Cabbage Crusher Options

Chop The Cabbage

Oh, this little tool, a cabbage crusher, can come in handy! But, do you know how to use it and are you going to buy the right one?  If you are looking to make sauerkraut, having one will not only make your life easier, but it will also improve the end result. Making sure your cabbage is tamped into your container is paramount to making good sauerkraut. You can read all about making sauerkraut in my previous article. Whether called a cabbage crusher, sauerkraut stomper, sauerkraut tamper, or a sauerkraut pounder, the device is the same. You can view a more in-depth article here: cabbage crusher goes by many names.


This is the one I use! It’s the Sauer Stick by Fermentology.

Loose cabbage before using the cabbage crusher

You will need to cut, slice, or chop your cabbage. You will also want to knead, pound, stomp and “crush” it to make the best sauerkraut.

Shredded Cabbage
All the cabbage in a bowl, pot, or some sort of vessel that can hold the entire batch.

the cabbage crusher will be used when adding the cabbage to the fermentation container

After the cabbage is worked over really well, moving your loose cabbage from a large container into a fermentation vessel is much easier when you use a cabbage crusher.

Mash With a Cabbage Crusher
This can be quite a workout. There is actually a tool designed to help you with this, called a cabbage crusher. I use my hands!

Crushing Cabbage

You want to move a few handfuls at a time. After every few scoops, use the cabbage crusher to “crush” the cabbage tightly into the jar or crock. Don’t fill it too full, you need room for a weight and added liquid. Once the jar is nearly full, you want to add a weight or spacer to hold the cabbage down and then add the remaining juice. Be sure to leave about an inch of space at the top.

Fill Your Fermenter
Add the mashed cabbage to your fermenter. I use a funnel to minimize the mess. You also need to firmly mash the cabbage into the jar. Don’t do it too hard, you will break the jar. A cabbage crusher is a great tool for this step too!

There are many available options for cabbage crushers

Take your pick!


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