole cabbages or leaves instead of shredded strips. Sometimes other vegetables such as carrots may be added. Spices may be added; caraway
Caraway

Caraway or Persian cumin is a biennial plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Europe and western Asia.The plant is similar in appearance to a carrot plant, with finely divided, feathery leaves with thread-like divisions, growing on 20?30 cm stems....
 and juniper
Juniper

Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the mountains of Central America....
 berries are traditional. In some variations, wine may be added. Red cabbage can be used to make a red sauerkraut. When sauerkraut is made from turnip
Turnip

The turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender, varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as fodder for livestock....
s or rutabaga
Rutabaga

The rutabaga, swede , or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip. Its leaves can also be eaten as a leaf vegetable....
s, the product is called Sauerrüben.

Sauerkraut has been a long-time staple in many European countries, e.g., the Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
, Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
, and Poland
Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian Enclave and exclave, to the north....
 (raw as kiszona kapusta or in a dish as bigos
Bigos

Bigos is a traditional stew typical of Polish cuisine cuisine and Lithuanian cuisine cuisine that many consider to be the Polish national dish....
), France (the popularity of the dish in Alsace
Alsace

Alsace is the fourth-smallest of the 26 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the sixth-most densely populated region in France , with 222 inhabitants per km? ....
 has spread sauerkraut (choucroute in French) to other regions of the country), Latvia
Latvia

Latvia The Latvians are a Baltic peoples culturally related to the Estonians and Lithuanians, with the Latvian language having many similarities with Lithuanian language, but not with the Estonian language....
 (popularly known as skabi kaposti), Estonia
Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, to the west by Sweden across the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by the Russia ....
 (known as hapukapsas and often prepared with cumin
Cumin

Cumin is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native from the east Mediterranean to East India....
 or cranberries), as well as in Lithuania
Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest....
 (rauginti kopustai).

Common ingredients in warm sauerkraut dishes (besides those already mentioned) are bacon
Bacon

Bacon is a cut of meat taken from the sides, belly, or back of a pig, then Curing , Smoking , or both. Meat from other animals, such as beef, Lamb and mutton, chicken, goat, or turkey , may also be cut, cured, or otherwise prepared to resemble bacon....
, caraway seeds, and apple
APPLE

This article is about the satellite APPLE. For the fruit apple, see Apple. For other uses see Apple .The Ariane Passenger PayLoad Experiment , was an experimental communication satellite with a C-Band transponder launched by Indian Space Research Organisation satellite on June 19, 1981 by Ariane 1, a launch vehicle of the European Spac...
s.

Germany
Sauerkraut has long been associated with German cuisine, although also other Europeans consume a large amount of sauerkraut and it has long been a staple of their diets.

A popular German dish combines warmed sauerkraut with Schupfnudeln (potato noodles, the German equivalent of gnocchi
Gnocchi

Gnocchi is the Italian name for a variety of thick, soft noodle or dumpling. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients....
).

Hungary
In Hungary
Hungary

Hungary , officially in English the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia....
, sauerkraut is known as savanyúkáposzta (lit. "sourcabbage") and is widely consumed raw especially during winter, as the uncooked version is a powerful source of vitamine C. It is also consumed as a raw accompanion for sausages or other meat dishes. A popular cooked version is székelykáposzta (lit. "Székely
Székely

The Sz?kely or Szekler people , are a Hungarian language ethnic group. They are an ethnic subgroup of the Hungarian nation. It is now generally accepted that they are true Hungarian people, or Magyars, transplanted there to guard the frontier, their name meaning simply ?frontier guards.? Their organization was of the Turkic type, and t...
 cabbage") which basically is sauerkraut cooked and seasoned together with pörkölt
Pörkölt

P?rk?lt is a meat stew which originates from Hungary, but is eaten throughout Central Europe and the Balkans ....
 and served warm, with sour cream (Tejföl) topping and bread.

