1
My sauerkraut turned into a science project for a month
I tried making a big batch in a 5 gallon crock, but the cabbage just would not sink under the brine. I spent three weeks trying every trick, from a plate to special glass weights, but it kept floating. Finally, my friend in Boise said to just chop it finer, and that fixed it in two days. Anyone have a better way to keep big batches submerged?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
abby_king223mo ago
Seriously, a month-long science project? I just leave mine on the counter for a week and call it good... it's just cabbage and salt. People get so intense with the special weights and crocks. If it molds, you scrape it off. If it smells funky, you toss it. Not every batch needs to be a perfect museum piece.
2
grantthomas3mo ago
Not every batch needs to be a perfect museum piece" is the key line. I see this everywhere now, people turning basic hobbies into high stress performance art. It's like we forgot how to just MAKE a thing. The fun gets buried under all the gear and rules. Sometimes a messy, quick project that might fail is way more real than a perfect one you're scared to touch.
6
brookepark1mo ago
Agree completely with @abby_king22, I do the same thing. Toss some cabbage and salt in a jar, set it on the counter for a week, and call it done. I've had batches that turned out tangy and crunchy and some that got a little weird, but that's half the fun. All those fancy setups and month long timelines feel like they suck the joy out of making something simple. If it goes bad, you just start over, no big deal. My best sauerkraut came from a half hearted attempt when I was out of normal food, so yeah, keep it loose.
1