Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600857
10/13/97

### SUITABLE CONTAINERS, COVERS, AND WEIGHTS FOR FERMENTING FOOD

        A  1-gallon  container is needed for each 5  pounds  of

    fresh
     vegetables.  Therefore, a 5-gallon stone crock is  of

    ideal
     size for fermenting about 25 pounds of fresh  cabbage

    or
     cucumbers.  Food-grade plastic and glass containers  are

    excellent
     substitutes  for stone crocks.  Other  l-  to  3-

    gallon
     non-food-grade  plastic containers may  be  used  if

    lined
    inside with a clean food-grade plastic bag.   CAUTION:

    BE
    CERTAIN THAT FOODS CONTACT ONLY FOOD-GRADE PLASTICS.   DO

    NOT
    USE GARBAGE BAGS OR TRASH LINERS.  Fermenting sauerkraut

    in
     quart  and  half-gallon  Mason  jars  is  an  acceptable

    practice,
    but may result in more spoilage losses.

        Cabbage and cucumbers must be kept 1 to 2 inches  under

    brine
     while fermenting.  After adding  prepared  vegetables

    and
    brine, insert a suitably sized dinner plate or glass pie

    plate
    inside the fermentation container.  The plate must  be

    slightly
     smaller  than  the container  opening,  yet  large

    enough
     to cover most of the shredded cabbage or  cucumbers.

    To
    keep the plate under the brine, place on it 2 to 3 sealed

    quart
     jars  filled  with  water.   Covering  the  container

    opening
     with  a clean, heavy bath towel  helps  to  prevent

    contamination
     from insects and molds while  the  vegetables

    are
    fermenting.  Fine quality fermented vegetables are  also

    obtained
     when the plate is weighted down with a very  large

    clean,
    plastic bag filled with 3 quarts of water  containing

    4-1/2
     tablespoons of salt and be sure to seal  the  plastic

    bag.
      Freezer bags sold for packaging turkeys are  suitable

    for
     use  with 5-gallon  containers.

        The  fermentation  container, plate, and jars  must  be

    washed
     in  hot sudsy water, and rinsed well with  very  hot

    water
    before use.

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