Sourdough cabbage is a simple procedure, but it requires certain knowledge and skills. In order for the preparation to be tasty, to be stored for a long time and not to lose its attractive appearance, it is important to use only high-quality ingredients, strictly observe the recipe for preparation and the rules for storing the product.
If you ferment the cabbage according to all the rules, then it will turn out delicious and will have an attractive appearance. Preserving these data in food is the primary task when salting a vegetable for future use. After all, if you violate the storage conditions of the product, then the cabbage may darken or even blacken, deteriorate.
Why does sauerkraut darken / turn black
Most often, cabbage that is not in the brine darkens (improper storage of the product provokes evaporation of the brine). As a result, certain processes begin to occur in the cabbage - bacteria multiply, which negatively affect the color of the vegetable. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to store the fermented workpiece in a cool place and under pressure.
Also, cabbage can darken due to the chemical reaction of acidic brine with metal objects (containers for fermentation, knitting needles for piercing cabbage, etc.). In this case, you can protect cabbage from changing color only by using suitable utensils for the starter product. Ideal options are glass jars, wooden tubs and lancing devices, and enamel pots.
Cabbage may darken slightly or acquire a grayish tint due to rotting. In general, sauerkraut begins to rot only in advanced cases, namely, when the rules for fermenting and storing the workpiece are completely ignored, for example, poorly washed cutlery is used to puncture and take a sample from the product, the temperature regime for storing food is not observed.
Sauerkraut has darkened: is it possible to eat
Whether or not you can eat browned cabbage depends on the reason for the browning. If only the top layer of the product has darkened, then you can remove the unsightly part of the food, and eat the rest. If the vegetable has changed color as a result of a chemical reaction with metal objects or damage, then in this case it is impossible to eat the dish.
