Sauerkraut has become quite the super food. Unfortunately, making your own takes a lot of time and effort. If you decide to throw a batch together you’ll want to do it in bulk so, what do you do with all that excess sauerkraut?
Can You Freeze Sauerkraut?
Yes, you can freeze sauerkraut for up to 6 months. Place it in a freezer-safe airtight container and ensure the lid is sealed whilst also ensuring as much air is removed as possible.
Do Does Sauerkraut freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Sauerkraut? Yes
How to Freeze Sauerkraut
Unfortunately, freezing sauerkraut is a little difficult. You need to ensure it is at the right condition. If it is overly fermented and nearing the end of its life then freezing it is not a good idea.
Once you’ve got a slightly fermented batch of sauerkraut, you can get to freezing it:
- Transfer to Containers: Transfer the sauerkraut to freezer-safe containers. Any freezer-safe container will work fine, but the best option is a good-quality, airtight one. You’ll want to avoid refreezing it where possible so portion it out at this point.
- Compress: Once the sauerkraut is in the container, press down on the top level quite hard. This will eliminate any air bubbles, which will prevent freezer burn from setting in down the line.
- Seal: Once pressed, add the airtight lid to the sauerkraut. This lid will prevent any humidity or condensation from establishing itself within the sauerkraut, a great way to prevent the sauerkraut from getting freezer burn.
- Freeze: Once sealed, place the sauerkraut in the centre of your freezer to keep it a long way from the frost front with a clear label that includes today’s date.
3 Tips for Freezing Sauerkraut
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing sauerkraut to have the best results:
Ensure the Container is Tightly Sealed
The container must be totally sealed to prevent the aroma and bacteria from the sauerkraut from spreading. Therefore, ensure that the clips, clasps, or latches on the container are firmly in place before putting the container into the freezer.
Expect the Bacteria to Die
The bacteria in your sauerkraut, which are the part of the food that is responsible for its reputation as good for gut health, will die in the freezer. A combination of a lack of oxygen and the cold does that to bacteria, which means that any health benefits may no longer work for you.
Try Freezing Before Fermenting
The āfoodā for the bacteria is the sugars within the veggies. To be sure that you keep it as fresh as possible, it may be worth freezing the ingredients, chopped and mixed together, and then pulling out different batches to ferment and eat in quick succession.
How Long Can You Freeze Sauerkraut?
You can freeze sauerkraut for around six months before freezer burn affects the texture of the food noticeably. After six months, you’ll notice a thin layer of ice forming on the surface of the sauerkraut.
Providing that the sauerkraut is kept in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and the cabbage remains submerged the sauerkraut will last for between 4 and 6 months in the fridge.
How Do You Defrost Sauerkraut?
The simplest method for thawing this food is to simply place it in the fridge overnight. This will allow it to thaw and still be stored at food-safe temperatures.
Can You Refreeze Sauerkraut?
Yes, you can refreeze sauerkraut.
However, the flavour will begin to taste a little staler with each repeated freezing – this will be quite negative for your meals.
Does Sauerkraut Freeze Well?
Yes, sauerkraut does freeze well – the flavour and texture when thawed are often not noticeably different from when the sauerkraut was totally fresh.
You may find that the vinegary, sour flavour is a little subdued once it has been frozen and thawed but it won’t be hugely noticeable.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing sauerkraut or sauerkraut in general, then these may help:
Cooked sauerkraut freezes okay but it will not be as punchy as raw sauerkraut. Instead, try to stick to freezing sauerkraut that has not been cooked for the best results.
Yes, you can freeze sauerkraut in a jar but if the jar is filled to the brim then there is a risk it will crack in the freezer. Instead, it’s better to freeze sauerkraut in plastic, rigid containers.
