sauerkraut

American  

[souuhr-krout, sou-er-] / ˈsaʊərˌkraʊt, ˈsaʊ ər- /

noun

1. cabbage cut fine, salted, and allowed to ferment until sour.

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sauerkraut British  

/ ˈsaʊəˌkraʊt /

noun

1. finely shredded and pickled cabbage

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Etymology

Origin of sauerkraut

1610–20; < German, equivalent to sauer sour + Kraut greens

Explanation

Sauerkraut is pickled or fermented cabbage that has a distinctive sour flavor. If you see someone spooning something pale yellow from a jar onto their hot dog, chances are that is sauerkraut. You may have eaten sauerkraut on a hot dog or in a Reuben sandwich. It's also common in German, Czech, Polish, and French dishes, and in slightly different forms sauerkraut shows up in the cuisines of many other countries and regions. Sauerkraut is preserved and fermented by specific lactic acid bacteria that contribute to its sour taste. In German, Sauerkraut means "sour cabbage" or "sour vegetable."

Example Sentences

Kennedy’s version is a bit different since he also eats fermented foods like sauerkraut.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

An increasing number of nutrition scientists and food companies want us to eat more fermented foods—such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and…Gut Nuts?

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

“Beef rendang is one of my all-time favorite dishes. Put it between two slices of toasted sourdough with cheese and sauerkraut and it hits a whole new level,” he says.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2025

Grocery stores sell sauerkraut, borscht and blinis with cottage cheese.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2025

It’s not much fun when you have to eat, say, sauerkraut every day for lunch and dinner, but when you’re hungry enough, you do a lot of things.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank