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Fermented cabbage has been fermented in Rus' for a long time. At a time when refrigerators did not yet exist, this was a great way to preserve a healthy product until spring. When this vegetable is fermented, a process of lactic acid fermentation occurs with the formation of lactic acid. It is a natural substance present in the human body. It is the end product of glucose breakdown and is excreted through the kidneys.
The benefits of sauerkraut
Lactic acid not only poses no harm to humans, but also brings great benefits, as it is an antiseptic and suppresses the proliferation of pathological microorganisms in the intestines and prevents fermentation processes.
Cabbage is a very healthy product. Many different vitamins, including rare ones, a rich mineral composition and a considerable amount of fiber make it indispensable in the diet; it should be eaten as often as possible. Lactic acid contained in sauerkraut imparts its beneficial properties to it. The brine contained in the product is also useful. It is formed from cabbage juice and contains many vitamins and minerals. And vitamin C, of which there is a lot in this vegetable, is preserved in sauerkraut without loss.Whereas in fresh heads of cabbage its content decreases greatly over time during storage.
What kind of cabbage can be fermented?
Not everyone is suitable for fermentation cabbage varieties. In order for it to produce a high-quality product when fermented, the vegetable must have a sufficient sugar content. In this case, the process of lactic acid fermentation will be most successful. This condition is met by varieties that ripen in the middle and late periods.
Late-ripening varieties are also not all suitable for pickling. Many late varieties of this vegetable are intended for winter storage. Immediately after harvesting, such cabbage contains little sugar, its leaves are not juicy enough, so you cannot get high-quality pickling from it. But after a couple of months of storage, it is already quite suitable for these purposes, since it has time to accumulate the sugar necessary for fermentation.
The best varieties for pickling are domestic ones: Nadezhda, Belorusskaya, Slava, Podarok, Kharkovskaya Zimnyaya, Moscow Late. Particularly good is fermented cabbage made from old domestic varieties Slava and Belorusskaya. Suitability for pickling can be easily determined by appearance and taste. The head of cabbage should be almost white in color, the leaves should be juicy and sweet.
The first time from varieties that are planted specifically for pickling. A few months later, when the first batch is finished, ferment some of the heads of cabbage left for storage. So, the cabbage will not become acidic and will always be of high quality.
When is the best time to ferment cabbage?
Mid-season varieties of this vegetable begin to ripen in September.You can ferment cabbage during these periods if you have a cold place to store the product. By the end of October, late varieties are completely ready for consumption. Heads of cabbage slightly frozen by light frost are more suitable for pickling. It will not be stored fresh for a long time, but it will pick up more sugars, which is very important for fermentation.
In order for sauerkraut to be truly tasty and crispy, to have beneficial properties and to be stored until spring, it is very important to observe the correct timing for pickling. Our ancestors knew this, so they cooked the vegetable only on the waxing moon and on certain days. The fifth and sixth days of the lunar calendar are most suitable for this. The zodiac sign under which this day is located is also very important. The days when the Moon passes through the signs of Cancer, Pisces and especially Virgo are completely unsuitable for fermentation. The most suitable days are considered to be Aries, Sagittarius, Taurus. But the most delicious cabbage is fermented in Capricorn.
Advice! Many housewives consider the best days of the week for fermentation to be men's, that is, Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. The sauerkraut prepared on Thursday will surprise you with its excellent taste and good preservation.
Moon influence
Despite the fact that scientific and technological progress has firmly entered our lives, many gardeners, gardeners and flower growers still carry out many activities by checking the lunar calendar. And this is not without reason. The quantity and quality of the harvest depends on what phase the moon is in.
This factor is also important when pickling cabbage. Our grandmothers also selected days favorable for pickling, so that the cabbage would be crunchy, tasty and would not become soft during pickling and long-term storage.
The best time to ferment cabbage in 2022
When choosing the optimal time when it is better to ferment cabbage in 2022, its ripening period is largely influenced. For example, mid-ripening varieties can already be fermented in mid-to-late September, but late-ripening varieties should not be salted before early to mid-October.
The phases of the moon are of considerable importance in determining the timing. The best period for preparing sauerkraut is the waxing moon, starting from the fourth day. On the fifth day from the new moon, you can start pickling. During the full moon, new moon and waning moon, it is better not to prepare and postpone this important event.
As for the zodiac calendar, there are also some nuances here:
- you can do salting if the moon is in the signs: Aries, Taurus, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn;
- It is not advisable to ferment cabbage if the moon is located in the signs: Pisces, Cancer, Virgo.
There are several other folk signs when you can or cannot ferment cabbage:
- you cannot prepare sauerkraut before the Feast of the Exaltation, which is celebrated on September 27;
- You cannot ferment cabbage during the full moon or new moon - the product will turn out tasteless and soft;
- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are the best days of the week for pickling and pickling (the so-called “men’s days”);
- women should not pickle cabbage on menstrual days;
- It is not advisable to start fermenting cabbage on Friday - the product will be spoiled and will not be stored for long.
Early cabbage for pickling
Early varieties of cabbage are not suitable for pickling. But from this rules there is an exception. There is a variety of this vegetable that, when fermented, stores well and is of good quality. This is Number One Polar 206. It belongs to the mid-early variety and ripens within 80-120 days after germination.You can treat yourself to this sauerkraut at the end of July and August. The best time according to the lunar calendar to prepare it: in July - on the 30th and 31st, and in August from the 1st to the 6th.
When is the best time to cut cabbage for pickling?
To obtain high-quality sauerkraut, it is important not only to prepare it on the optimal day according to the lunar calendar, but also cut at the best time. For the preparation to be of high quality, the vegetable must be juicy. Vegetables have the most juice on the waxing Moon in water signs: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio. Cabbage cut these days will not be kept fresh for long, but it is most suitable for fermentation. Of course, only those people who have grown it themselves can choose the timing for harvesting the heads of cabbage.
If you prepare sauerkraut in compliance with all the rules, it will not only be stored for a long time, but will also become a source of vitamins and minerals in the winter. Its excellent taste allows you to eat it raw and prepare many delicious dishes.
Does the Moon really care at all when I make sauerkraut?
They fermented cabbage in Rus' when they had never even heard of the signs of the zodiac. Different villages had different customs. Some people ferment it on the new moon and it is just as crispy as on the waxing moon. It all depends on the variety of cabbage and its growing conditions.
There are so many contradictions in one article! So are men's or women's days most suitable for sauerkraut?
Good afternoon
Thank you very much for your attention. Not everyone will take the time to point out an inconsistency or error. It is best to ferment cabbage on men's days. Thursday is considered the best day of the week. There is also a sign that you can ferment cabbage on those days of the week that have the letter “R” in their names - Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday. Some people believe that on weekends (that is, Saturday and Sunday) you should not pickle cabbage at all. It is very difficult to determine where the truth is in this matter.
However, many housewives consider this tradition a relic of the past and start fermenting on those days when it is convenient for them, they are in a good mood, and most importantly, they have free time.