Sauerkraut soaks up too much liquid while fermenting
I've been fermenting sauerkraut in a quart jar and for some reason forgot to keep an outer piece of cabbage to help keep the kraut submerged. For day 1-2 it was fine, there was plenty of brine to keep it submerged. Now though on day 3 and 4 the brine has all been reabsorbed into the kraut and no matter how much I push it down, in a few hours it's exposed again. Do I still need to worry about mold at this stage or has 2 or 3 days fermentation been enough to preserve it? Or should I top off with a brine solution or would this just add unnecessary salt to what should be now a pickled flavour?
Best Answer
It will likely mold on top, where the cabbage is exposed. You can simply remove that layer, the kraut below will be fine. Alternately, you can top it off with brine...or use a container, smaller than the opening of your jar, filled with water, to weigh it down.
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Why is my sauerkraut overflowing?
Brine overflow is caused by: Air bubbles trapped in your sauerkraut mixture. Jar packed too full. You'll want to get into the habit of leaving 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) of space between the top of your packed sauerkraut and the top of your jar.Why did my sauerkraut get mushy?
Soft sauerkraut results when bacteria that normally do not initiate growth until the later stages of sauerkraut production actually grow earlier usually due to too high of fermentation temperatures or not enough salt.Should I stir sauerkraut during fermentation?
The only thing that can come from that is contamination. You won't speed up the fermentation significantly. And there's no positive benefit to it. So, don't stir the cabbage.What happens if you ferment sauerkraut too long?
Also, a too high fermentation temperature can change the texture from crispy to mushy and limp. In summer months or warmer climates, fermenting for too long can lead to an unpleasant, acrid, and vinegary taste. You may have to rinse the kraut under running water before consuming it to reduce the acidic, sour taste.How to tell if your Sauerkraut has gone bad!
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