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 is the best temperature to sous vide pork? ›

Temperature and Timing for Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin
Recommended Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin Temperatures
130°F/54°C for 1 to 4 hoursMedium-rare
140°F/60°C for 1 to 4 hoursMedium
150°F/66°C for 1 to 4 hoursMedium-well
160°F/71°C for 1 to 4 hoursWell-done
1 more row

Is pork and sauerkraut a Pennsylvania thing? ›

Pork and sauerkraut is served every New Year's Day at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tamaqua. Pennsylvanians commonly eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day. The tradition comes from German culture, and its prevalence in the state can be attributed to the Pennsylvania Dutch.

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).

Is pork and sauerkraut healthy? ›

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.

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.

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!

What is the superstition about pork and sauerkraut? ›

Like many other cultures, the Pennsylvania Dutch believe eating pork on New Year's Day brings good luck because pigs root around with their snouts in a forward motion. After all, we want to move forward, not backward, in the new year. Sauerkraut is made from cabbage — a symbol of money because it's leafy and green.

Do the Amish eat pork and sauerkraut? ›

Pork and Sauerkraut is more than just a meal; it's a tradition. Consumed on New Year's Day, it's believed to bring good luck for the coming year.

What did America rename sauerkraut? ›

During the First World War any reference in the USA to things German was deemed unpatriotic, and this included foodstuffs. An alternative name had therefore to be found for sauerkraut, and the choice fell on liberty cabbage.

Can you overcook pork sous vide? ›

Can you still overcook with sous vide? Although it's extremely hard to overcook/undercook using the sous vide method, It's not totally impossible.

Does longer sous vide make meat more tender? ›

The sous vide method transforms tough cuts of meat like beef brisket, pork shoulder, and short ribs. If not cooked properly, connective tissues make these cuts taste chewy. Sous vide allows for long, slow cooking at a low temperature, which breaks down these tissues and results in tender, juicy meat.

Does sauerkraut clean your liver? ›

The probiotics and vitamins in the sauerkraut help remove toxins from the liver and regenerate new, healthy liver cells.

Is sauerkraut good for your bowels? ›

Let's take a look at what adding this food to your diet can do for your body. One serving of sauerkraut has two grams of fiber — a nutrient known to aid with digestion. For people with constipation, fiber increases the weight and size of their stool and softens it, making it easier to pass.

What nationality eats pork and sauerkraut? ›

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!

Is it safe to sous vide pork at 140? ›

Sous Vide Pork Loin Chop

Pork loin chops are already tender so just need to be heated through and pasteurized, usually 2 to 4 hours. They are often cooked to medium-rare at 135°F (57.2°C), medium at 140°F (60°C) or well done.

Is 140 degree pork safe? ›

Cooking Temperature of 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 safe at 130 degrees? ›

Cook all raw pork steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F (62.8 °C) as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming.

Is pork good at 150 degrees? ›

The USDA now recommends cooking pork chops, steaks, ham, and roasts to at least 145°F (63°C), which allows the meat to maintain its moisture and flavor without drying it out (7). Organ meats, ground pork, and mixtures made using ground pork, such as sausage, should still be cooked to at least 160°F (71°C) (7).

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