Sauerkraut is a deliciously unique side dish or condiment that may be used in a variety of meals and dishes. Despite its cryptic German name, the dish is nothing more than fermented cabbage shreds.

Although sauerkraut is most often used sparingly, you may discover the need to save it for later use. If you have sauerkraut and don’t intend to use it for a while, you should freeze it just as you would other foods.

You may wonder whether you can freeze sauerkraut. We’ve produced a comprehensive tutorial with all you need to know about freezing sauerkraut to answer your question and more. Continue reading to find out more.

Can You Freeze Sauerkraut?

Sauerkraut may be frozen. Freezing sauerkraut is not something that many people do since it is seldom sold in significant quantities. Nevertheless, things happen that cause you to make more than you intended, or you buy too much. You may readily freeze sauerkraut for later use in these instances.

How to Freeze Sauerkraut

Whether you make your own sauerkraut from scratch or buy extra from the shop, you should freeze it as soon as possible to maintain its life. Of course, sauerkraut will keep in the refrigerator for a few days before spoiling. If you wish to freeze your sauerkraut, you should consider the following measures for the best results:

Transfer to the Correct Container

When you’ve made or purchased your sauerkraut and used what you need, store it in an airtight container that can endure freezing temperatures. Even if you purchased readymade sauerkraut, you need still do this step since the container it came in could not be freezer-safe.

After scooping everything into the freezer-safe container, securely shut the lid and mark it with the date. This manner, you can decide how long it will keep in the freezer and how long it will endure.

You may also divide the sauerkraut into various containers if you want to use part but not all of it sooner rather than later. Even if you’re using many containers, be sure to choose something freezer-safe even if you intend to take one out a week later since these container types will keep the taste and consistency the best.

If You Have Cooked Sauerkraut

Freezing cooked sauerkraut is the same as freezing raw sauerkraut and is probably the best option since it is easy to thaw and use. To freeze cooked sauerkraut, place it in a freezer-safe container with an airtight cover, or numerous containers as needed. Then attach the label and store it.

Is It Possible to Freeze Lettuce?

How Long Will Sauerkraut Last in the Fridge/Freezer?

Sauerkraut will keep for a few months in the pantry, fridge, or freezer regardless of storage technique; however, refrigerating or freezing the fermented cabbage will prolong its longevity much beyond its pantry shelf life.

Since sauerkraut is a fermented food, putting it out in the open on your counter or cupboard, even with the lid properly attached, may hasten the fermentation process. Accelerating the fermentation process causes the sauerkraut to deteriorate sooner rather than later, which is why most people prefer to keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.

Because of the lower storage temperatures, storing sauerkraut in the refrigerator or freezer delays the fermentation process. Of course, when selecting between the two storage options, freezing will prolong the lifetime of sauerkraut even farther than the fridge since it prevents fermentation.

But, fresh or store-bought refrigerated sauerkraut may be stored in the fridge for up to a year if kept immersed in brine. Sauerkraut without brine can keep in the fridge for up to a week, or maybe a little longer, after opening.

The brine immerses the sauerkraut in fermenting bacteria and other essentials, keeping the cabbage stable and excellent for longer. Without the brine, the lifespans will be substantially shorter.

You may anticipate the greatest shelf life when freezing sauerkraut. Sauerkraut may be stored forever if frozen at zero degrees or slightly below. Having said that, you should still check on it from time to time to ensure that it is still in excellent working order.

The container in which you freeze the sauerkraut will also affect its shelf life. For example, if you use a heavy-duty storage container with an airtight top, the sauerkraut will survive longer than if you store it in a Ziploc bag or other similar container. Since the freezing temperature is less likely to enter the bag and create freezer burn, there is a difference in lifespan.

How to Tell if Your Frozen Sauerkraut is Bad

Since sauerkraut is an already spicy, acidic combination that is unpasteurized and ferments, determining whether it has gone bad or not may be tricky.

While keeping sauerkraut, for example, you may observe some bubbling, a bulged cover, or some fizzing. These occurrences do not indicate that the sauerkraut has gone bad, but rather that the fermentation process is functioning normally.

If your sauerkraut has expired and it is not buried in brine, you may readily inspect the container for mold, an unusual or altered smell, dryness, or texture changes. These changes will be more noticeable after the sauerkraut has been defrosted.

If you don’t want to waste time defrosting the cabbage, check for symptoms of freezer burn. If you detect ice crystal formation on the cabbage, it’s probably freezer scorched and no longer edible.

Sauerkraut may be frozen for up to a year, but anything older than a year and a half should be discarded since it isn’t as tasty as it once was. The longer it is kept in the freezer, the more probable it may dry out.

What to do With Frozen Sauerkraut

If you opt to freeze sauerkraut, you may sit back and rest until the next time you need it since it has a lengthy shelf life when frozen. When you need the sauerkraut again, you may thaw it or use it straight from the freezer container.

Defrosting

If your recipe calls for defrosting the sauerkraut, such as for a condiment, do it gently, just as you would with other frozen foods. Slowly defrosting the sauerkraut will guarantee that it retains its particular taste and freshness. If you attempt to speed up the procedure, the texture and taste may change.

It might take up to 24 hours to defrost sauerkraut. This is something you should keep in mind if you need to utilize it right away or create a meal that calls for cabbage.

If you need to expedite the procedure, do not heat the sauerkraut. Instead, immerse the container in a basin of cold water, just like you would with chicken or other meats. This speeds up the process without sacrificing taste.

Of course, situations happen, and you may need to use the sauerkraut right away, in which case gently defrosting won’t work. You may heat it in the microwave in this situation. If you don’t want to compromise the taste, texture, or edibility of the dish, heat it in little batches rather than all at once.

If you don’t use all of the sauerkraut after defrosting, it will stay in the fridge for up to a week.

Using Directly From the Freezer

You may often skip the defrosting step entirely and just toss the frozen sauerkraut into your meal. This approach is often used when a recipe asks for cooking the cabbage. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the sauerkraut is frozen and will take a few more minutes to heat through.

If you don’t want to add time to the recipe because you’re afraid of damaging the other ingredients, you can always defrost the sauerkraut in the microwave or submerge it before adding it to your pan, pot, or whatever.

Conclusion

Is it possible to freeze sauerkraut? In a nutshell, sure. If you want to preserve sauerkraut in the freezer, it is doable and quite simple.

Nonetheless, you should consider what you’ll need it for, as well as refrigerated storage, if you’ll need it soon. After all, sauerkraut in brine has a very long shelf life when kept in the fridge, and it doesn’t need defrosting.

Yet, you can preserve sauerkraut just as readily as you would any other food. Just place it in a freezer-safe, airtight container to preserve its lifespan and freshness. You should also remember to date the container so that you can precisely estimate its shelf life.