I've never had authentic German sauerkraut. All I know is that the American stuff tastes like it's already been digested and recycled five or six times. I know all the sauerkraut fans are going to hate me now! lol.
"All I know is that the American stuff tastes like it's already been digested and recycled five or six times. I know all the sauerkraut fans are going to hate me now! lol."
How dare you criticise the kraut! Who the he!! do you think you are! Nah, I'm just kidding, saurkraut isn't for everybody.
Take a can of American kraut, drain it, rinse it in strainer, put it in a skillet, add a tablespoon of bacon fat and a sprinkle of sugar across top, stir and heat thoroughly.........close to it......
Kuners is the best brand. Do you eat sauerkraut plain? You need it cooked with something like the roasted pork with all the browness and juices. I also put it in with the pork along with a raw cut potato and apple slices. When it is through cooking with the roast (several hours) it is all brown and golden and filled with flavor. Some people cook it in beer with cut up onion. But, I guess if you don'g like it you don't like it but...It IS delicious.
My grandparents always made their own sauerkraut. They came from Germany in 1923. They used 12 gallon stone crocks, grated the cabbage, which they grew themselves, added water, covered it with cheese cloth, a plate and a stone (which had been scrubbed) and kept it in a cool dark area of the cellar. Occasionally removing the plate and cheese cloth, skimmed the top, added new cheese cloth and replaced the plate. It was usually ready in about a month. I used to sneak down the cellar and steal a handful or two because it was so good. Can not find any thing on the market that tastes that good.
I actually like saurkraut,but you are right about the smell. My dad made some once when I was a kid in the basement in a 10 gallon crock. It didn't take long our basement smelled like we used it as a bathroom. MAN it got "Rank" down there. After it finished "Fermenting" dad cooked it up it wasn't too bad.