FAQs

wild Facts

Enjoying your wildbrine should be pretty straightforward. But if questions pop up as you’re crunching away, feel free to read below!

Who should eat fermented foods and why?

Short answer: Everyone. The naturally occurring cultures in our krauts, kimchi, srirachas and salsas provide a probiotic boost that strengthens your immune system and helps to promote and maintain a healthy digestive tract-plus they taste delicious. Read more in our Probiotics 101 blog content. 

What is wild fermentation & why should I care?

Wild fermentation is just that- the process of letting fermentation happen on its own time and in its own way. We add sea salt to our veggie and spice mix, and provide the right, cozy environment for the naturally occurring probiotic microorganisms. Then, we let the lactic acid created through natural wildness preserve the vegetables, create bright flavors, and produce a sauerkraut and brine that’s teeming with robust probiotics.

You should care because the kraut produced through natural fermentation is raw, alive, and contains a diverse range of acid-buffered probiotics that are ready to boost your full body system with all their bio-available nutrients.  Plus there is no vinegar, added sugar or any kind of lab culture in our products. wildbrine is simply delicious and healthy just like mother nature decides. Want more details? Check out our wild fermentation blog post. 

How long do wildbrine products last, including after the jar is opened?

Please refer to the “best by” date printed on the side of each jar. As long as brine is adequately covering the solids, our products should maintain their quality and remain safe to eat throughout shelf life. Once opened, our fermented products should maintain their quality for at least 10 days after opening.

Because our krauts and kimchis are raw and unpasteurized with live and active probiotics, they may change slightly in flavor or texture over time. Make sure to always use a clean spoon when digging into wildbrine products to prevent contamination, maintain shelf life, and ensure the proper balance of “good” bacteria in the product.

What strains of probiotics are in wildbrine products?

Since our products are wild-fermented, we do not know exactly.  Wild fermentation means that we nurture the naturally occurring bacteria (lactobacillus) that drive the fermentation process. This is called lacto-fermentation. The strains of probiotics in the lactobacillus are dependent on where the vegetables are grown and what type of vegetables they are. Learn more about probiotic strains. 

Why does wildbrine use plastic jars?

We choose plastic jars for three reasons:

• Glass doesn’t allow gases to release – our BPA-free plastic containers let carbon dioxide out but no oxygen in. They are also rated PET 1, one of most highly chemical resistant, recyclable types of plastic available.
• Our jars are lower in weight, saving on fuel and greenhouse gases during shipping.
• Glass is very expensive, and plastic containers allow us to sell our product at an affordable price. In addition, some retailers ask us to refrain from glass for breakage reasons.

Why does wildbrine use salt to ferment?

Salt has been used to preserve and ferment food for thousands of years. Salt is a powerful agent that kills the organisms that spoil produce and extracts nutrients from the produce to fuel the microorganisms that do the work of fermentation. 

Where can I buy wildbrine products?

wildbrine products are sold in supermarkets & natural food retailers throughout the United States and Canada. Check out our store finder to see if we are available in a store near you. Or shop to your heart’s content in our online store. 

Are wildbrine products pasteurized?

No, all of our fermented foods are raw. We do not cook, blanch, or pressure-treat any of our ingredients. The fermentation creates lactic acid, which preserves the product naturally, kills any bad stuff, and keeps the nurturing lactobacilli alive.

Are wildbrine ingredients non-GMO?

Yes! Absolutely all of our ingredients are non-GMO! All our products regularly maintain their certification with the non-GMO project.

Are wildbrine products organic?

Quite a few are! We have many deliciously organic kraut varieties: Green Organic, Raw Organic Red, Red Beet Red Cabbage Organic Kraut, Arame Ginger Organic Kraut, Caraway Apple Organic Kraut, Jalapeño Lime Organic Kraut, and Dill & Garlic Organic Kraut. As organic farming becomes more widespread and cost effective, we will continue to develop and expand our line of organic krauts.

Are wildbrine products gluten-free and vegan?

Oh yeah. All of our products and every ingredient in them (including the soy) are absolutely gluten-free and 100% vegan. Even our kimchi is vegan!

Is wildbrine paleo?

With the exception of our Miso Horseradish Kimchi, which has miso, all of our products are paleo compliant.

Sometimes it is difficult to get the lid off my jar. What should I do?

wildbrine products continue to ferment in their jars and can release extra gas, causing pressure that can sometimes make it difficult to unscrew the lid.  If that happens, try the following:

• Let your kraut hang out on the counter for five minutes-the change in temperature relieves some of the pressure!
• Try running the lid edge of the wildbrine container (where the lid meets the threads of the jar) under some warm water. Then try again to unscrew the lid

Do wildbrine products need to be refrigerated?

Yes, they do! Otherwise, the beneficial probiotics might not last. All of our products should be refrigerated at all times, even before opening. 

What can I do with the extra brine?

