Sauerkraut gets its distinctive sour flavor from lactic acid that forms when the natural sugars in the cabbage are fermented. It’s pretty easy to make this happen at home, so get some cabbage and try it! See Step 1 below to get started.
Step One
Ingredients: One head of cabbage (as fresh as possible).Salt.The added iodine in common table salt will interfere with the microorganisms, so instead use sea salt or pickling ("canning") salt, which has no added iodine or anti-caking agents.
Step Two
Shred the cabbage:Remove any outer leaves that are brown or damaged. DON'T wash the cabbage -- you'll want the natural bacteria on the leaves. They're what causes the fermentation to occur that turns cabbage into sauerkraut.Weigh the cabbage head. You can do this at the store before bringing it home, since many supermarkets have scales.Cut the head into quarters, so that the core (stem) is cut into quarters.De-core by slicing away the thick stem.With the quarter-head on a cutting board, carefully slice the cabbage into shreds about the thickness of a dime. Some people shred them more thickly, though (about a quarter inch).
Step Three
Put the cabbage shreds in a glass or ceramic crock.
Step Four
Massage and squeeze the cabbage with your hands. This is to break down cell walls and encourage the release of water. Continue until the cabbage feels very wet.
Step Five
Push down the shreds and see how much liquid there is. If you can't compact the shreds below the level of the liquid, add some salt water: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of non-iodized salt in a cup of water, and add it to the cabbage shreds.
Step Six
Let it ferment. Put it in a cool place and wait about 4-6 weeks. 60 to 70 degrees F will speed up the process but cooler temps may produce better flavor. Try the sauerkraut once a week until it reaches the flavor you're looking for. If it's in a jar, keep an eye on it and unscrew the lid periodically to let air escape. Don't worry if some mold grows around the edges of the container. It won't get far. Just remove it when you see it.