• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Room Makeovers
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Hearth and Vine
  • DIY Projects
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes

    How to Make Mason Jar Sauerkraut

    October 24, 2021 by Patti Estep 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Mason jars with cabbage in bread pan over a bowl of homemade sauerkraut
    Homemade sauerkraut in a mason jar.
    Mason Jar with cabbage pushed down with wooden spoon.

    Learn how to make mason jar sauerkraut with cabbage, salt, and a mason jar. This step by step tutorial will show you just how easy it is. Whether you grow your own cabbage or buy it from the store making your own sauerkraut is fun and rewarding.

    Mason jar Sauerkraut.

    Every year we eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's day for good luck. I usually buy canned sauerkraut from the grocery store. This year I decided I would try to make my own, using fresh cabbage and a mason jar. It tastes delicious with a great fresh flavor. You also need a clean quart size mason jar, some kosher or sea salt, and if you'd like some caraway seeds.

    Homemade Sauerkraut with Cabbage and Salt

    Easy Mason Jar Sauerkraut

    First, make sure you are working in a clean area and start with a large head of cabbage. Peel off some of the outer leaves, remove the core, and slice thinly.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    Bowl of shredded cabbage

     Layer the cabbage with a couple of teaspoons of salt, and let it sit for about an hour in a large bowl.

    Mashing shredded cabbage in mason jar

     Once it starts to break down start packing the cabbage in the jar and using a wooden spoon, really pack it in. Add the juices on top and make sure there's enough to cover. If not, make a brine, by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water.

    Making Your Own Sauerkraut

    You need to make sure the cabbage stays below the liquid. Many fancy crocks have special ceramic plates for this purpose, but I used a plastic bag filled with a little brine and it did the trick.

    Sauerkraut in a Mason Jars in bread pans

    Next, find a cool dark place to keep the jars for about three to four weeks. I placed mine in a loaf pan in a lower cabinet. After the first week, the jars had bubbled up and leaked into the loaf pan. Just loosen the lids slightly, and let a little air out, and then tighten them up again. Then wipe down the outside of the jars and clean the pan before setting the jars back in the cupboard.

    Top view of homemade sauerkraut

     Just a day or two shy of a month, and we had lovely fermented sauerkraut.

    Mason jar sauerkraut, who knew it was so easy? The little seeds are caraway seeds, which we like, but are optional.

    How Long Does Homemade Sauerkraut Last?

    It should last in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 months. Be sure to keep it well sealed with a tight lid to prevent bacteria from entering the jar.

    What Can You Do With Sauerkraut?

    • Eat it as a simple side dish to any meal.
    • Add it to sandwiches.
    • Top a hotdog brat, sausage, or burger.
    • Cook it with pork, kielbasa and serve it over mashed potatoes on New Year's Eve.
    DIY Sauerkraut in a bowl

    We cooked this yummy sauerkraut with some ribs and a small pork roast in the crockpot. It was really good. Now I think I'm going to have to make a few more to keep on hand. I may never go back to store-bought again.

    Need another reason to make homemade sauerkraut?

    Check out this article from Health Impact News about just how good sauerkraut is for your health.

    Patti signature

    More Great Cabbage Recipes

    • Pork and Sauerkraut Balls
    • Stuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole
    • Red Cabbage Apple Slaw

    Homemade Sauerkraut in Mason Jars

    Patti Estep
    Learn how to make homemade sauerkraut with cabbage, salt, and a mason jar. This step by step tutorial will show you just how easy it is.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Additional Time 30 days d 10 hours hrs
    Total Time 30 days d 10 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 28 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 10 cups Cabagge 1 large head
    • 1 tablespoon Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Caraway seeds optional

