Do You Need To Rinse Canned Sauerkraut? - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

Do You Need To Rinse Canned Sauerkraut? - Tasting Table? ›

It's not necessary to rinse, unless you prefer it that way

Buy good quality sauerkraut (ideally without preservatives). You do NOT need to rinse sauerkraut (unless it's overly salty). Drain it thoroughly before cooking or using raw. Chop your sauerkraut roughly before cooking (or putting in a salad) so it's easier to combine with other ingredients.

You don't need to rinse sauerkraut, but you can. Rinsing sauerkraut can reduce some sodium content, but it can also rinse away some of the probiotics. If you're going to rinse sauerkraut, it's best to rinse it lightly.

About Canned or Tinned Sauerkraut

Heating is an important part of canning as the heat pasteurises all bacteria in the can so that no fermentation occurs and the can can remain room-temperature-stable for many, many years.

The cabbage will spoil rather than ferment. Instead, try rinsing the fermented kraut in cold water before eating it to remove some of the salt. Rinsing will also reduce the probiotics, but will not eliminate them.

Rinsing sauerkraut can indeed impact its nutritional value, primarily by reducing its probiotic content. When you rinse sauerkraut, you remove some of the bacteria that are present in it, which can alter its probiotic profile. However, sauerkraut is still a nutritious food even if you rinse it.

Using Canned Sauerkraut

Simply drain and rinse the sauerkraut as you would with bagged sauerkraut, then follow the same steps for a delicious and easy dish. Enjoy the same tasty results with less prep time!

In order to reap the probiotic health benefits of sauerkraut, buy refrigerated sauerkraut available in bags or pouches instead of in cans or jars. Avoid sauerkraut that has vinegar or sweeteners.

Anti-inflammatory effects

One 2021 review concluded that fermented foods such as sauerkraut could help promote greater gut bacteria diversity and protect against inflammation. Some animal research suggests that sauerkraut's anti-inflammatory effect may be due to reduced nitric oxide production.

Sauerkraut is a highly nutritious, probiotic-rich food, and you are recommended to eat about a tablespoon or 10 grams per day.

Can canned sauerkraut go bad? ›

If you properly store your canned sauerkraut, you can continue to enjoy it for up to a week after opening. Opened sauerkraut remains good anywhere from five to seven days once you unseal the can, meaning it has a relatively short fridge life.

If you're pregnant or immunocompromised, you should avoid eating unpasteurized sauerkraut. If you take MAOIs, have blood pressure concerns, or have food intolerances or allergies, speak to your doctor before eating sauerkraut. Otherwise, sauerkraut is likely to be a nutritious and healthy addition to your diet.

Raw, unpasteurized sauerkraut contains beneficial probiotics that generally do not survive the pasteurization process. You can typically find these in the refrigerated sections of some grocery stores, but it's best to check the label to make sure your sauerkraut has not been pasteurized.

Wait, people rinse their sauerkraut? Yes, they do, and for a good reason. The main argument for rinsing canned sauerkraut is to reduce its sodium content and make a healthier meal. Luckily, rinsing sauerkraut is quite easy and can be done in the sink with a strainer like any other vegetable.

Sauerkraut also has a high fiber content that helps with constipation by making stools softer, and simultaneously increasing its mass and volume. This bulkiness makes for easier passage through the digestive tract and quicker elimination.

Although it is considered a national dish in Germany and is known under its German name in English-speaking countries, it did not originate in Germany and is also a traditional and ubiquitous dish in Central and Eastern Europe.

Raw sauerkraut can be enjoyed as is, by the forkful. Just take the jar out of the fridge, grab a fork, and enjoy the health benefits! Eat a forkful once or twice a day straight from the jar.

Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process pints for 15 minutes or quarts for 20 minutes.

In order to reap the probiotic health benefits of sauerkraut, buy refrigerated sauerkraut available in bags or pouches instead of in cans or jars. Avoid sauerkraut that has vinegar or sweeteners.

To store for a longer period of time, drain the sauerkraut, reserving the liquid.