Crunch, sourness and full of nourishment – but which jar of fermented cabbage stands out?
When consumed raw, sauerkraut is a sour, umami-rich, and complex condiment that ranks among the simplest and most nourishing whole foods globally. It is produced by fermenting cabbage and other vegetables with spices and salt. The typical salt-to-cabbage ratio is approximately 2% salt by total weight of cabbage, though slight variations are acceptable unless salt intake is being restricted. Including a small serving of sauerkraut daily is a way to ensure intake of probiotics.
To extend shelf life, some sauerkrauts undergo heat treatment or pasteurisation; however, this process eliminates beneficial bacteria and probiotic properties. This review includes tasting a range of sauerkrauts from economical pasteurised supermarket varieties to premium mail-order products from leading fermenters nationwide.
The best supermarket sauerkraut
Best overall: Loving Foods organic sauerkraut with caraway and juniper
This bright white sauerkraut presents a sour, complex aroma. It is crunchy and bursting with intense flavor, featuring plump fermented caraway seeds and whole juniper berries distributed throughout. The product is raw and alive with fermentation, made with just 1% Celtic sea salt.
Best bargain: Hurly Burly original organic raw sauerkraut
Presented in a small plastic jar, this raw sauerkraut has a funky and savory scent. It is white in color and offers a refreshing taste with a satisfyingly sour twang. The texture is crunchy, with a lower-than-average 1.5% sea salt content, making it excellent value for an organic raw product.
And the rest …
Raw Vibrant Living organic sauerkraut classic
This sauerkraut has fresh cabbage and sourness on the nose with a gentle underlying funk. It is white and very fresh in appearance, very crunchy, with a unique sour flavor and pleasant sweetness. The sea salt content is very low at only 0.75%, offering excellent value.
Jamie Ferments sauerkraut
This large jar of extra thick-cut sauerkraut opened with a satisfying
phwummp!and then crackled with a lively fizz. It has a classic, satisfying sour cabbage aroma, a strong crunch, and a complex but subtle aniseed flavor derived from caraway and whole black peppercorns. The salt content is notably low at 0.8%.
Biona Organic golden turmeric sauerkraut
Featuring very finely shredded sauerkraut, this product has an incredible aroma of fresh turmeric and warming ginger with a savory undertone. The taste is refreshing with bright acidity and a well-rounded, powerful flavor. The crunch is medium. It is pasteurised and contains 1.68g of salt per 100g. This is an excellent value organic product.
The Cultured Collective fennel, apple & dill sauerkraut
This jar was explosive upon opening, fizzing and spurting, indicative of a sauerkraut alive with beneficial bacteria and wild flavors. It is fresh, thick-cut, and has a very rich, spicy, almost cumin-like aroma. The flavor is clear, bold, and intense, combining fennel, apple, and cabbage. The sea salt content is slightly higher than others in this test at 2.5%.
Moryń sauerkraut
This large jar contains very finely shredded long strands of white kraut. Although pasteurised, it retains a fresh cabbage smell and delicious crunch. The taste is fresh on the tongue, maintaining the quintessential sour twang, with a standard salt content of 1.94%.
Vadasz garlic & dill sauerkraut
Thick-cut with a sweet and savory dill aroma, this sauerkraut has a soft texture and a full dill-forward flavor, complemented by a hint of garlic and a rich fermented cabbage undertone. It also features a refreshing note from cucumber. It has received two stars from the Great Taste Awards and contains 1.5% salt.
Kühne sauerkraut
Contained in a round barrel-shaped jar, this finely shredded pale pasteurised sauerkraut has a perfectly funky aroma. The texture is tender with some bite, and the flavor is balanced between sweet and sour. The salt content is moderate at 1.3%, making it ideal for use with hotdogs.
Dawtona sauerkraut
This product consists of soft, finely shredded short strips of sauerkraut. It has a cooked cabbage aroma and a surprisingly sour and umami-rich flavor profile, despite containing only cabbage, water, and 1.9% salt in the ingredients list.
