Can you pressure can LF sauerkraut?

[blueridgewoman]

Or is it even necessary? I was thinking about preserving some sauerkraut for long term storage since we were going to be growing our own cabbage this year and I expect a large quantity all at once.

Can you pressure can it after its fermented to your liking, or will it continue to ferment? I've eaten fermented veggies that have been in the fridge for up to a year, but I was thinking of a more permanent, power loss proof solution.

[Rasa]

If you can and/or pressure can, you will kill all the bacteria. So it will be preserved but the LF properties will be gone.

Don't know if it's necessary--the Bubbies LF sauerkraut I've purchased (for example) often has an expiration date of close to a year or more (could be more--can't quite remember except thinking--Wow!) So I imagine if you're very conscientious about keeping a clean environment (jars, prep, etc.), your homemade LF sauerkraut should last a good long while too (under refrigeration once it's to your liking).

Disclaimer: never actually made LF sauerkraut myself ;-)

[stephienoodle]

I wouldn't. The heat from pressure canning will kill all of the bacteria. It won't continue to ferment, but it also won't have the beneficial bacteria, enzymes and will degrade some of the nutrients.

Can you rig a root cellar type situation? Or... do you have a creek on your property? I can't remember. Because you could also keep it in the fridge, but in the event of long-term power outage you could use cold creek water in a tub of some sort to partially submerge jars of sauerkraut. It would keep the kraut cool enough that it would keep. It wouldn't keep quite as long as it would in the fridge, but it wouldn't spoil that quickly, either.

I know there's a book on root-cellaring at Central Library... it is on my to-read list. It might be helpful in figuring this kind of stuff out.

[Teenytoona]

My stepdad, the family stock it up guy, says cabbages themselves overwinter very well, when stored properly. And I know from making my own, that LF sauerkraut stores for a while, just in a jar with a lid (I've never canned). I hope to grow many cabbage this year too. My thought is store the cabbage properly and you can make the sauerkraut as you go along through the winter. That's what I plan to do.

[mamadelbosque]

I'm not 100% sure how my grandparents used to make sauerkraut, but I know they used to can it, though just in a waterbath. Alternatively, my grandpa remembers having a big old crock of it in the basement and just going and getting a hand/spoon ful whenever they wanted/needed it as a kid... sometimes skimming the top part that had gotten moldy off?? Sounds kinda icky to me, but I'm not a huge sauerkraut person anyhow, so...