Poland
Sauerkraut, known in Polish
Polish language

Polish , an official language of Poland, has the largest number of speakers of any West Slavic languages. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner through most of Poland, and it has a regular orthography....
 as kiszona kapusta or kwaszona kapusta (both lit. "sour cabbage" or "pickled cabbage"), is a popular part of Polish cuisine
Polish cuisine

Polish cuisine is a mixture of Slavs and Germanic culinary traditions. It is rich in meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables , and spices, as well as different kinds of noodles the most notable of which are the pierogi....
. During its preparation other ingredients are often added (like sliced carrot, onion, garlic, cumin) depending on a region or family traditions (in many homes kwaszona kapusta is still prepared in big barrels before winter). It is used in a variety of ways. As a side dish it may be served cold on its own or with addition of other vegetables, this used to be a very popular source of vegetables when no fresh were available during winter months. It may be also served hot, gently fried on a pan with onion, black pepper and cumin. Kwaszona kapusta can also be used as a main dish, as in bigos
Bigos

Bigos is a traditional stew typical of Polish cuisine cuisine and Lithuanian cuisine cuisine that many consider to be the Polish national dish....
 (a stew of sauerkraut, meats and spices) or kapusniak (a soup based on sauerkraut). It can also be an ingredient in many other dishes, like pierogi (dumpling
Dumpling

Dumplings, as defined in a standard English dictionary, fall in two main categories: these are either "piece[s] of dough, sometimes filled, that are cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or alternatively "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit, such as an apple, baked and served as a dessert." More generally, dumplings may be any of a wi...
s) filled with sauerkraut or with sauerkraut and mushrooms. In some regions one of the traditional Christmas Eve Supper (Wigilia
Wigilia

Wigilia is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24.Wigilia comes from the Latin word vigilare, "to watch", and literally means 'eve'....
) dishes is kapusta z grochem, lit. cabbage with peas, and sauerkraut is used in its preparation.

France
In France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, the traditional sauerkraut dish is choucroute garnie
Choucroute garnie

Choucroute garnie is a famous Alsace recipe for preparing sauerkraut with sausages and other Salting meats and charcuterie, and often potatoes....
 (garnished sauerkraut): a one-dish meal of sauerkraut, sausage
Sausage

A sausage is a prepared food, usually made from ground meat, animal fat, salt, and spices , typically packed in a casing . Sausage making is a traditional food preservation technique....
s, pieces of meat such as ham knuckle
Eisbein

, literally ice leg/bone, is the German name for a culinary dish involving the lower part of a ham hock. It is also known as Hachse, Hechse, Haxe, H?msche, B?tel or Stelze....
, and perhaps potato
Potato

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial plant Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family. The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well....
es, all cooked together in goose
Goose

Goose is the English-language name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
 fat. Typical accompaniment beverages are beer
Beer

Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and Fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal?the most common of which is malted barley, although wheat, maize , and rice are widely used....
 or white wine
Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage often made of fermentation grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients....
 (Riesling
Riesling

Riesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity....
). The annual consumption of sauerkraut in France is 900g/inhabitant.

Canada
Cabbage sauerkraut is a common addition to sausages and hot dogs, and its manufacture is sometimes associated with communities with certain European origins, such as Lunenburg
Lunenburg

Lunenburg was the form customary in eighteenth-century English for L?neburg, the city and region in Germany. It therefore occurs in several placenames in North America....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada located on Canada's southeastern coast. It is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada....
, where it is produced by M.A. Hatt & Son Ltd.

Bulgaria
In Bulgaria
Bulgaria

The state of Bulgaria , Scientific transliteration Balgarija, officially the Republic of Bulgaria has played a significant role in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe for over fourteen centuries....
, it is used in various dishes, especially in chicken and pork stews. Sauerkraut (literally "sour cabbage") is sometimes served when cold in salads, usually seasoned with oil and paprika
Paprika

Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of many dried sweet red or green bell peppers . In many European countries, the word paprika also refers to bell peppers themselves....
. The Suerkraut salty brine (literally "cabbage soup") is commonly used in Bulgaria for drinking or as a soup base, as well as a typical Bulgarian 'cure' for hangover.

