Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (2024)

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Our traditional New Year's meal is pork and sauerkraut and it is meant to bring good luck in the New Year. This sous vide pork and sauerkraut recipe is amazing because you can choose the doneness of the pork without over cooking it.

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (1)

Be sure to add Hoppin' John recipe aka Carolina beans and rice for an added bit of good luck in the New Year.

If you don't have a sous vide circulator you can make an oven-roasted pork and sauerkraut recipe or even slow cooker pork and sauerkraut recipe with amazing results as well. There are benefits to each cooking method but the crock pot recipe is super simple and very much a set it and forget it type of meal.

Sous Vide Pork and Sauerkraut ingredients:

  • Pork loin
  • Sauerkraut
  • Apple (optional)
  • Onion (optional)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

What cut of pork should be used?

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (2)

In this recipe I am using a boneless pork loin. The bone in will give you another layer of flavor but the boneless loin will be easier to carve. The bone in may also puncture a sous vide bag, depending on the quality of the bag and the placement of the bone. Pork tenderloin is not recommended because it will not hold up to the extended cook time in the oven. Save your tenderloin for your pork tenderloin lemon piccata.

Should you sear the pork before placing in the sous vide bag?

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (3)

I recommend searing your pork before cooking it in the sous vide bag. By searing the meat you are caramelizing the outside of the roast giving it color along with flavoring. Be sure your pan is screaming hot before you place me meat face down in the pan. Do not move it or poke it for at least 4 minutes.

You will know the meat is properly seared when you can easily flip it over with tongs without tugging too much on the meat to get it to release. Also be sure the outside is cooled enough so it won't melt or compromise the integrity of the sous vide bag.

More pork recipes:

  • Bacon Jam Recipe
  • Ham Pot Pie
  • Copycat chipotle carnitas recipe

Can I leave out the apples and onions in this recipe?

Apples and onions are completely optional in this recipe and my Grandma is probably fainting right now for suggesting it but hear me out. By caramelizing onions and adding an apple to this recipe will add an element of sweetness to the sauerkraut, cutting the tartness. But if you are a sauerkraut purist, and love the tang of the kraut leave the apple and onion out. But if you are a newbie to pork and sauerkraut I suggest adding them.

What is the best sauerkraut for this recipe?

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (4)

I suggest silver floss sauerkraut. It comes in a bag and is usually found in the meat department next to the pork or even in the refrigerator produce section. You are welcome to use canned sauerkraut but I wouldn't recommend it. You do you but if you are asking, I recommend the bagged sauerkraut.

How big of a bag should I use?

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (5)

Be sure the bag that you are going to use to sous vide your pork is big enough to handle the size of the piece of meat. The bags that I had were not big enough so I had to pull out my Food Saver roll of bags with the gusset. Just be sure to make the gussets flat before sealing. I also do a double seal, I have trust issues.

I also will use my gusset bags when I am making sous vide pork shoulder. 24 hours in the sous vide and then 2 hours on the smoker or in the oven. Pure perfection!

What temperature should I cook the pork?

Ah! The question everyone wants to know. I cook my pork at 150 for 12 hours. 150 may be too high and too done for some people. But keep in mind I grew up with pork that was VERY done and the struggle was always to get the pork NOT DRY. So 150 is NOT DRY for me but over done for others.

Pork checkoff recommends a minimum of 145. See their visual representations of doneness in their pork temperature charts. With sous vide keep in mind that temperature = doneness and time= texture. So the longer the time the more tender the meat.

How to cook sous vide pork and sauerkraut:

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (6)
  1. Pat the meat dry.
  2. Place the meat, fat side up, into the pan and sear for at least 4 minutes.
  3. Flip the meat to sear on all sides.
  4. Remove the pork and place in the sous vide bag.
  5. Saute the onion and the apple in the pan.
  6. Deglaze the pan, scraping up the pork bits.
  7. Pour the apples, onions and deglaze into the sous vide bag along with the rest of the sauerkraut.
  8. Sous vide for 12 hours.
  9. Remove from the water bath and place the pork and krout on a serving platter.

***If not using apples and onions in this recipe, still sear the pork and deglaze the pan with sauerkraut juice.

📖 Recipe

Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (7)

Sous Vide Pork and Sauerkraut

Sarah Mock

Our traditional New Year's meal is pork and sauerkraut and it is meant to bring good luck in the New Year. This sous vide pork and sauerkraut recipe is amazing because you can choose the doneness of the pork without over cooking it.

4.74 from 23 votes

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Note From Sarah

There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

Prep time for the recipePrep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook time for the recipeCook Time 12 hours hrs

Cool TimeAdditional Time 15 minutes mins

total time to prep and cook the recipe.Total Time 12 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Crock-Pot Recipes

Cuisine American

Makes 6

Per Serving 71 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4 lb Pork loin
  • 2 pounds Sauerkraut
  • 1 Apple (optional)
  • 1 Onion (optional)
  • drizzle Olive oil
  • Salt & pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Pat the meat dry and season with salt and fresh cracked pepper.

  • Heat a heavy bottom pan to high on the stove top. Add a drizzle of olive oil.

  • Place the meat, fat side up, into the pan and sear for at least 4 minutes to get good caramelization on the surface. [mv_img id="48242"]

  • Flip the meat to sear on all sides.

  • Remove the pork, cool slightly and place in the sous vide bag.

  • Saute the onion and the apple in the pan until they start to take on color. [mv_img id="48233"]

  • Use some of the liquid from the sauerkraut to deglaze the pan, scraping up the pork bits.

  • Pour the apples, onions and deglaze into the bag along with the rest of the sauerkraut. [mv_img id="48267"]

  • Remove the air from the bag and seal. Double seal if desired.

  • Lower the sous vide bag into a 150 bath and cook for 12 hours.

