Salt percentage / 2%

2% salt for Green Cabbage

14.0 days at 68 °F · pH target 3.40 · default for this vegetable

Salt calculator

Enter your vegetable weight and a salt percentage. We return the exact salt mass in grams, plus teaspoons for each common grain.

grams
%

Grain matters: one teaspoon of Diamond Crystal weighs half as much as one teaspoon of fine sea salt. Weigh in grams when you can.

20g salt
3.51 tsp 1.17 tbsp 0.71 oz

Based on Fine sea salt at 5.69 g/tsp.

Safe range for lacto-fermentation. 2% is the most common default for cabbage, kimchi and pepper mash.

All salt grains
GrainGramsTeaspoonsTablespoons
Diamond Crystal kosher20 g7.042.35
Morton kosher20 g4.171.39
Fine sea salt20 g3.511.17
Pickling / canning20 g3.641.21

About Green Cabbage

The canonical lacto-ferment vegetable. Green cabbage is the backbone of traditional sauerkraut across German, Polish, and Russian cuisine. High water content (~92%) means it self-brines when salted and weighted — no added water required. Produces abundant Lactobacillus after 3-5 days at room temperature.

Fermentation data

Default salt
2%
Salt range
1.53%
Time at 68°F
14.0 days
pH target
3.40
Water content
92%
Preferred styles
sauerkraut, kimchi baechu, curtido

Technique

Shred fine (2-3mm) across the grain. Weigh, salt at 2% of vegetable weight, massage 8-10 minutes until liquid pools. Pack into a weighted crock or jar below brine. Keep 65-72°F for 2-4 weeks depending on taste preference. Taste weekly from day 7.

Salt level notes at 2%

Default. If in doubt, use 2.0%. The Noma Guide to Fermentation, NCHFP, Sandor Katz, and King Arthur all cite this as their baseline recommendation.

Safety: Safe range for lacto-fermentation. 2% is the most common default for cabbage, kimchi and pepper mash.

Explore other salt levels for Green Cabbage

Sources

For educational use only. Consult your local food safety authority for commercial production.