Sauerkraut is a traditional German specialty dish that doesn’t only taste great but can have surprisingly beneficial side-effects on your gut. One of the many benefits is the wide range of good bacteria it adds to your gut flora.
But how do you know if your sauerkraut is really probiotic-rich? And which sauerkraut has the most probiotics?
The most probiotics can be found in sauerkraut that has been fermented for at least 3 weeks and has not been processed. The fermentation that occurs when sauerkraut is left at room temperature allows for the growth of beneficial bacteria (probiotics). The longer the sauerkraut is left to ferment, the more probiotic cultures can form.
Sauerkraut that has been processed in any way will have fewer probiotics. Cooking completely destroys the bacteria and even adding vinegar to your sauerkraut may reduce its probiotic content.
In this post, I’ll go over which sauerkraut has the most probiotics. We will look at the different factors that lead to the highest probiotic growth in sauerkraut and then evaluate a handful of supermarket brands in terms of probiotic content.
I’ll also share some of my tips for getting the most probiotics out of your home-made sauerkraut. So let’s dig in!
Essentially, probiotics in sauerkraut are tiny microorganisms (cultures, bacteria) that form in the process of fermentation. Sauerkraut ferments because it contains plenty of lactic acid bacteria that ferment the cabbage at around 18 degrees Celcius or 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fermentation process has a very specific purpose in sauerkraut: to rapidly proliferate lactic acid-producing bacteria, primarily Lactobacilli, through the food. These Lactobacilli cause the pH to decrease, rendering the environment acidic and inappropriate for the development of unwanted bacteria.
However, not all sauerkraut has probiotics. There are plenty of store-bought brands of sauerkraut that have been pasteurized, cooked, or left to sit in vinegar. All of these preparation methods will kill off any good (or bad) live cultures.
When making sauerkraut at home you can almost be certain that probiotics will have formed. This is because you can control the time and temperature for your sauerkraut to ferment perfectly. We will see below just how important these two factors are.
Does canned sauerkraut have probiotics? Sauerkraut in a can has been pasteurized, which kills off the good bacteria.
Does canned sauerkraut have probiotics? Canned sauerkraut does not contain probiotics, due to the pasteurization and canning process. High heat is used to kill all the bacteria both good and bad and ensure it is shelf-stable.
Due to the nature of the canning and jarring process preservatives are added to keep the sauerkraut longer, which can have negative effects on your health.
So, no, canned sauerkraut is not good for you. However, it does offer a lot of great flavors, but no good bacteria.
The same principle applies to any fermented foods that you buy, including kimchi. Stick to the fermented foods found in the refrigerated aisle and make sure that you read the label to make sure you are purchasing the healthiest product.
Is Store-Bought Sauerkraut Good for You?
Sauerkraut is an excellent food to add to your diet to make sure that you get the good bacteria that your body needs to thrive. Probiotics may seem like a buzzword, but these live microorganisms are incredibly helpful in ensuring that your digestive tract is working as it’s supposed to.
Many health problems are associated with a lack of essential probiotics in the body, which can leave you feeling sluggish and uncomfortable.
To choose the right sauerkraut, make sure you select options that are raw, non-pasteurized, and found in the refrigerated section at the grocery store.
Best brands of Sauerkraut with Beneficial Live Probiotic Cultures
Bubbies is famous for its pickles but they also make amazing sauerkraut. Bubbies sauerkraut is gluten-free, abundant with live cultures, and absolutely delicious!
Their line of products includes probiotic Kosher Dill Pickles, Bread and Butter Pickles, Horseradish, and Pickled Herring Fillets.
Last update on 2022-09-14 / Affiliate links / s from Amazon Product Advertising API
FAQ
Is jarred sauerkraut fermented?
Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage. It contains probiotics, a variety of vitamins such as vitamins C, A, K, and minerals such as iron.
Which sauerkraut is fermented?
How do you know when sauerkraut is fermented?
Is Vlasic old fashioned sauerkraut good for you?
Vlasic Old Fashioned Sauerkraut contains sulfite and sodium benzoate which are included in our list of food additives to avoid for keto. Food additives are potentially harmful to health and should be avoided as much as possible.
