Last Updated on May 31, 2023 by Ellen Christian
So a few months ago, I decided that I wanted to learn how to make sauerkraut in Mason jars. I was tired of paying $9 for a little jar of organic sauerkraut at the food coop. After all, cabbage is really cheap – even organic cabbage – and I have a lot of Mason jars.
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How to Make Sauerkraut in Mason Jars
I was sent The DIY Pantry: 30 Minutes to Healthy, Homemade Food by Kresha Faber for review and as I flipped through it, I realized she uses the same method for her sauerkraut that I do.
All that you need to make sauerkraut is cabbage and sea salt. You also need a very large glass jar or sauerkraut crock and some sort of weight for the top.
I used a large Mason jar, a piece of plastic wrap, and a plastic bag filled with water as a weight. Eventually, I want to buy my own sauerkraut crock but they are rather expensive.
The DIY Pantry: 30 Minutes to Healthy, Homemade Food helps you create all natural kitchen staples for clean, tasty dishes. You will learn how to make your own pasta, yogurt, mozzarella, peanut butter, ketchup, stock, spice mixes and more.
There are more than 150 natural, budget friendly recipes and tips for storing your food. A definite must for anyone trying to stay away from store-bought, processed foods containing questionable ingredients.
How do you make sauerkraut from scratch?
So, there are several ways to make sauerkraut from scratch, but this how to make sauerkraut in mason jars. Finally, I hope you enjoy my old fashioned sauerkraut recipe.
How long to ferment sauerkraut in a jar?
It takes three to four weeks. You will need to check it regularly to find out when it’s done.
Ingredients
- 1 large head of organic cabbage
- several handfuls of sea salt
How to make sauerkraut in mason jars
- Shred the cabbage. I used a food processor. Some people like to chop it with a large knife. Whatever works for you is fine.
- Start layering in the jar a few inches of shredded cabbage then about a tablespoon or less of sea salt. Press down each layer as you go.
- The sea salt draws out the moisture from the cabbage which creates a brine.
- Continue until the jar is almost full.
- Leave a few inches at the top of the jar. Cover it with a large piece of plastic wrap and press down making sure that the plastic wrap comes out of the top of the jar.
- Fill a plastic bag with water and use that to weight down the sauerkraut and keep it under the brine.
- Every day, press the sauerkraut down. Every other day, change the plastic wrap.
- Taste once a week until it tastes the way you like it. Mine takes about 6-8 weeks.
- Divide into smaller jars and store in the refrigerator until you want it. Then start over so you have a new batch.
Related reading
So, now that you know how to make sauerkraut in mason jars, you might want to try these.
- How to make kefir cheese
- What is kefir & how do I make it?
- Sweet cucumber sandwich pickles
- To learn how to make more of your recipes from scratch, read the rest of my back to basics recipes.
How to Make Sauerkraut in Mason Jars
How to make sauerkraut in mason jars
Ingredients
- 1 large head of organic cabbage
- several handfuls of sea salt
Instructions
- Shred the cabbage. I used a food processor. Some people like to chop it with a large knife. Whatever works for you is fine.
- Start layering in the jar a few inches of shredded cabbage then about a tablespoon or less of sea salt. Press down each layer as you go.
- The sea salt draws out the moisture from the cabbage which creates a brine.
- Continue until the jar is almost full.
- Leave a few inches at the top of the jar. Cover it with a large piece of plastic wrap and press down making sure that the plastic wrap comes out of the top of the jar.
- Fill a plastic bag with water and use that to weight down the sauerkraut and keep it under the brine.
- Every day, press the sauerkraut down. Every other day, change the plastic wrap.
- Taste once a week until it tastes the way you like it. Mine takes about 6-8 weeks.
- Divide into smaller jars and store in the refrigerator until you want it. Then start over so you have a new batch.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1832mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
I an trying your recipe for sauerkraut. Do I leave it out after preparing it for fermentation or do I refrigerate during the process?
You will need to leave it out until it has fermented. If you refrigerate it, the cold will kill it, and it won’t ferment. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Ellen,
We just wanted to reach out and say thank you for recommending our SAUERKROCK fermentation crock to your viewers! And we love your recipe for sauerkraut – very simple and easy to follow, just like a sauerkraut recipe should be 🙂
Happy Fermenting!