    Instructions
     

    • Take a large head of cabbage. Peel off some of the outer leaves, remove the core.
    • Using a sharp knife slice thinly or shred cabbage
    • Layer the cabbage with a couple of teaspoons of salt in a large bowl and let it sit for about an hour.
    • Once it starts to break down start packing the cabbage in a clean quart mason jar. Use a wooden spoon to really pack it in.
    • Add the juices on top and make sure there's enough to cover. If not, make a brine, by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water.
    • To make sure the cabbage stays below the liquid use a plastic bag filled with a little brine to weigh it down.
    • Place the jar(s) in a pan and find a cool dark place (away from direct sunlight) to keep the jar for about three to four weeks.
    • If you notice that the jar has bubbled up and leaked into the pan, loosen the lid slightly, and let a little air out then tighten again.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 28kcal
    Keyword homemade sauerkraut, sauerkraut recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Baked Apples with Cinnamon Recipe
    Fall Tablescape Ideas to Decorate your Dining Table »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kay Bowles

      October 29, 2021 at 8:17 am

      Hi Patti! We love sauerkraut but I have never considered making my own. I am clearly missing something though...when you said add juices to the jar, are we adding saltwater brine once we have packed all the cabbage in, to ensure liquid is above the top? Is the baggie with brine also added because cabbage will float above the liquid if not weighted down? I think I am overanalyzing this...sorry for my confusion. I think I am confused because I always assumed vinegar was involved in this process....and it clearly isn't! Thank you for another great blog!!! Kay

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        October 29, 2021 at 8:36 am

        Kay, you are not over-analyzing. My directions were unclear. You want to place the sliced cabbage and salt in a bowl first and let it sit. It will make some liquid on the bottom. Then pack it into the jar pouring the liquid over the top. If there isn't enough to cover make some brine. If you have extra brine you can use it in a baggie to weigh down the cabbage but just water works too. I hope that helps and you enjoy your own homemade sauerkraut.

        Reply
    2. Kim

      June 09, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Hi. Can't wait to make the raspberry schrub. I'll have fresh raspberries from my garden soon, perfect for the schrub. So refreshing on a hot summer day. Thanks for the recipe! Have a great day. Kim

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 09, 2016 at 7:40 am

        Thanks Kim. I hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    3. Renee Fuller

      January 06, 2016 at 7:11 pm

      A great recipe tutorial and one day I will have to try to make this but already know hubby won't eat it LOL

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 07, 2016 at 6:27 am

        It's weird but my husband love sauerkraut, yet he hates brussel sprouts? Sometimes we just have to make them for ourselves. Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    4. Heather @ New House New Home

      December 08, 2015 at 7:23 am

      You make it look so easy!!! I never knew that about eating it on New Years Day.

      Reply
      • Patti

        December 08, 2015 at 6:25 pm

        Hi Heather,

        I can't say whether it's an old wive's tale but we do it out of tradition and we like the taste too!
        THanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    5. Earlene Ginter

      December 04, 2015 at 4:57 pm

      We love krut,so will try this, I often put it in the crock pot with pork roast also have a salad krut recipe. I did about 2doz padded hangers, with old nylon hose now to cover them I have been very ill,so am doing small projects that donot take much thinking and can stop in the middle.

      Reply
      • Patti

        December 05, 2015 at 7:47 am

        Hi Earlene,

        Sorry to hear you are ill. I hope you enjoy the sauerkraut as much as we did and are feeling better very soon.
        Patti

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Patti profile pic

    Hi! I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects including crafts, gardening, home decor and tasty recipes.

    more about me

    Popular Posts

    Blue jean crossover bag

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    tabletop water gardens

    How to Make an Indoor Water Garden

    Echievera planter

    What to do With a Stretched Succulent

    Fabric bowl covers in 3 prints

    How to Make Fabric Bowl Covers

    Long blooming perennials including yarrow, geraniums, black-eyed susan, daisy, coneflower, coreopsis, and russian sage.

    10+ Long Blooming Perennials

    Chicken black bean tortilla casserole

    Chicken Black Bean Casserole Recipe

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    • Shop
    • Web Stories

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hearth and Vine