Netherlands
Sauerkraut
In the Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
 it is often served mixed with mashed potatoes, gravy and a smoked sausage
Rookworst

Rookworst is a type of Netherlands sausage in which ground meat is mixed with spices and salt and stuffed into a casing . Originally the casing used was a natural intestine, but these days the casing is usually made of bovine collagen....
.

United States
Immigrants to the United States from Germany (e.g. the Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch

The Pennsylvania Dutch are the descendants of German people immigrants who came to Pennsylvania prior to 1800. According to Don Yoder, a Pennsylvania German expert and retired University of Pennsylvania professor, the word "Dutch" in this case owes its origin to an archaic meaning where it designated groups that are today considered Ger...
) and other European regions brought their traditional preparation methods and appreciation of this food, adding such ingredients as heimgriches, or "mountain lopers". Pork and Sauerkraut is an extremely popular meal for New Year's Day
New Year's Day

New Year's Day is the first day of the new year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome ....
 in Pennsylvania, an example of the culture left from the Pennsylvania Dutch. It is thought that eating sauerkraut on this day brings good luck. Sauerkraut's popularity in Europe and America continues today, although in somewhat reduced measure due to the convenience of modern alternative preserving methods.

Kraut juice
Kraut juice

Kraut juice is a beverage made of the liquid in which sauerkraut is curing. It is widely available in the parts of the U.S. Northeast and Midwest where Germany immigrants settled, such as central and western Pennsylvania....
 is a regional beverage in the USA that consists of the liquid in which sauerkraut is cured. It is the juice of the vegetable itself and the pickling brine.

Sauerkraut is a key ingredient in the Reuben sandwich
Reuben sandwich

The Reuben sandwich is a grilled or toasted sandwich made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and either Dijon mustard, Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing....
. It is also a popular topping for sausages such as bratwurst
Bratwurst

A bratwurst is a sausage composed of pork, beef, or veal.The name is German language, derived from Old High German br?twurst, from br?t- which is fine chopped meat and -wurst, sausage....
 and hot dogs.

East Asia
Sauerkraut is similar to many ancient Northeastern Asian dishes, including Korean kimchi
Kimchi

Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings, most commonly referring to the spicy baechu variety....
 and other fermented vegetables. In Northeast China, people make the same dish called suancai, which also literally translates as, "sour vegetable".

Russia
In Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
, sour berries such as cranberry
Cranberry

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos, or in some treatments, in the distinct genus Oxycoccos....
, or bits of finely chopped vegetables and fruit, such as carrots or apples, may be added prior to fermenting to enhance flavour. Beet
Beet

The beet is a plant in the Amaranthaceae. It is best known its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is probably the red root vegetable known as the garden beet....
s also may be added to give the cabbage a red color. Sauerkraut (literally "soured cabbage") is often served with sugar or vegetable (mostly sunflower) oil.

South America
Many people in Argentina
Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic , is a country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city....
 also eat sauerkraut, and in Chile
Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean....
, as "chucrut", is part of the popular "porgusto", a french bread that (usually, but ingredients may vary) combines it with tap water and eggplant.

Serbia
The local name is "kiseli kupus" ("sour cabbage"). Usually, the cabbage is left in one piece, removing just the root and the stalk. The cabbages are then placed in a barrel and the barrel is filled with cooked salty water, which allows the cabbage to ferment. The leaves of fermented cabbage heads are used for a national dish "sarma
Sarma

Sarma may refer to:*Sarma , Brahmin surname in India*Sarma , a dish found primarily in the cuisines of the Middle East and central Europe*Sarma , three newest schools of Tibetan Buddhism...
". They can also be used boiled with a meat, or fresh as a salad
Salad

Salad is a mixture of cold or hot foods, usually including vegetables and/or fruits, often with a dressing, occasionally nuts or croutons, and sometimes with the addition of meat, fish, pasta, cheese, eggs, or whole grains....
. To prepare sarma, the leaves are stuffed with minced meat and rice, then cooked.

rasol ("cabbage juice")
The liquid fermentation extract ("cabbage juice") obtained as a secondary product during this way of cabbage processing is called "rasol". Besides being refreshing, it is considered as an excellent natural dietary supplement
Dietary supplement