MacKenzie @ Humble House
You’re very welcome and thank you!
We love sauerkraut in our family, well my hubby and I do, the kids not so much. I love it with pierogies and turkey sausage. But when I cook the sauerkraut I add bay leaves, pepper, and mushrooms. SO good.
Oh that sounds good, Nicole!
I didn’t use to like sauerkraut, but since moving to Europe I have a new appreciation for it. So yummy with German sausages! I’ll have to try this recipe out.
I love German sausages! They are a perfect combination with sauerkraut!
I had no idea it is that easy to make!!!
It really is, Robyn!
I had no idea it was so easy to make sauerkraut. My Husband will love this. thank you for making it seem so easy and accessible
Glad to help, Tammilee! It really is easy!
I love your blog for recipes just like this one! I would love to try yours, but I think I can give this a try. You always make it look so easy.
Thank you so much, Tara! It is really easy!
Now this is something my husband would love. He loves sauerkraut.
Now you need to make him some or better yet show him how!
My paents love sauerkraut. This with their fresh kielbasa – they would be over the moon!
Oh I would love to try fresh kielbasa! Yum!
I’ve never even tried it before. It sounds really easy though, so I should at least taste it!
Definitely, Liz! I love sauerkraut!
I have always wanted to make my own fermented veggies, and now that I see how easy it is, I want to even more.
I’m hoping to try a few more types of fermentation this summer!
You know… I had no idea that sauerkraut was cabbage. Duh. LOL Now that you break it down like this, doesn’t look too hard at all!
LOL, Jennifer. It definitely does & it’s not hard at all!
We enjoy homemade sauerkraut and usually order it from a local church. I always thought about making it, but thought I had to do it on a larger scale. Your success with a mason jar has me thinking, I need to try my own. Thanks!
Definitely! You can do a smaller amount if you want. It’s all up to you!
Wow! This is so easy! We love sauerkraut on our sandwiches!
It does taste so good that way!
I’ve never tried this only because nobody in my family is a huge fan 🙁
Oh that is too bad!
Wow, this looks amazing. 🙂 My husband loves it!
Time to make him a big batch!
This looks really delicious, Ellen! And your photography is getting so good! 🙂
Thank you so much, Jenn!
I hope this doesnt sound bad, but my mother in law is SO hard to buy for . . and she LOVES sauerkraut because she eats it with the Ukrainian foods she makes. If I made this for er and tied some pretty ribbons on the jars, she would love me forever!
Perfect! As long as it makes her happy that is all that matters!
My husband really loved cabbage. He likes it cooked and raw so I imagine he would like this, too.
I love cabbage too! One of my favorite veggies.
Wow! I never realized that making sauerkraut at home could be such an easy process! Thanks for breaking it down for us, I really need to try this. My mom would be so impressed with me 😉 She loves that!
Make her a big jar for Mother’s Day!
My dad used to make mom go outside when she ate sauerkraut. She loves it, he couldn’t stand the smell. So funny. And still my mom loves Rueben sandwiches.
LOL. I love Ruebens too. Thankfully I don’t have to go outside!
I need to try this in our house. Hubby is the one who loves sauerkraut and it is rather expensive to purchase.
It really is, Laura. It’s so much less expensive to make your own.
My son is going to LOVE this. Sauerkraut is probably his favorite food.
That’s fantastic, Pam! You should make a big crock!
I have never made my own sauerkraut but this looks incredibly easy!
It really is easy, Diane. It just takes time.
With the weather warming up, we’ll be grilling some hot dogs. I’ll have to try this recipe.
I love sauerkraut with hot dogs! Cannot wait for warm weather!
Oh wow, is it really that easy?! This, I need to try, thank you!
It definitely is easy, Tammi!
Wow I had no idea it was so very easy. Thanks for this I’m going to try it myself!
That’s great, Kristin! Hope you like it.
I have never had sauerkraut before, doesn’t sound too hard to make!
I love sauerkraut! Perfect with hot dogs.
I had no idea it was so easy! I’m adding cabbage to my grocery list!
Definitely! I love how easy this is to make.
Who would have thought it was this easy to make sauerkraut! Saving this for later 🙂
It really is, Sofia! Let me know if you try it.