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

I celebrated a rail trip across Germany, for instance, with an Oktoberfest-style meal of brats and sauerkraut purchased from my local German butcher.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

He served some of his own wine — he’s a co-founder of Equality Vines out of Guerneville — and ordered a bunch of pizza, including a Sandusky special: sausage and sauerkraut.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 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

They slow-cook the beef in Indonesian spices for four hours before layering it with sauerkraut, mayo, sweet mustard, and pickles on sourdough.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2025

Anything to break up the monotony of herring, salt tack, and sauerkraut at every meal.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood