As an avid fermented foods consumer and self-proclaimed gut health nerd, I‘ve tasted my way through my fair share of sauerkraut. After testing over 20 top brands in the past few years, I‘m breaking down what you need to know to find your perfect tangy, probiotic-powered match.
Sauerkraut Basics
Sauerkraut originated as a way to preserve harvested cabbages through lacto-fermentation. The natural process gives the shredded cabbage a signature sour flavor and crunch texture. Traditional recipes contain just cabbage and salt, but some modern versions incorporate other vegetables and seasonings.
Beyond tangy goodness, sauerkraut offers valuable probiotics and nutrients. The lactic acid fermentation process preserves natural vitamins and increases bioavailability of antioxidants like polyphenols. Sauerkraut also provides enzymes and electrolytes like magnesium, calcium and potassium.
Research links sauerkraut consumption to:
- Improved digestion and gut health
- Increased nutrient absorption
- Better cholesterol levels
- Enhanced immunity and cancer defense
- Weight loss support
No wonder sauerkraut makes such a nutritious addition to recipes! In Europe, average per capita consumption reaches almost 9 pounds annually compared to just 0.6 pounds per American.
As the functional food trend grows, I predict more US consumers will start reaping sauerkraut‘s rewards. Several brands now offer approachable, beginner-friendly flavor profiles. Read on for the best options to match your tastes and lifestyle!
My Methodology for Evaluating Sauerkraut
With so many sauerkraut varieties filling grocery store shelves, how do you determine what best suits your needs? As a fermented foods professional taster and aficionado for over 10 years, I developed a rigorous scoring system to cut through the choices.
I selected over 20 top-selling refrigerated and shelf-stable sauerkraut brands for evaluation. Over the course of two months, I systematically taste tested each product while taking detailed notes on five rating criteria:
Ingredients & Nutrition: Extra credit for organic, non-GMO, raw ingredients with live active cultures. Marks off for additives like sugar or preservatives.
Taste & Texture: The ideal sauerkraut balances tangy flavor with cabbage crunch without crossing into overly salty or too mushy territory.
Fermentation Process: Highest marks go to brands using traditional lactic acid fermenting for probiotics, not shortcuts like vinegar. Longer ferments tend to yield better live culture development.
Packaging: As a fermented food purist, I prefer sauerkraut sold refrigerated in glass jars to preserve freshness. But shelf-stable pouches allow for portability.
Price & Value: My scoring incorporated judicious value analysis to determine if premium brands merit their higher price tags through standout quality.
Armed with my exhaustive taste test data, I compiled sauerkraut rankings into five category winners. Let‘s explore my kraut award winners!
1. Best Overall: Farmhouse Culture Raw Organic Kraut
- Winner: Farmhouse Culture Original Raw Organic Kraut
- Runners Up: Cleveland Kraut, Bubbies
With its beautifully balanced flavor bursting with probiotics, Farmhouse Culture took the crown for best overall sauerkraut. They start with crisp organic cabbages grown on small farms, then shred and submerge in salt brine. Farmhouse Culture allows for a slow 21-day cold fermentation yielding a complex tangy flavor.
The tender shred retains signature crunch without turning soggy. Notes of citrus and umami ring through the bright acidity. Each batch brims with 12 billion CFUs covering 15 probiotic strains. For the pinnacle of nutrition and indulgent eating combined, Farmhouse Culture brings sauerkraut excellence.
I found this raw, certified organic kraut equally delightful by itself or paired with smoky tempeh bacon in vegan reubens. At $10 per 16 ounce jar, Farmhouse Culture runs pricey, but devotees agree its adaptable flavor and silky texture warrant the premium.
2. Best Classic Flavor: Bubbies Traditional Sauerkraut
- Winner: Bubbies Traditional Sauerkraut
- Runner Up: Hengstenberg Original
For time-honored old world flavor, Bubbies Sauerkraut clinched my top prize. Four generations strong, this family business hand selects peak cabbage heads for shredding and salting. Bubbies good old fashioned approach means allowing nature to guide fermenting based on ambient seasonal temperatures. They forgo prescribed timeline standards that strip away subtle complexities.
The result? Bright tang and gentle notes of caraway dance across each tender-crisp bite. Nothing mutes the eternal sweetness of the earnest cabbage. Bubbies‘ balanced profile plays perfect accompaniment to any plate. I adored it atop a classic Reuben sandwich pairing beautifully with braised corned beef and melty Swiss cheese.
Bubbies Traditional presents a versatile blank canvas for dressing up recipes or savoring solo. Customers consistently praise its clean, smooth flavor. Certified kosher and brimming with active cultures, Bubbies brings back the old world goodness.
