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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to frequently asked questions here.

Select a question from the topics Product Features, Storage Life, Product Use, Product Packaging and Sales & Purchase and click on it. The appropriate answer will then pop up.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

  • Is the sauerkraut pasteurized?

    Yes, our sauerkraut is pasteurized. Because of this we are able to secure the high quality and freshness during the whole time of its shelf life.
    Our product is naturally fermented, but as mentioned above it has been pasteurized so the bacteria and enzyme cultures are not active anymore.

  • Why is there a layer of liquid on top of mustard and horseradish?

    This small accumulation of fluid on the product is called synaeresis. This is not due to a lack of quality but is a perfectly normal process that can occur in some products. Mustard and horseradish are originally solids which are suspended in water during the production process, that is, they are finely distributed. If small bubbles or an uneven surface form in the finished product, a portion of the liquid can separate from the solid components again and separates from the product. Great fluctuations in temperature can promote the discharge of liquid. For products in a glass, the liquid can simply be stirred with a spoon, for products in a tube, we recommend shaking the tube before use. You can simply knead The classic aluminium tube before use.

  • Why is it that freshly purchased mustard and horseradish are sometimes very spicy?

    Mustard oil is responsible for the spiciness and is a natural ingredient that occurs both in horseradish and mustard. The mustard oil is a relatively volatile compound that decomposes over time. That is why mustard and horseradish become milder over time. The decomposition of mustard oil is a natural process that we can not influence.

  • Does vinegar contain alcohol?

    Vinegars are traditionally obtained by natural oxidation of alcoholic liquids. This process cannot be performed without getting a small amount of residual alcohol. Usually, spirit, herbal and cider vinegars contain less than 0.3 vol. % alcohol, simple wine and balsamic vinegars have up to about 0.5 vol .-% alcohol. It should be noted that vinegar is commonly used in highly diluted concentration. This means that the remaining amount of alcohol in prepared foods is very low.

  • Why are there discolouration/deposits in Salt and Dill Gherkins?

    This is due to the special production process involved in making this speciality and is in no way due to a lack of quality. Salt and Dill Gherkins are made using lactic acid bacteria in a special process called lactic acid fermentation. Depending on the length of time and the temperature of the fermentation, the colouring of the lactic acid infusion may vary. Clouding of the infusion is also typical of the product just as occasional spots on cucumber or a milky sediment in the glass. Once the required amount of lactic acid has formed, the gherkins are filled in jars and then preserved by pasteurisation. The use of lactic acid bacteria in the production of food has enjoyed a very long tradition. You can find it for example in fermented milk products such as curd, yoghurt or sour cream, even certain vegetables such as white cabbage (sauerkraut) or green beans are treated with it.

  • How do I know whether the products offered are free of allergens that require labelling?

    As a food producer, we are required to indicate certain allergens (according to the Food Information Regulation, Appendix II). This can be done by identifying the allergen or placing it in brackets behind the ingredient. For products produced from December 2014 onwards, these allergens are also emphasised using italics. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide lists containing information on the allergens present in our products due to organisational reasons.

  • How do I know whether the products offered are vegan or vegetarian?

    If you contact us and give us the name of an exact product (see label), we will be more than happy to provide you with information as to whether the requested product is vegan or vegetarian. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide lists indicating all Kühne products which are vegan or vegetarian due to organisational reasons.

  • From which type of husbandry system do the eggs used by Kühne come?

    We use barn eggs in our products.

  • How can I pickle gherkins with the Kühne Gherkin Infusion?

    The Kühne Gherkin Infusion is suitable not only for gherkins but also for pickling peppers, beans, onions, mixed pickled gherkins, pumpkin and cauliflower. Your imagination knows no boundaries.

    Preparation

    Wash the vegetables carefully and clean, cut into small pieces, if necessary, and place them in layers in jars. Depending on your taste and you can also add spices (e.g. mustard seeds, peppercorns, garlic, chopped onion, herbs, etc.) directly into the jars. 

    Preserving

    Mix one bottle of Kühne Gherkin Infusion with 3 times concentration (5% acidity) with 2 bottles of water and pour over the products to be pickled until it is completely covered. Boil the closed jars in a canning pot for about 30 min. at 80° C and then let the jars cool slowly.

    Preserving in the oven

    If you do not have a canning pot, you can also use an oven. Preheat the oven to 200° C (fan oven 90° C). Place the closed jars in the drip pan of the oven, fill the drip pan with hot water (85–90° C) and place in the oven, bake for about 30 min. at 85–90° C  and let the jars cool slowly. We recommend leaving the preserved products unopened for at least one to two weeks to allow the infusion to achieve the best results.keinen Einmachtopf besitzen, können Sie auch im Backofen einkochen. Den Backofen auf 90°C vorheizen. Die geschlossenen Gläser in die Fettpfanne des Backofens stellen, die Fettpfanne mit heißem Wasser (85-90°C) auffüllen und in den Backofen schieben, ca. 30 Min. auf 85-90°C backen und danach langsam abkühlen lassen. Wir empfehlen Ihnen, die eingekochten Produkte vor dem Öffnen mindestens ein bis zwei Wochen ziehen zu lassen.

