What is Kraut juice?
Kraut juice is probably the cheapest and most probiotic-packed beverage that you can make for yourself at home. It only takes a few minutes, and it is a great way to get started making fermented foods. We drink this regularly at our house and we also give it away any time our friends or neighbors have tummy bugs. The probiotics help tip the balance in favor of the “good guys” in your belly. It isn’t always easy to eat when you are sick, but it is important to stay hydrated. Just sip on it throughout the day until you start to feel better. It works great!
Kraut Juice and Cabbage Nutrition Facts:
- Cabbage has more vitamin C per serving than an orange. Vitamin C is great for those suffering from adrenal fatigue. Also, the vitamins and minerals in cabbage become more bio-available (your body can absorb them) as the cabbage ferments. The end result is a beverage that is easy to make, has more probiotics than your probiotic supplement, and is packed with bio-available vitamins and minerals to keep your body running as it should.
- It is anti-microbial and anti-fungal!
- Kraut and kraut juice lower inflammation. As you have probably heard by now, inflammation is the root of most diseases. Why let it stick around? Go here for an interesting post from Dr. Axe to learn about how inflammation causes disease and what you can do to stop it.
- Kraut juice contains vitamin U (S methylmethionine aka SMM) which is healing to the intestinal lining. So this is great for not only bouts of GI distress brought on by viruses, bacteria, or food poisoning, but can also be useful for Leaky Gut (or Intestinal Permeability).
My kids drink this straight and enjoy it, but if your kids (young or old) aren’t big fans of the mildly tart taste, you could mix it with some juice.
If you have been meaning to try some fermenting at home, this is a great recipe for getting your feet wet. Happy fermenting!
How to Make Kraut Juice:
- One head green cabbage
- 6 Tablespoons sea salt ( I use Celtic)
- Filtered water
- Shred the head of cabbage. You can do this with a knife or use the grater blade on your food processor to do this.
- Put the shredded cabbage into a glass or stainless steel bowl, add the salt, and stir. Walk away and do another kitchen project or go relax with a book.
- After about 20 minutes, the cabbage should have wilted a bit and released some juice.
- Fill jars about 1/3 to 1/2 full with cabbage and released juices. I use half gallon mason jars for this, but you could use any size jars. Fill the jars the rest of the way with filtered water, but leave an inch or inch and a half to allow for expansion. Cap your jars with plastic lids, airlocks, or just the regular mason jar lids.
- Store in a cool, dark place for about 2 weeks and up to 4 months.
- Move to the refrigerator and enjoy! Sip some anytime you feel a bug coming on.
Kraut Juice
Chelsea
A fermented beveraged that is loaded with probiotics, vitamins, and minerals.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
- One head green cabbage
- 6 Tablespoons sea salt I use Celtic
- Filtered water
Shred the head of cabbage. You can do this with a knife or use the grater blade on your food processor to do this.
Put the shredded cabbage into a glass or stainless steel bowl, add the salt, and stir. Walk away and do another kitchen project or go relax with a book.
After about 20 minutes, the cabbage should have wilted a bit and released some juice.
Fill jars about 1/3 to 1/2 full with cabbage and released juices. I use half gallon mason jars for this, but you could use any size jars. Fill the jars the rest of the way with filtered water, but leave an inch or inch and a half to allow for expansion. Cap your jars with plastic lids, airlocks, or just the regular mason jar lids.
Store in a cool, dark place for about 2 weeks and up to 4 months.
Move to the refrigerator and enjoy! Take anytime you feel a bug coming on.
Have you ever tried kraut juice? If so, did you make it yourself? If not, are you going to give it a try?
View Comments
Are you supposed to strain the cabbage out before refrigerating?
Hi Kristene,
Yes, after fermenting, strain the cabbage out and then refrigerate. You can eat it (it will taste like a mild kraut and be full of beneficial bacteria and vitamins) or compost it.
Chelsea
Have you ever tried to let this ferment juice like water kefir? I was just wondering the other day if kraut juice would make juice a little bubbly. Somehow, I'm without water kefir right now - crazy!
I have never tried, but I bet you could do a second ferment and flavor it. What a great idea!
We like sauerkraut but I haven't tried the juice yet. What do you do with the remaining cabbage.
You can eat it, but it isn't as crispy as kraut. I like to add it to a soup once it is cooled so that I still get the probiotics but the texture doesn't bother me.
Oh I've never heard of kraut juice... definitely sounds like an easy way to start fermenting!
I also love that you mention that this is better than probiotics... I don't get why people are all crazy about taking probiotics when they could easily make their own ferments and save a ton of money!!
This is a great idea! It never occurred to me to make a sauerkraut juice! And it seems so easy too! How long does it last in the refrigerator?
Thanks for the info and the inspiration! :)
It will last for months (6-8) as long as you used very clean utensils and a sterilized jar. :)
Love it! Homemade probiotic Sauerkraut has been by far the most powerful treatment for a stomach ulcer which a close family member suffered with (and medicine was not). Not only will this juice also help to ease symptoms for those looking to benefit their immune and digestive system, but it's easy to make and no doubt delicious! Never overlook fermentation hehe :)
Thanks for sharing,
James