After you’ve eaten up all those delicious fermented veggies, use the brine in salad dressings or sauces, drink it straight for a potent digestive boost, or use it as a flavor enhancer in a Bloody Mary cocktail.  However, be sure to keep enough brine in your jar to cover the vegetables. This helps keep fermented foods fresh for a longer period of time. Plenty of ideas in our blog post featuring uses for leftover sauerkraut juice. 

What is the optimal amount of fermented products to eat each day?

Please understand that the serving size shown in the Nutritional Facts on the label is just a standard size for analyzing the nutritional content of a product. All similar products are required to use the same serving size so a consumer can compare. It’s not necessarily a recommendation of the amount that should be eaten per day. All similar products are required to use the same serving size so a consumer can compare. For sauerkraut, the serving size is set by the FDA at 2 tablespoons. As far as nutritional benefit, it differs for everyone. Here are some recommendations from some authorities:

“According to personal clinical experience, regular intake of small doses of sauerkraut-7 g to 10 g (or about 1 T) daily-has a very good effect on many patients’ gastrointestinal tract.” from the National Center for Biotechnical Information

“Little and often is better than consuming a large amount of fermented food once a week because you need to keep energizing the microbes in your gut,” according to Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, and author of The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat.

We recommend you start one or two servings of fermented products in the beginning, and see how your body reacts. It will naturally adjust to the addition of good bacteria. Then, you can add a little more each day to see how your body reacts (remember those probiotics are live and active) until you find the right balance. Also, if you have an immune-related illness, please check with your healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your diet.

Does heating sauerkraut destroy the probiotics?

The kraut can be very tasty when warmed up, but there is a good chance of killing off the beneficial probiotic bacteria at temperatures above 115 degrees F.  In order to preserve the probiotic benefits, we suggest waiting to add our fermented products to your dish until just before serving. Keeping those bacteria happy will keep your gut happy as well.

Can you freeze sauerkraut?

We do not know the exact effect on the probiotics when frozen. Research shows some strains of live bacteria will go into a dormant state if frozen, and will return to an active state after being thawed or eaten, while frozen storage can cause a reduction in the counts of some bacterial strains. Freezing will alter the great texture of our kraut and fermented vegetables and since the live cultures in our products will last a very long time in the refrigerator, we recommend refrigeration to get the full benefit of the probiotics.

Do the dairy alternatives and dips need to be refrigerated?

Yes, since they are all natural and made without preservatives, all of the wildCREAMERY products should be kept refrigerated.

Are your wildCREAMERY containers recyclable and BPA free?

Yes! Our creamery containers are BPA free. They are made with lightweight #5 plastics (or PP Polypropylene), which reduces our carbon footprint drastically for shipping. This type of plastic is becoming more recyclable now, as the market for it grows. Currently, it gets recycled into signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, and trays. PP plastics are accepted in some curbside programs but if that doesn’t happen in your municipality currently, sites like Earth911 can help you find a place to recycle them. 

How long will the dips and dairy alternatives last in the refrigerator?

Kept refrigerated and unopened (film seal still in place), all of our wildCREAMERY items will last up to their best-buy dates.  Once opened, the products should be consumed within 10-14 days (it can also be dependent on how long the products were left out of refrigeration when used).  It’s always a good idea to check that your product smells and looks like it should before you eat it.

Can I freeze the wildCREAMERY products?

Yes, the products can be frozen.  Just keep in mind that the process can alter their smooth and creamy consistency.

Are the wildCREAMERY products raw?

No, there is some heat-processing that is used in order to achieve a reasonable shelf-life.

Are the wildCREAMERY products vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free?

Yes, all of the CREAMERY products are vegan, non-GMO certified, and gluten-free.  All of our plant-based products are also free of lactose and soy.

Where is the source of your cashews?

We source the organic cashew nuts from Vietnam.

Can I consume the plant-based dips and dairy alternatives if I’m allergic to dairy?

Our cultured products are completely free of dairy (casein, whey and lactose), so, people with dairy allergies and those who are lactose intolerant can enjoy all of our wildCREAMERY products.

Do the wildCREAMERY items contain any allergens?

These products all contain cashews and coconut oil which are allergens for some people. 

Do the wildCREAMERY products contain cholesterol?

Our products do NOT contain cholesterol and are trans-fat free.

Are the butter, cream cheese and sour cream alternatives organic and Non-GMO?

Oh yeah, the dairy alternatives are certified organic and Non-GMO certified.

What does ‘European-style’ mean?

European-style creamery products have a more fermented characteristic taste than their ‘regular’ counterparts. This fermented element (provided by the culture or culturing) delivers a more complex, richer, tangier product.

Can I cook and bake with your butter alternative?

Our butter is an all-purpose butter.  Use it as you would any dairy butter – melt or spread on toast, sauté eggs and vegetables, finish any cooked dishes, use in a pie crust, cookie recipes, etc.

Can I use your cream cheese alternative in baking?

Yes, you sure can.  Use our cream cheese alternative as you would any other cream cheese.  (Check out our recipes)

Can I heat your dips?

No, the dairy-free dips are not made to be heated.