Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage, often eaten with ham or sausage.
When the sauerkraut is fermenting, it creates carbon dioxide, which causes the jar to pressurize and push out any excess gas from within the jar.
But what do you do if your sauerkraut isn’t done fermenting yet, but you still want to save some for later?
How do you go about draining the sauerkraut? In this article, we’ll discuss how to drain sauerkraut and more.
How to Drain Sauerkraut?
There are many ways to drain sauerkraut, but here are some of the most recommended.
If you plan on using your sauerkraut in another dish where the juices will be drained, then place a cheesecloth in a colander and place the colander over a bowl.
Drain the sauerkraut right into the colander to drain all excess liquid and pick up your sauerkraut with your hands or a utensil.
You can also push down on it with your spoon or fingers to get rid of any bubbles.
Drain for ten minutes.
If you plan to use your sauerkraut as is, allow it to drain until there’s no more moisture coming out of the jar.
If you don’t have cheesecloth or choose not to use it, take a large spoon and press down on the top of the sauerkraut in the jar to release the gas pressure.
This will help release any excess carbon dioxide gas.
If you see bubbles, this is where you’ll start to notice the residual liquid seeping out of the sauerkraut.
How Do You Squeeze Sauerkraut?
Once you’ve drained your sauerkraut long enough, so there’s no more liquid, you can start squeezing the sauerkraut.
Take a spoon and push down on your sauerkraut to get rid of any air bubbles.
Use your hands if you want, but be careful with how hard you push down on them because some people have said that it can cause your sauerkraut to break apart.
You can also use a potato ricer to help squeeze out the excess liquid from your sauerkraut.
You can also use a spoon to press down on it and push any bubbles out; then, you can put the lid back on and seal it well, so no air gets in or out.
You can store it back in the refrigerator or even the basement, as long as it’s cool and away from sunlight.
Depending on what you plan to do with your sauerkraut, there are many ways to use it after draining.
Two of the ways people commonly enjoy their sauerkraut is either in a hot dog or sausage sandwich or an egg casserole dish.
No matter what way you want to do it, once you’ve drained the dish you want to create, there’s an easy way on how to use sauerkraut.
Do You Rinse Sauerkraut Before Eating?
One of the most common questions people have is to rinse their sauerkraut before eating it.
In most cases, people say it’s unnecessary to rinse the sauerkraut before eating because you’ll lose a lot of those natural juices from fermenting.
However, if you want to rinse it off before, go ahead and do so after draining your sauerkraut for ten minutes.
Does Rinsing Sauerkraut Reduce Probiotics?
The answer is yes. If you want to rinse off your sauerkraut, be sure that it’s thoroughly drained.
Rinsing your sauerkraut will reduce the number of probiotics because you’re going to lose a lot of those enzymes, which contribute towards boosting immunity and overall health.
These beneficial bacterias that are naturally occurring can be found in our gut, where they help break down food and keep the intestinal tract clean.
They’ll also help prevent certain diseases by providing your immune system with extra support.
Hence, you don’t want to rinse it off unless you have to.
If you’re using your sauerkraut in a dish where the juices are drained, then place it in the colander over a bowl for ten minutes, and all excess liquid will drain out.
Does Rinsing Sauerkraut Reduced Sodium?
Sauerkraut is quite high in sodium, but you can always rinse off your sauerkraut to lower the amount of sodium.
It’s going to take away that nice salty flavor, though, so keep that in mind before you choose to rinse it or not.
If the sauerkraut you bought has a lot of sodium, then go ahead and rinse it all off before cooking.
You won’t lose the flavor this way, but it will help keep your blood pressure down.
Is the Salt Content in Sauerkraut Bad for You?
Yes. Salt is known to cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases, so it’s best not to add salt when making your sauerkraut or adding it in when you eat the dish.
If the sauerkraut has a lot of sodium, then definitely rinse it off before consuming.
But if you’re looking to lower the sodium content of your sauerkraut, then you can cook or drain your dish with it still in there.
Since the flavors are already deep within the sauerkraut, you won’t end up tasting a huge difference.
If you want to make sure that the salt content is low, you can search each brand’s salt content online.
Some brands will advertise that their sauerkraut is low in sodium, so it’s best to check out the label or get more information before buying and preparing it.
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