How Long Does Bubbies Sauerkraut Last

How do you make sauerkraut from a jar?

Melt the butter in a pan, add the garlic and onion (if using garlic and onion powder, then simply add the canned sauerkraut first). perfect german sauerkraut.

Add all the seasonings and the apple pieces. Chicken stock adds a lot of flavor.

Heat until heated through and simmering. Serve warm. Easy Canned Sauerkraut.

How do you wash cabbage for sauerkraut?

How do you wash cabbage for sauerkraut?

Choose firm heads of cabbage.

Remove the outer leaves and any leaves that are damaged or wilted.

Use cold, running water to rinse the cabbage.

Drain the cabbage.

Quarter the heads of cabbage and remove the core.

The cabbage needs to be shredded or sliced to the thickness of a quarter.

How to Tell if Sauerkraut Is Bad?

Discard sauerkraut if:

It smells off. If it smells funny, off, or like it’s rotting, it’s obvious that your sauerkraut has gone bad. Sauerkraut should smell fermenty and fresh.

There’s a white film on the surface. If the brine doesn’t cover the leaves, a couple of things could happen. They might dry out a bit, which isn’t a problem. But if you leave them uncovered for more than a couple of days, either white film (photo below) or mold shows up. If your kraut is unpasteurized, you could, in theory, eat whatever is under the brine, but I think discarding the remaining kraut, in this case, is the way to go. Better safe than sorry.

It’s too sour. If your unpasteurized sauerkraut sits in storage for too long, sooner or later, the cabbage will be too sour for your liking. That’s when it’s time to let it go.

It’s pasteurized and stored for too long after opening. If your pasteurized kraut is open for more than, say, two weeks (check the label for a recommendation), it’s time for it to go. It doesn’t go bad quickly because it’s usually brined with vinegar (which helps prevent bacteria from multiplying), but it doesn’t last nearly as long as unpasteurized kraut. As for raw sauerkraut, go with whatever you’re comfortable with time-wise.

Last but not least, remember that unpasteurized kraut might lose some of its crunch if stored for too long. If that’s a big deal for you, toss it for quality purposes.

Of course, if anything else about the fermented veggie seems off, trust your gut and discard the kraut. Better safe than sorry.

Please note that the periods above are estimates and for best quality only.

Pantry	Fridge
Sauerkraut (unpasteurized, unopened)	Sell-by + 3+ months
Sauerkraut (unpasteurized, open)	1-2+ months for best taste
Sauerkraut (pasteurized, unopened)	Best-by + 3-6 months
Sauerkraut (pasteurized, open)	5 – 7 days

Unpasteurized sauerkraut lasts in the fridge for a few months beyond the printed date and retains good quality for another 1 to 2 months after opening. The quality gradually degrades, but as long as the cabbage is covered in brine, it stays safe to eat.

Pasteurized sauerkraut keeps for months after the printed date but usually keeps for only about 7 to 10 days after opening.

As you can tell, the difference between the two is hugely in favor of the unpasteurized one.

Of course, the suggested storage time depends on the brand. Often, brands recommend going with the best-by date printed on the label or maybe adding a couple of extra months beyond it, no matter when you open the container.

That’s because the fermentation process is ongoing, and while the cabbage will stay safe for quite some time, it will retain peak flavor for only so long.

Like kimchi or unpasteurized pickles (do pickles go bad?), its taste deepens over time, and at some point, it might become too sour for your taste.

As for pasteurized sauerkraut, as long as you leave it unopened, it keeps for months past its date. But once you open the container, you only get a week and change to get the best results.

As I mentioned, pasteurized sauerkraut usually includes vinegar in brine. The vinegar helps the fermented cabbage last more than the usual 4 to 5 days of opening for canned foods, but the storage time is still quite limited.

Read the label. If your sauerkraut is pasteurized and the label says you can safely store it for longer than the mentioned period, follow that recommendation. Same thing if it says you should use it or discard it within 4 to 5 days.

Now that you know how long it’s good for after opening, it’s time to talk about how to store sauerkraut.

FAQ

How long is bubbies sauerkraut good after opening?

Is bubbies sauerkraut naturally fermented?

Does bubbies sauerkraut contain probiotics?