Recipe - Crock Sauerkraut

50 pound Cabbage
1 One half cup Canning/pickling salt

Use pure finegranulated canning/pickling salt to make sauerkraut and do
measure the salt accurately use a knife to level the tablespoon. The
cabbage will not ferment properly if you add too much salt. To put down 50
lbs of cabbage, you will need a 10gallon stoneware crock or a glass
container (or two 4gal. crocks).

Follow each step explicitly. You will see the word scalded repeated
several times. Absolute sanitation is as important for good sauerkraut as
it is for crisp pickles.

1. Remove and discard outer leaves from firm, matured heads of cabbage
(late cabbage is best as it is higher in sugar). Remove and discard cores.

2. Shred 5 lbs cabbage at a time with shredder or sharp knife. Shreds
should be no thicker than a dime. Place in a large mixing bowl.

3. Sprinkle 3 tblsp canning/pickling salt over each 5 lbs cabbage. Mix
thoroughly with clean hands or stainless steel spoon.

4. Pack firmly and evenly into crock that has been washed with soapy water,
rinsed, and scalded. Juices will form. Keep cabbage covered with juice as
you pack by packing slowly and pressing cabbage down.

5. Repeat shredding and salting of cabbage in 5 lb. lots until crock is
filled not more than 5" from the top.

6. Make sure juice covers cabbage. If not, making additional brine by
mixing 1 One half tblsp salt in 1 qt boiling water. Cool to room temperature
before adding to crock.

7. Now the cabbage needs to be covered and weighted down, to keep it
submerged in brine. Fit a large foodgrade plastic bag inside another to
make a double bag. Fill with brine solution (1 One half tbsp salt to 1 qt
water)and lay over cabbage. Bag should fit snugly against inside of crock
to seal surface from exposure to air; this will prevent growth of yeast
film or molds. It also serves as a weight; the amount of brine in the bag
can be adjusted to give just enough pressure to keep cabbage submerged,
that is, covered with brine. Twist and tie to seal bag.

8. Cover crock with plastic food wrap and then with a heavy terry towel.
Tie twine around crock to hold plastic wrap and towel in place. Do not open
until fermentation time is completed.

9. Fermentation will begin the day following packing. How long it takes
depends on room temperature. For best quality sauerkraut, a room
temperature of 75F is ideal, and it will take about 3 weeks. For each 5
degrees cooler, add one week fermentation time. Temperature above 75F will
result in earlier fermentation or possible spoilage.

10. Keep track of temperature so you know when to check kraut. Remove
cover. Fermentation is complete if bubbling has stopped and no bubbles rise
when crock is tapped gently.

KEEPING SAUERKRAUT

Sauerkraut can be stored in the refrigerator. Or you can keep it in a cold
room with temperature of 55For lower, if you will be using it before winter
ends, or it can be canned.

GLASS JAR SAUERKRAUT

If you want to make small quantities of sauerkraut, mix shredded cabbage
with salt following proportions in recipe for Crock sauerkraut. Pack
cabbage into glass jars and weight with brinefilled plastic bags, as in
Step 7. When fermentation is complete, store covered jars in refrigerator.
Recipe By : Farm Journal's Freezing&Canning Cookbook 1978

Posted to EATL Digest 31 October 96

Date: Thu, 31 Oct 1996 21:41:19 0500

From: Bill Hatcher bhatcher@GC.NET