sauerkraut
Americannoun
noun
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."
Vocabulary lists containing sauerkraut
World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
New dietary guidelines rolled out last year by Kennedy and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for the first time recommended consuming fermented foods such as sauerkraut.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Kennedy often travels with a stash of sauerkraut.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Kennedy’s version is a bit different since he also eats fermented foods like sauerkraut.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
As of 2025, sales of fermented products, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, have increased as more Americans seek to improve their overall gut health, The Wall Street Journal reported in November.
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2026
When we had the money, we’d have bloodwurst or knockwurst and sauerkraut or sausages with baked potatoes and cabbage.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