A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to provide nutrients, such as vitamins, Dietary minerals, fatty acids or amino acids, that are missing or are not consumed in sufficient quantity in a person's diet ....
 since it`s extremely rich in vitamin C
Vitamin C

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for humans, a large number of simian species, a small number of other mammalian species , a few species of birds, and some fish....
, as well as vitamins of B group
B vitamins

The B vitamins are eight water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in Cell metabolism. Historically, the B vitamins were once thought to be a single vitamin, referred to as vitamin B ....
, E
Vitamin E

Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related a-, ?-, ?-, and d-tocopherols and the corresponding four tocotrienols, which are fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties....
, K
Vitamin K

Vitamin K denotes a group of lipophilic, hydrophobic vitamins that are needed for the posttranslational modification of certain proteins, mostly required for blood coagulation....
, rare U and potassium
Potassium

Potassium is a chemical element. It has the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash, hence the name....
 (475 mg), calcium
Calcium

Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth's Crust ....
, phosphorus
Phosphorus

Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. The name comes from the and . A Valency nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus is commonly found in inorganic phosphate minerals....
, sulphur, iron
Iron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. Iron is a Group 8 element and period 4 element. Iron is lustrous and silvery in color....
, copper
Copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity....
, zinc
Zinc

Zinc is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a first-row transition metal of the group 12 element of the periodic table....
, magnesium
Magnesium

Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, atomic weight 24.3050 and common oxidation number +2.Magnesium, an alkaline earth metal, is the ninth most abundance of the chemical elements in the universe by mass....
 and lactic acid
Lactic acid

Lactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemistry processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C3H6O3....
 .


Croatia
In Croatia
Croatia

Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a Central European country at the crossroads of Pannonian Plain, Balkans, and the Mediterranean Sea....
 it is called "kiseli kupus" or ""kiselo zelje", whereas in Istria it is known as "capuzi garbi" and "crauti" due to its long-standing Austrian and Venetian traditions and history. Its preparation, mostly influenced by the German version is usually a mixture of "German" and "Serbian" versions. Most of the cabbage is shredded, but several cabbage heads are left unshredded (stalk removed) and placed in the shredded cabbage mass, to be used for sarma.

Health and nutrition


Health benefits

Raw sauerkraut is an extremely healthful food. It is an excellent source of vitamin C
Vitamin C

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient for humans, a large number of simian species, a small number of other mammalian species , a few species of birds, and some fish....
, lactobacilli
Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of Gram-positive facultative anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria. They are a major part of the lactic acid bacteria group, named as such because most of its members convert lactose and other sugars to lactic acid....
, and other nutrients. However, the low pH
PH

pH is a measure of the Acid or Base of a solution. It is defined as the cologarithm of the Activity of dissolved hydrogen ions . Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be measured experimentally, so they are based on theoretical calculations....
 and abundance of healthful lactobacilli may upset the intestines of people who are not used to eating acidic foods. (In such cases, it is advisable to eat small amounts daily until the person's digestive system adjusts.)

Before frozen food
Frozen food

Frozen food is food preserved by the process of freezing. Freezing food is a common method of food preservation which slows both food Decomposition and, by turning water to ice, makes it unavailable for most bacteriuml growth and slows down most chemical reactions....
s and the importation of foods from the Southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere

The Southern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is south of the equator?the word sphere literally means 'half ball'. It is also that half of the celestial sphere south of the celestial equator....
 became readily available in northern
Northern Europe

Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as including the following countries and dependent regions:...
 and central Europe
Central Europe

Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern Europe and Western Europe Europe. In addition, Northern Europe, Southern Europe and Southeastern Europe may variously delimit or overlap into Central Europe....
, sauerkraut provided a vital source of the aforementioned nutrients during the winter. Captain James Cook
James Cook

Captain James Cook Royal Society Royal Navy was an English explorer, navigator and cartographer, ultimately rising to the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy....
 always took a store of sauerkraut on his sea voyages, since experience had taught him that it was an effective preventative of scurvy
Scurvy

Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus....
 .

It is now known that the preservation of sauerkraut in an anaerobic
Anaerobic

Anaerobic is a technical word which literally means without air , as opposed to aerobic .In wastewater treatment the absence of oxygen is indicated as anoxic; and anaerobic is used to indicate the absence of a common electron acceptor such as nitrate, sulfate or oxygen....
 environment (in the brine
Brine

File:Kissingen-Solepumpe-1848.JPGFile:Kissingen-Solepumpe-1848-2.JPGBrine is water Saturation or nearly saturated with a Salt .It is used to preserve vegetables, fish, and meat, in a process known as brining ....
) keeps the vitamin C in it from being oxidized. There is some evidence that indicates that kimchi
Kimchi

Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings, most commonly referring to the spicy baechu variety....
, and by extension sauerkraut, may be used to treat avian influenza in birds. Currently, there is no evidence of its effect on human cases.

Sauerkraut is also a source of biogenic amine
Biogenic amine

A biogenic amine is a biogenic substance with an amine group....
s such as tyramine
Tyramine

In organic chemistry chemistry tyramine is a monoamine Chemical compound derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine can cause the release of stored monoamines, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine....
, which may cause adverse reactions in sensitive people. It also provides various cancer-fighting compounds including ITC
ITC

ITC may stand for:*Instrumental transcommunication a form of mediumship using electrical devices*International Tin Council*International Touring Car Championship, the 1995/1996 version of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft...
 and sulphoraphane.



"Rasol" is also credited with high medical qualities; its consumption is recommended for flu
Human flu

Human flu is a term used to refer to influenza cases caused by Orthomyxoviridae that are endemic to human populations . It is an arbritary categorization scheme, and is not associated with phylogenetics-based taxonomy....
 prevention
Prevention (medical)

In medicine, prevention is any activity which reduces the burden of mortality or morbidity from disease. This takes place at primary, secondary and tertiary prevention levels....
, as a gastroregulator for a variety of gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal tract

The digestive tract is the system of Organ s within multicellular animals that takes in food, digestion it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste....
 conditions, from diarrhea
Diarrhea

In medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea , is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. The spelling of "diarrhea" is an appropriation of the Greek "diarrhoia" meaning "a flowing through." ....
 to constipation
Constipation

Constipation, costiveness, or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system in which a person experiences hard feces that are difficult to expel....
, ulcers
Peptic ulcer

A peptic ulcer, also known as ulcus pepticum, PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is an ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful....
, bronchitis
Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchus in the lungs. It can progress to pneumonia. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks....
 and various other digestive
Digestive disease

All diseases that pertain to the gastrointestinal tract are labelled as digestive diseases. This includes diseases of the esophagus, stomach, first, second and third part of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, the ileo-cecal complex, large intestine sigmoid colon and rectum....
 and respiratory diseases and disorders, anemia
Anemia

Anemia or an?mia/anaemia is defined as a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a protein found inside red blood cells ....
, but its most popular use in the regions where it's produced has always been as a major remedy
Home remedy

A home remedy is a treatment to cure a disease or ailment that employs certain spices, vegetables, or other common items. Home remedies may or may not have medicinal properties that treat or cure the disease or ailment in question, as they are typically passed along by laypersons ....
 against hangover
Hangover

A hangover describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of drugs, particularly alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to photophobia and phonophobia, lethargy, dysphoria, and thirst....
, since it not only drives away the headache
Headache

In medicine a headache or wiktionary:cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and sometimes neck. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies....
, but it also neutralises the effects of alcoholic intoxication
Drunkenness

Drunkenness or inebriation is the state of being intoxicated by consumption of alcoholic beverages to a degree that mental and physical faculties are noticeably impaired and/or skewed....
 on the stomach
Stomach

In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication....
 and intestinal
Intestine

In anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the Gastrointestinal tract extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine....
 mucosa and cleans the liver
Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, a few of which are detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion....
.

