Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

2

I'm out of homemade sauerkraut, and it'll be a few months before cabbages are ready locally. So I'm wondering if there's any reason to buy cabbage from afar and make it, rather than just buy sauerkraut. Does anyone know whether canned or bagged kraut in the stores has live probiotics in it? Or is it typically pasteurized or irradiated to kill anything?

flag	asked Apr 29 2011 at 16:14 Aaron B. 3,937●2●6●21

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-29 17:18:43Z UTC

1

Buy it from afar. I seem to be able to get a decent batch in a few days to a few weeks by varying the room temp. Have you experimented with this?

edited Apr 29 2011 at 17:18

answered Apr 29 2011 at 17:09

L. Peltier

I've made it directly in the jar, but haven't experimented with different temperatures. I suppose whey could also speed up the process. – Aaron B. Apr 30 2011 at 0:50

ben61820 · Answer 2 · 2011-04-29 16:15:32Z UTC

4

typically yes it is pasteurized. There are indeed products out there that are NOT but they will invariably explicitly state it on the label: "raw" "alive" "unpasteurized" etc.

answered Apr 29 2011 at 16:15

ben61820
16.1k●1●11●57

I was going to say exactly this! – Adam Crafter Apr 29 2011 at 23:27

Joshua · Answer 3 · 2011-04-29 16:24:51Z UTC

3

The Kimchee that I buy is definately alive, the jar "fizzes" and the brine is carbonated when I open it. Kimchee is basically spiced sauerkraut that isn't shredded... so...

answered Apr 29 2011 at 16:24

Joshua
19.4k●2●15●60

Lee · Answer 4 · 2011-04-29 16:23:36Z UTC

2

I've found the stuff in the refridgerator case more likely to be live.

answered Apr 29 2011 at 16:23

Lee
1,809●4●14

Bristlebeard · Answer 5 · 2011-04-29 16:32:58Z UTC

2

The canned, non-refrigerated kind is definitely "dead". Nicely heat pasteurized for longevity.

Off the top of my head, I know that "Bubbie's" brand kraut and pickles are still alive. I'd check in some of the local co-op's and such to see if there are other kinds in your area. Also, Whole Foods might carry live kraut.

answered Apr 29 2011 at 16:32

Bristlebeard
2,541●1●5●22

1

Whole Foods definitely carries Bubbies. I get it there all the time. – A at Grain Free Diet Apr 29 2011 at 16:44

Thanks. I guess I should have known the canned kind had to get pasteurized during the canning process. No Whole Foods within 2 hours, but I'll look around and see what's available locally. We've got a bag of kraut in the Fridge, Frank's Quality Kraut, but it doesn't say one way or the other. It does say to keep refrigerated, so maybe that's a good sign. – Aaron B. Apr 29 2011 at 16:54

I second bubbie'. It's pricey, but delicious. The kraut and the pickles. They even make pickled tomatoes. – Todd Apr 29 2011 at 17:38

amanda · Answer 6 · 2011-04-29 23:22:25Z UTC

I second checking local stores and co-ops. I've found the good stuff at tiny local health food stores in many areas of the country. Polish and German delis are another potential source. If nobody in you area carries it you could always see about ordering a case of Bubbies or a smaller local company's kraut through a health food store if you think you would use it all. For instance, I've been going bulk on this stuff since my current apartment is too small to accommodate fermentation crocks all over the place. I think the pricing is reasonable in bulk (I usually go through them directly at the farmer's market, but have also made a bulk order through a local specialty market), but it's still way cheaper (and more satisfying) to make your own. If I could, I would be using cabbage from away.

oak0y · Answer 7 · 2011-04-29 16:59:16Z UTC

Try anf failure. usually fresh saurkraut is in the fridge. the one who isnt cooled isnt fresh its precooked. I havent seen pasturized sauerkraut here in germandy. either precooked or cooled and fresh. i only look in organic shops for it.

Is Store-Bought Sauerkraut ‘Alive’?

7 Answers