  • Remove from the bath and place the pork and krout on a serving platter.

Notes

Use silver floss sauerkraut, found in the meat section of the grocery store.

Bone in pork loin is another option for the boneless pork loin.

If not using apples and onions in this recipe, still sear the pork and deglaze the pan with sauerkraut juice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1049mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g

Nutrition Disclosure

Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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About Sarah Mock

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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Sous Vide Pork And Sauerkraut Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What temperature should pork be sous vide? ›

Sous vide – cook the pork chops at 140°F for at least 1 hour (up to 4 hours). Sear – add the ghee or oil to a cast-iron skillet over high heat, then add the pork chops to the pan. Sear for about 2 minutes per side, until a crust forms.

What is the best cut of pork to cook with sauerkraut? ›

There are two things that make this Slow Cooker Pork and Sauerkraut Recipe the BEST! Time: Pork loin is best when it is braised over a long period of time with the sauerkraut, as the tenders in the meat are broken down and the pork loin becomes tender and juicy.

Is sauerkraut and pork good for you? ›

Cabbage, the plentiful winter workhorse of a vegetable, became a perfect culinary pairing for pork. Made into sauerkraut, it was seen as a sign of longevity, wealth and happiness, and stored well for the entire winter. Sauerkraut is high in fiber, vitamins A and K, and boosts the immune system with energy and iron.

Can I sous vide pork at 135 degrees? ›

There's a range of temperatures you can use to sous vide pork, and it is safe as long as it's cooked about 130°F (54.4°C) but most people prefer their pork cooked higher than 135°F (57.2°C). From a safety perspective, as long as you cook it long enough to pasteurize it, 135°F (57.2°C) is just as safe as 165°F (73.8°C).

How do you know when sous vide pork is done? ›

Temperature is by far the overriding factor. By adjusting the temperature of your cooker, you can cook your pork chops to anywhere from a pink, juicy rare (130°F; 54°C) to a firm but still moist well-done (160°F; 71°C). Bear in mind that the hotter you cook, the more moisture you're going to squeeze out of the pork.

How long to leave pork in sous vide? ›

Rare: 130°F / 54°C, 1 to 4 hours - Tender, juicy, and a little slippery. Medium-Rare: 140°F / 60°C, 1 to 4 hours - Tender, juicy, and meaty (my favorite). Medium-Well: 150°F / 66°C, 1 to 4 hours - Quite firm and just starting to dry out.

Why do Germans eat pork and sauerkraut? ›

According to Wild Brine, the Germans believe it will bring you good luck for the new year because pigs look forward not backward when they root for food. This tradition would begin in Germany and brought to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries.

When to have pork and sauerkraut? ›

In case you haven't heard, it's tradition to eat pork and kraut on New Year's Eve at midnight, which technically means New Year's Day. Among the many traditions surrounding the coming of the New Year, this one is both tasty and easy to complete, unlike some of those tough resolutions.

What country is pork and sauerkraut from? ›

The meal was initially created in Germany hundreds of years ago and was later introduced to the states by the Pennsylvania Dutch, where it quickly took off, PAeats stated. While pork and sauerkraut are commonly associated with Pa., and especially the Pa. Dutch community, it's not hard to find it elsewhere!

What does sauerkraut do for your bowels? ›

Sauerkraut also has a high fiber content that helps with constipation by making stools softer, and simultaneously increasing its mass and volume. This bulkiness makes for easier passage through the digestive tract and quicker elimination.

What happens to your gut when you eat sauerkraut? ›

Sauerkraut fermentation creates conditions that promote the growth of beneficial probiotics, bacteria that provide powerful health benefits. Probiotics also help make foods more digestible, which increases your gut's ability to absorb the vitamins and minerals they contain.

What does eating sauerkraut everyday do to your body? ›

Sauerkraut is rich in the antioxidant vitamins C and E. It also contains the plant compound kaempferol. In lab-based studies, researchers have found that kaempferol can protect against oxidative damage by removing free radicals, which are unstable and highly reactive molecules that can cause inflammation.

Can you sous vide pork too long? ›

While many will tell you that it's impossible to overcook with sous vide (and this isn't far from the truth), do bear in mind though that if you leave the food in the water bath for an extended period of time it won't 'overcook', but it could start to take on a mushy texture, so don't forget about it!

Is it safe to sous vide at 130? ›

So long as you're cooking at above 130°F, there are no real health risks associated with prolonged sous-vide cooking.

Is pork done at 135 or 145? ›

The USDA calls for pork to be cooked to 145°F (63°C) for food safety—much lower than the 160°F (71°C) that many people think is the cutoff for pork—and a quick reading with a Thermapen® ONE can tell us right away if our pork has achieved that safe temperature.

Is pork done at 145 or 140? ›

Cook pork, roasts, and chops to 145 ºF as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source, with a three-minute rest time before carving or consuming. This will result in a product that is both safe and at its best quality—juicy and tender.

Should pork be cooked to 145 or 160? ›

Keep in mind that most fresh pork products are leaner than other types of meat you might be familiar with. Because of this, the USDA suggests cooking it to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the same temperature for every variation of pork you might choose from pork tenderloin to shoulder.

Is 140 hot enough for pork? ›

The safe internal pork cooking temperature for fresh cuts is 145° F. To check doneness properly, use a digital cooking thermometer. Fresh cut muscle meats such as pork chops, pork roasts, pork loin, and tenderloin should measure 145° F, ensuring the maximum amount of flavor.

Is pork edible at 140 degrees? ›

Temperature! The USDA calls for pork to be cooked to 145°F (63°C) for food safety—much lower than the 160°F (71°C) that many people think is the cutoff for pork—and a quick reading with a Thermapen® ONE can tell us right away if our pork has achieved that safe temperature.

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