Similar foods

There are many other vegetables that are preserved by a similar process.
  • Korean kimchi
    Kimchi

    Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings, most commonly referring to the spicy baechu variety....
  • Japanese
    Japanese cuisine

    Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of Shogun rule....
     tsukemono
    Tsukemono

    are Japanese Pickling. They are served with rice as okazu , and sometimes with Drink as an sakana .The most common kinds are pickled in Edible salt or brine....
  • Filipino
    Cuisine of the Philippines

    Philippine cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malay world roots to a cuisine of predominantly Spanish Cuisine base, due to the many Latin American and Spanish dishes brought to the islands during the History of the Philippines ....
     atchara
    Atchara

    Atchara is a Filipino cuisine dish made of primarily pickling papaya. The word itself is probably an adaptation of the Indian word for pickle, Achaar....
  • Chinese
    Northeastern Chinese cuisine

    Northeastern Chinese cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine in Northeastern China. Many dishes originated from Manchu cuisine. It relies heavily on preserved foods and hearty fare due to the harsh winters and relatively short growing seasons....
     suan cai
    Suan cai

    Suan cai...
  • Indonesian sayur asin
Also a feed for cattle
Cattle

Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domestication ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat , dairy products , leather and as draft animals ....
, silage
Silage

File:Cattle eating corn silage.jpgSilage is fermentation , high-moisture fodder that can be fed to ruminants or used as a biofuel feedstock for anaerobic digesters....
, is made the same way.

There is a dessert known as sauerkraut candy which is a penuche
Penuche

Penuche is a fudge-like candy made from brown sugar, butter, and milk, using no flavorings except for vanilla. Penuche often has a tannish color to it and is lighter than regular fudge....
 made with coconut
Coconut

The Coconut Palm is a member of the Family Arecaceae . It is the only species in the genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaf 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth....
 flakes. While this candy resembles sauerkraut visually, it does not necessarily contain sauerkraut as an ingredient.

Cultural references

  • American soldiers in World War II referred to German soldiers as "Krauts", in reference to the sauerkraut the German soldiers were known to consume at that time, which was typically bitter and sour. The word is still used as an ethnic slur against people of German descent.
  • During World War I, due to concerns the American public would reject a product with a German name, American sauerkraut makers relabeled their product as "Liberty cabbage
    Liberty cabbage

    Liberty cabbage was an American euphemism for "sauerkraut." It was introduced in the United States during World War I, but was rarely used thereafter....
    " for the duration of the war.
  • In the USA, there is an annual sauerkraut festival held in and also in .
  • The area of Europe where sauerkraut is probably the most typical regional dish is around Leinfelden-Echterdingen
    Leinfelden-Echterdingen

    Leinfelden-Echterdingen is a town in the Esslingen , in Baden-W?rttemberg, Germany. It is located approx. 10 km south of Stuttgart, near the Stuttgart Airport....
    . The town, where the Stuttgart Airport
    Stuttgart Airport

    Stuttgart Airport is an international airport located approximately 8 miles south of Stuttgart city centre, Germany.The airport lies on the boundary between the nearby town of Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Filderstadt and Stuttgart itself....
     is located, holds an annual "Krautfest" around the middle of October. The event has taken place since 1978 and attracts as many as 40,000 visitors.


See also


  • Foods containing tyramine
  • Pickling
    Pickling

    Pickling, also known as brining or corning, is the process of preserving food by Anaerobic organism fermentation in brine , to produce lactic acid bacteria, or marination and storing it in an acid solution, usually vinegar ....
  • Kimchi
    Kimchi

    Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean pickled dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings, most commonly referring to the spicy baechu variety....
  • Kraut
    Kraut

    The German language word Kraut when standing alone in English is used most frequently as a colloquial term for Germany people. Kraut is also used as an abbreviation for the traditional German and central European food, sauerkraut....
  • Bratwurst
    Bratwurst

    A bratwurst is a sausage composed of pork, beef, or veal.The name is German language, derived from Old High German br?twurst, from br?t- which is fine chopped meat and -wurst, sausage....
     (Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and potatoes being a traditional dish in various parts of the German-speaking world)


Bibliography

  • USDA Canning guides, Volume 7


External links