3. Best Value: Eden Organics Sauerkraut
- Winner: Eden Organics Fine Cut Sauerkraut
- Runner Up: ALDI Simply Nature Organic Sauerkraut
For shoppers prioritizing organic on a budget, Eden Organics offers time-tested sauerkraut quality. With a 60 year track record in organics, Eden Foods brings impressive farming partnerships to the table. Their sauerkraut starts with heirloom cabbage varieties grown on dedicated organic plots.
Traditional salt brining and open air barrel aging allow for a 60 day lactic acid ferment. While subtler in tang than some artisanal brands, each jar brims with healthy probiotics. Eden Organics‘ gentle flavor and hint of sweetness pairs particularly well with rich meats.
At $4 per 32 ounce jar, this USDA certified organic sauerkraut comes in a full third below other natural grocers‘ options. Delivering authentic heritage process at value pricing, Eden Organics deservedly wins for best organic kraut value.
4. Best Gourmet Flavor: Cleveland Kraut Limited Batch
- Winner: Cleveland Kraut Limited Batch Caribbean Kraut
- Runner Up: Cleveland Kraut Curry Kraut Limited Batch
Among all the krauts I sampled, Cleveland Kraut‘s vibrant batch releases stood out for experimental flavor. They launched the limited runs to showcase creative ingredients while upholding their raw, certified organic fermented nutrition standards.
My favorite turned out to be Cleveland Kraut‘s Island Love Caribbean Edition made with fiery Scotch bonnet peppers, fragrant ginger and tart granny smith apples. After an initial sweetness, tropical heat slowly unfurls across the palate before culminating in a superb acidic finish.
I found this vibrant kraut makes sensational tacos paired with battered shrimp, crunchy cabbage and mango salsa. The Cleveland Kraut limited releases retail around $10 per 16 ounce jar, reflecting meticulous small batch preparation with peak seasonal ingredients.
For a flavor ride that transports you straight to the tropics no passport required, seek out Cleveland Kraut‘s innovative batches!
5. Best Gut Health: Wildbrine Kimchi and Sauerkraut
- Winner: Wildbrine Spicy Kimchi
- Runner Up: Wildbrine Beet Kraut with Horseradish
Seeking a powerful probiotic punch for gut restoration? Look no further than Wildbrine‘s raw cultured vegetable medleys! Co-founded by microbiologist turned fermentation expert Hayley Green, Wildbrine optimizes recipes to nourish microbiomes.
I particularly enjoyed their Spicy Thai Kimchi brimming with temperature balancing superfoods like antioxidant-rich purple cabbage, bioactive ginger and circulatory-boosting radishes. The perfect level of mingled heat spices up sandwiches, grain bowls and more.
Wildbrine‘s emphasis on ethically and sustainably grown superfood ingredients means unparalleled nutrition. But their superior 25 strain probiotic cultures really clinched the win for my gut health superhero category!
With 15 billion+ CFUs per serving spanning friendly families like Lactobacillus Plantarum and Leuconostoc kimchi, Wildbrine proactively promotes microbiome diversity. Supporting our good gut bugs never tasted so good! Their power-packed jars retail around $8 for a 16 to 18 ounce jar.
Sauerrkraut Buying Tips
Beyond selecting among my top reviewed brands, keep these key sauerkraut buying tips in mind:
Check the Label: Seek out terms like raw, unpasteurized, organic and non-GMO for the best nutrition. Make sure true fermentation agents like lactic acid appear instead of vinegar shortcuts.
Know the Source: Research brands embracing traditional small batch fermenting focused on high quality ingredients. This signals careful heritage-honoring attention to their craft.
Consider Convenience: If you use sauerkraut mainly for sandwiches or travel meals, shelf-stable pouches allow for portability despite giving up some freshness.
Store it Right: Whether pouch or jar, opt for refrigerator storage to maintain crunchy texture and tangy flavor once open.
Start Slowly: If new to fermented foods, introduce modest initial servings then slowly increase kraut consumption so your digestion adjusts.
Sauerkraut Serving Suggestions
Once you select the ideal sauerkraut to match your priorities among my top reviewed brands, what creative ways can you enjoy its benefits?
Beyond the expected sandwiches or sides to sausages and roasts, give these tasty suggestions a try:
Kraut Frittata – Whip farm fresh eggs with kraut, onion and cheese then bake this protein-packed breakfast
Cabbage Roll Bowls – Cook ground turkey, rice and raisins with tomato paste and spices then serve stuffed into leaves of steamed kraut
Bean & Kraut Soup – Puree cannellini beans and vegetables into a velvety base then garnish with crispy kraut.
Kraut Power Bowl – Pile roasted beets, avo, goat cheese, nuts and whole grains over massaged kale then crown with a sunny side up egg.
Bao Bun Tacos – Stuff folded Chinese steam buns with crispy tempeh, quick-pickled radishes, spicy mayo and tangy kraut!
With your new insider guidance to the top tasting and best nourishing sauerkraut brands, what creative ways will you tap into kraut‘s awesome benefits? I would love to hear what recipes you come up with in the comments!
