Sauerkraut facts for kids

Sauerkraut, a tasty fermented cabbage dish.

Sauerkraut is a German word that means "sour cabbage." It's a popular food made from finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented. This means tiny, helpful living things called lactic acid bacteria work on the cabbage. They eat the sugars in the cabbage and turn them into lactic acid.

This process gives sauerkraut its special sour taste and helps it last a long time without going bad. It's different from coleslaw, which gets its sour taste from vinegar, not from fermentation. Sauerkraut has been enjoyed for centuries, especially in countries like Germany and Eastern Europe.

The Story of Sauerkraut

Wilhelm Busch's drawing from "Max and Moritz" (1865) shows Widow Bolte getting sauerkraut from a barrel.

People have been preserving vegetables using lactic acid for a very long time. This method was known and used by ancient civilizations, including the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans. It was a smart way to store food, especially cabbage, so people could eat it during the cold winter months when fresh vegetables were hard to find.

This ancient way of preparing cabbage helped people have food all year round. It's amazing how a simple process like fermentation has been so important throughout history!

Images for kids

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  German sauerkraut

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  Polish kapusta kiszona

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  Homemade sauerkraut

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  Eastern European-style sauerkraut pickled with carrots and served as a salad

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  Dutch zuurkoolstamppot includes sauerkraut mashed with potatoes and is traditionally served with rookworst

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  Pierogi with sauerkraut

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  Kapuśniak made with sauerkraut

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  Central European-style sauerkraut and sausages is a popular snack dish in pubs.

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  Czech Vepřo-knedlo-zelo

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  Pickled Eisbein served with sauerkraut

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  Alsatian Choucroute garnie

See also

In Spanish: Chucrut para niños