Should I add salt to my sauerkraut recipe if I add vegetables?
I am following a sauerkraut recipe which calls for a specific amount of salt. They say I can add other vegetables, like carrots. Do I need more salt if I add more vegetables?
Best Answer
If you are fermenting sauerkraut, then you should keep the salt content the same if you add other vegetables. The salt helps keeping undesirable bacteria in check, so you probably don't want to "dilute" it. Increase the amount of salt so the ratio between cabbage/vegetables and salt stays the same.
TL;DR: Treat any additional vegetables like cabbage when calculating the amount of salt.
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Is salt necessary for sauerkraut?
At its simplest, good homemade sauerkraut needs only salt and cabbage. When it comes to fermentation, salt performs a few important functions. First, salt helps to create an environment that favors lactobacillus bacteria. Those are the beneficial bacteria that make fermented vegetables both tasty and healthy.What can you add to sauerkraut to make it taste better?
Adding fruits and vegetables to your sauerkraut is a great way to enliven its flavor. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes and beets work particularly well since they stand up to fermentation nicely. Pomaceous fruits like apples and pears work nicely, too.What is the role of salt in fermentation of vegetables?
Salt also helps to draw water and sugars out of plant tissues during fermentation of vegetables. This water aids fermentation by filling any air pockets present in fermentation vats, resulting in reduced oxygen conditions that favor growth of lactic acid bacteria.How much salt do you need for ferment vegetables?
The majority of recipes recommend using 2% salt of the total weight of vegetables. For example, if you have 1kg of cabbage, you will need to add 20 grams of salt or 4 teaspoons.How To Make The Easiest Homemade Sauerkraut
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Answer 2
The salt amount usage will depends to the weight of the vegetables and water.
For example, if your current recipe calls for 2 lb. of cabbage, but now you are planing to do less cabbage and substitute that amount with carrots, then you don't need more salt.
However, if you would use 2 lb. of cabbage (according to recipe) and wish to put 1 lb. carrots into your mix, then naturally, you will need more salt, since you have to use more water to cover the additional vegetables.
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