Dec 13 2013
I did a lot of reading when I started fermenting sauerkraut
last year. The more I read the more I
learn and here is a link to the site I have found the best info so far. Click here for the link
It shows a chart for the fermentation times at 65 deg. F (18
deg. C) to get the optimum kraut is 20 days.
Some people like to try and cut the amount of salt but it is
needed to get good fermentation. Here is a good explanation from the site. “Adding salt not only draws
out juice but also creates hostile conditions for spoilage bacteria. Commercial
producers add around 2.25%, home producers add usually between 2.25 and 2.50%
salt by weight. Adding salt between 2-3% will produce quality sauerkraut. To
meet 2.5% salt requirement, 25 g (4 tsp.) of salt is added to 1 kg (2.2 lb.) of
cabbage.”
Thursday I bought a pint of organic Greek yogurt to make
whey for my kraut. The best explanation I can give is the whey speeds up
fermentation. My recipe for the Cortido, (S.A. style sauerkraut) called for it.
This will be the first time I have used it. I placed a colander over a bowl, added two
layers of cheese cloth and the yogurt to drip overnight.
Friday I had all my ingredients ready, my whey, and my new
Schmitt fermentation crock to use for the first time. I have a gallon of kraut
in my glass jar that will be ready for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
I wrapped the yogurt in the cheese cloth and squeezed out
what water I could. Left over is yogurt cream cheese. A lot more healthy than
the store bought processed cream cheese.
I grated the carrots in my food processor, sliced the onions
and cabbage on my mandolin. My recipe is for two quarts so I had doubled it for
the crock. I mixed one batch in a stainless stock pot. I let sit 15 minutes
then stomped and worked with my hands. I let set another 15 minutes and then
repeated with the second batch.
I let it sit about a half hour and then packed it in the
crock. I used a wide mouth funnel and it helped keep the rim of the crock
clean. After it was all in I packed it down firmly. I made sure there were no
bits of cabbage on the sides above the cabbage and added the clay weights. I
let sit about an hour and added filtered water to cover the weights. After reading more this afternoon I now know I
should have let it set a day or two before adding the water and should have
used salted water, 4 tsp. per quart. I will mix up a quart tomorrow and if I
need to add water I can and use it in my water seal too.
I just now realized I forgot to add the garlic! Too late
now, I think I will add some when I put it in quart jars for storage. In spite
of myself I have had three gallon batches that turned out good, tasted like
good kraut and no one got sick! I hope the two batches I have going now will be
good too.
I know our parents and grandparents made kraut in an open
crock, a plate over it then a cloth and a stone or brick for weight. Air
(oxygen) is the worst enemy for making good kraut so the only two containers I
would recommend is a glass jar and lid with air lock or a fermentation crock
with a water seal lid.
My glass jar with air lock has worked well, the only
disadvantage I have seen is I have trouble the first 4 or 5 days keeping the
cabbage down under the water. After that is over it is just a matter of making
sure the air lock has water in it until it is done.
This is my first time using my German, Schmitt fermentation
crock. One disadvantage is the cost, pretty expensive for making kraut a couple
of times a year! It sure is a beauty though and if I quit using it, it will be
a nice decoration that fits in with our early American deco! The only other
thing might be keeping the water seal filled properly. We have baseboard
electric heat and it is dry, I might have problems with the water evaporating
so will have to keep watch on it.
I ended up with a little over six pounds of the cabbage mix.
The crock should hold about seven pounds and still have some good head room
left. The instructions say not to fill over four fifths the total height of the
crock. I took this to include the stones and water too.
Cortido Recipe:
1 med. head of cabbage, shredded
1 small head of red cabbage, shredded
2 cups grated carrots
2 Med. Red onions, thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbs. dried oregano or 3 Tbs. fresh chopped
¼ to 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbs. sea salt
½ cup of basic whey, I used organic Greek yogurt to make
mine.
Making my whey
The whey and yogurt cream cheese
Cortido ingredients
Mixed up
Stomped and set a while and adding to the crock
Funnel helped keep the rim clean
All in the crock
Weights added
Water added
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