    Pickling

    Mix one bottle of Kühne Gherkin Infusion with 3 times concentration (5% acidity) with 2 bottles of water and heat. Add pickling spice (available in stores) according to the directions and pour over the thoroughly washed layers of vegetables in a glass or earthenware container until completely covered. Again, we recommend leaving the pickled gherkins unopened in a cool and dark place for a few days to allow the infusion to achieve the best results.

PRODUCT LIFE

  • How long can a product be kept in the refrigerator after the first opening?

    In general, the minimum best before date refers to an unopened product. How long a product can still be used after opening, cannot be answered in general terms. There are a variety of factors that can influence the spoilage. As you are familiar with other foods (such as jam, meat, sausage, cheese, etc.), it makes sense to keep them in the refrigerator after opening. The same applies to our products because cold storage after opening prolongs the shelf life significantly. However, even if properly stored in the refrigerator, microorganisms from the air or from used cutlery can enter the product and grow. Whether and how quickly this will lead to spoilage of the food, depends on the food and the respective germs.

     

    We recommend paying attention to the various signs of spoilage:

    • Has mould formed? (Spots on the product’s surface, the glass or on the lid)  
    • Is there any swelling? (Is the lid curved upwards, frothing when opening product)  
    • Has the smell changed strongly? (Foul, musty odour) 

    If you your product exhibits one or more of these signs, we do not recommend consuming it. Signs such as old taste, separated liquid, dried on product residue levels or drop in spiciness are not signs of a tainted product, further consumption is safe and depends on your personal perception.

  • Why is there no best before date on the vinegar bottle?

    Certain vinegars have no best before date because they can be kept virtually indefinitely. This is even enshrined in the German food law (“German Ordinance on Vinegar and Vinegar Essence”, § 4a, 2), because even after a bottle of vinegar has been opened, there is no risk of classic spoilage such as mould.

    However, a lighter vinegar can turn darker over time. Clouding or flocculation may also occur. These cases, however, are natural processes that do not adversely affect the quality of the vinegar. If a bottle is left standing for a long period after it is first opened, you can expect a loss in flavour in wine and herbal vinegars. Consumption of these vinegars remains absolutely safe. We recommend storing vinegar in a cool and dark place after the first opening for a perfect taste experience.

PRODUCT PACKAGING

  • Where can I find the code?

    The code can be found on different places on our products, depending on the packaging. Unless otherwise indicated below, these include the best before date and the following combination of letters and numbers.

    • Glasses & Glass Bottles: in the edge of the lid or on the back label (Please note: No best before date for vinegar, just a combination of letters and numbers) 
    • PET bottles (e.g. Balsamissimo): on the side at the top of the bottle.
    • PET tubes (e.g. sauces): on the back label
    • Aluminium tubes (e.g. mustard): on the tube fold
    • Pouches (e.g. sauerkraut.): Printed on the pouch (BBD)
    • Sachets (e.g. dressings): on the side seam (BBD stamp)
    • Cup (e.g. fried onions): Printed on the side of the cup’s base  
  • Why is the best before date on tubes on the tube fold?

    Unfortunately, putting the BBD in a different place, for example, at the top of the tube or near the screw cap is not possible. Please note that the BBD refers to the unopened product. How long a product can still be used after opening, cannot be answered in general terms (see “Product Life”).

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY

  • Can I also purchase Kühne products from an online shop?

    Unfortunately, we do not have an online shop. We sell our products exclusively through our extensive network of wholesalers and retailers. However, our products are available through many online supermarkets or mail order companies.

  • Can I order replacement lids for glasses and bottles from Kühne?

    We know that customers love to reuse our glasses in the home to preserve fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us or our suppliers to ship individual lids for our glasses and bottles due to organisational reasons. A little tip: You can purchase any accessories for pickling, preserving and storing in many household supply stores, department stores and on the Internet.

  • Can you send us samples of Kühne products or promotional items?

    Unfortunately, we do not make samples of our products. Pins, pens and other promotional items are produced by Kühne specifically for limited advertising campaigns and are not stored. We hope you understand that we unfortunately cannot send advertising material or free samples for this reason.

  • Where can I buy a particular Kühne product near me?

    We cooperate with more than 60 partners worldwide who import our products to more than 80 countries. According to country own assortments are defined so that partly different products are offered in the countries.
    To find out whether a product is available near to your area, we would like to ask you to contact our distributor on site who will be pleased to help you with your inquiry.

    You find a list with the contacts here.

We hope we could help you!

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, please contact us using the Contact Form.