Sauerkraut & sodium (mushrooms, health, vegetables, leftover)

[wanderlust76]

I'm a huge sauerkraut fan but I hate how much sodium there is in a can of it. Does anyone know how much rinsing it off with a collander and squeezing it decreases the sodium content of it? If not does anyone know where to buy low sodium sauerkraut? I don't get why it has to be so salty the main thing I like about it is the sour taste.

[TKramar]

The salt is in the processing of cabbage to sauerkraut.

You could rinse it to cut the sodium, I don't know how much it helps, but it would remove some of it. So would soaking it. The salt would move from higher concentration to lower concentration.

[Herbrocks]

I've never seen low sodium kraut, but I've never looked. You could compare labels on different brands, perhaps you could shave off a few mgs that way. I would also check bottled and refrigerated brands, they may be lower too.

Rinsing will help some, but hard to tell how much exactly if you are counting mgs.

One trick I do with pickles is peel and spear fresh cucumbers, then soak them in leftover pickle juice for a few days. They get the pickle taste without as much sodium as regular pickles, but they don't keep as long. You might try this with leftover kraut juice, I would lightly steam the cabbage first to soften it a little.

You also might try to make your own, but I'm not familiar with the process myself.

[Gandalara]

I used to cook for my Dad who had sodium problems. I've rinsed my canned vegetables with tap water (mushrooms, all beans, etc) for years, ever since an old doctor told me it removed 40% to 50% of the sodium.

That said, I've never rinsed sauerkraut, since I won't eat the stuff But Mother Earth News has a recipe for Easy Salt-Free Sauerkraut that might be worth investigating.

[wanderlust76]

I just can't see making my own sauerkraut when you can buy a can of it for 60 cents :d. I bought some the other night at the store and every brand I checked had the same amount of sodium in it, basically a ton haha. I've read about some low sodium ones online but I don't know where you can buy them you probably have to go to one of those health food stores like Whole Food's or something. That sodium free recipe is pretty amazing if I ever get brave I might give it a try.