Heritage Acres Homestead

Chas - Homemaker, Homesteader & Mother Hen

Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut, the truth is told…

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Well, you know that a few weeks ago, I started my first ever lacto fermented sauerkraut in my new harsch crock.
I’m going to give you all the nitty-gritty, not so pretty details as well as the good points too. I know sometimes blogs will only say the positive.
Not here, baby. We get the good with the bad. The ugly with the pretty. Haha. Straight up. 😉

First… here are some things NOT to do.

  1. When directions tell you to not open for 3-4 weeks… well, you ought to follow instructions. *sigh* I couldn’t help but open and peek. Not a good idea because it will allow air to enter and there might be some moldy spots on the inside walls of crock. 
  2. When they tell you to put the crock in a dark spot. Yeah, you probably ought to do that too. 
  3. When you do end up doing all these things that they say don’t do… you still get kraut… it’s just a little more laborious 
  4. I don’t care for caraway… Next time, I won’t be using that in my kraut. 

All those negatives… but let’s start talking about the positives!
Sauerkraut is very good for you! It will help your digestive system function well!
Sauerkraut is pretty tasty… even when it isn’t made exactly right. LOL
The crock is AWESOME! I love it. Even when I didn’t do exactly what it said to do *blush* it did it’s thing.
Sauerkraut is cheap!
I bought organic cabbage and it’s like $3.00 a head at the most. You can’t go wrong there…
Did I say how good it is for you?

Here’s some benefits of sauerkraut:

Cancer Risk Reduction

Fermented cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables are high in glucosinolates, a type of sulfur-containing compound with a strong, spicy taste. When you chew or chop the cabbage in sauerkraut, the glucosinolates break down into biologically active compounds that have anti-cancer properties, the Linus Pauling Institute explains. These compounds may help your body eliminate carcinogens, protect your DNA from damage, prevent healthy cells from transforming into cancerous cells and reduce your risk of hormone-sensitive cancers.

Fiber

Sauerkraut is a rich source of fiber, containing approximately 8 g per cup. As explained on MayoClinic.com, fiber offers a host of benefits for your digestive health, such as helping normalize bowel movements, reducing risk of hemorrhoids and potentially protecting against colon cancer. In addition, fiber helps control your blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar-containing foods, may assist in weight loss by helping you feel satiated during meals, and can potentially lower your cholesterol levels.

Vitamin C

Lacto-fermented sauerkraut has high levels of vitamin C, providing nearly a third of your recommended daily dose of this nutrient in a single cup. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C plays a critical role in many biological functions, including synthesizing collagen, creating neurotransmitters involved in brain function, synthesizing carnitine, maintaining immune function and metabolizing cholesterol into bile acids. In addition, vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your DNA and other molecules in your body against damage. High-vitamin-C foods like sauerkraut may also positively affect your heart function and reduce your risk of gout.

Read more here

So! If you aren’t convinced that even through a little trial and error that you should give lacto-fermented sauerkraut a go, listen up. 
I’ve just ordered me 15 more lbs of cabbage to get started next Monday!
And I’m going to do MY BEST to follow the rules this time and let this baby DO its thing! 
Have a great day!

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