Help! Sauerkraut dilemma, I think?

[a1icia]

So I made my second batch of sauerkraut this weekend, and I just went to check it, a lot of the liquid has evaporated and there's a lot of light brown kraut at the top that was no longer submerged in brine.

If I just scrape that stuff off is it okay to eat or since it was in contact with the stuff underneath, is it now contaminated?

Does the liquid always evaporate? Is what I'm describing a normal part of the process? This scares me.

Thanks for your help.

I need the Perfect Pickler!