The Best Fermentation Crocks in 2021 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

For all the fermentation tools a person can choose from today, one of the most essential items for every fermenter’s kitchen remains a good quality crock. If you do any fermenting at all, a high-quality fermentation crock will do a lot to make the job go smoother.

If you’re considering purchasing a fermentation crock, our buyers’ guide is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know during the buying process. We review water-sealed crocks, open crocks, pots for bulk fermentation, best-value fermentation crocks, multi-purpose crocks, fermentation crocks made for kombucha, and fermentation crock kits all for the fermented food lover. Let’s get started!

Factors to Consider When Buying a Fermentation Crock

A few things to consider before making a buying decision on a new fermentation crock. What kind of crock seal is best for you, a water-sealed crock, or an open lid crock? What about the size of the crock and the price range you are willing to spend on a fermentation crock?

Difference Between a Water-Sealed Crock and an Open Crock

Water-Sealed Crock

The water-seal crock process is so simple: you fill-up the moat with water and it creates an airtight seal that keeps out contaminants, such as dust and bugs, keeping your foods fermenting without a problem. Also, there is little chance of mold or surface yeasts growing on your ferment.

You do need to keep an eye on the water-seal crocks, to make sure that the moat stays full of water. If the water in the moat evaporates, oxygen, particles, and bacteria can get into your brine solution.

Open Crock

Most open crocks don’t come with a lid or weight to keep the vegetables held down below the brine making it a cheaper purchase. This could be considered a positive because it saves you money.

However, it is up to you to find a suitable weight and cover. You can read the post, Fermentations Weights: How to Keep Veggies Submerged for some clever ideas.

The one open crock I do recommend does come with weights and a lid and they produce outstanding results.

If you are using a cloth or paper towel as a lid, then be sure to closely monitor the batch to prevent Kahm yeast and mold from developing. Both can appear when the vegetables are exposed to the air.

There are some great benefits of using an open crock. The wide mouth makes it easy to place several whole cabbages or other giant vegetables, such as cucks in the vessel.

So if you are preparing to ferment in bulk, this crock will be perfect for you.

Depending on their size, open crocks are quite easy to clean, since their bases and openings are the same diameters.

Furthermore, open crocks can also be used as a storeroom or kitchen container.

It is important to note that open crocks work better during colder periods of the year, i.e., in lower temperatures because molds or Kahm yeast do not form as quickly in lower temperatures.

Whichever style crock you choose to buy you will still have to check the batch of fermenting food to ensure the brine levels are not dropping.

Crock Size:

Fermentation crocks come in a wide variety of sizes. If you are looking for a larger size crock, I recommend the Kerazo K and K Keramik German Made Fermenting Crock Pot which is a 4-gallon capacity. This baby can hold multiple heads of cabbage at one time. Just beware of the weight; this crock weighs in at 26 lbs when empty.

E-Jen has a 5.8-gallon crock which is both lighter in weight and on your budget. It is great for mass production. But you’ll want to make sure you have the room to store it. E-Jen crocks are plastic and come with an ingenious inner seal that makes it quite versatile because you can easily push down the seal to ferment a smaller batch in any of their container sizes.

There’s typically no harm in leaving some extra headspace in the crock, but if you usually make smaller personal batches, you’ll likely be perfectly fine with one of the smaller crocks on the market.

Why Fermenting Crocks are Better than Mason Jars

When I started out making my own ferments, I took the cheap and easy route by just using glass jars. Like most people taking on a new hobby, I didn’t want to invest in a lot of expensive equipment if I wasn’t sure I was going to stick with it.

But that all changed when I tried a batch of kimchi made in a water-seal style fermenting crock. The kimchi was so much better; I was blown away.
It wasn’t just a matter of the recipe or expertise; ferments come out better in a crock for two main reasons:

• Ceramic Materials: The thick walls of a crock are made with ceramic clay. The thick clay provides natural insulation and helps keep the brine temperature stable, allowing the bacteria to grow effectively.

• Naturally Blocks Light Out: Have you noticed that practically every fermentation recipe you come across recommends placing the jars in a cupboard or pantry away from the light? That is because UV light kills the healthy bacteria in the brine. The thick ceramic walls block out the light and help with a successful end product.

Our Reviews of Top Fermentation Crocks

Best Traditional Style Water-Sealed Crock

Best Priced Fermentation Crock

The price range for fermentation crocks on the market can be hefty. However, there are a few companies that make high-quality crocks with a great price that will fit your fermentation needs and budget.

Best Multi-Purpose Crock

The E-Jen and Crazy Korean Cooking brands of fermentation crocks are the best multi-purpose and versatile crocks you can buy. Both brands are quality made and have many sizes to choose from. When not fermenting the crocks can use as food storage containers.

The Crazy Kitchen crocks have handles and an adjustable inner vacuum lid to minimize air inside, keeps the food fresh, and slows down the decomposition process.

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Best Fermentation Crock: Detailed List

Humble House Crock

The Humble House Crock is a great buy because of the price point and the quality of the product.

PROS	CONS
Three sizes to choose from: 2l, 5l, and 10l.	Handwash Only
Easy method of fermenting
Lead and cadmium-free glaze
Tough ceramic

The Humble House Crock is available in three sizes, 2 Liter, 5 liters, and the 10-liter option. It’s perfect for fermenting sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi. It comes with a jar, lid, and weights. It is made of thick ceramic and finished with a lead and cadmium-free glaze.

This crock relies on the traditional method of fermentation, which is water sealing.

Two-liter Crock

The 2-liter crock measures 6 inches wide and 8 inches tall, this smaller size crock will make about four mason jars worth of pickles, kimchi, or sauerkraut. That is enough to feed 3-4 people. This size crock is perfect for those who don’t have much storage space in their kitchen.

Beware that some people say the mouth of the 2-liter crock is so small they cannot fit their hand in it to give it a good scrub.

Five-liter Crock

If that isn’t big enough for you, then the 5-liter crock can surely do the job. At 10 inches wide and 12 inches tall, this medium size crock makes up to 10 standard size mason jars per batch.

Ten-liter Crock

Thinking of mass producing your fall harvest of vegetables? The 10 liter Humble House Crock is the right crock for the job.

It measures 11 inches wide and 13 inches tall and makes up to 20 standard size mason jars per batch.

The Humble House Crocks are easy to clean by hand. The manufacturer does not recommend using a dishwasher or detergents. Just use soap and warm water to clean the pot.

Vinegar and water are great if you need extra cleaning power. Since the weights are unglazed, using warm water and vinegar is the preferred method. If necessary, you can boil them for deeper cleaning.

The crocks can be used to brew kombucha or grow a sourdough starter by simply replacing the lid for a clean cloth.

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Crazy Koren Cooking Premium Fermentation and Storage Container

Crazy Koren Cooking hits it out of the ballpark with this masterfully made fermentation crock. There are five different sizes to choose from, 0.9 gallons up to a whopping 11.8 gallons.

The smaller containers can fit in any standard size refrigerator.

Although they might not look very pretty, they are made of high-quality polypropylene plastic mixed with 7-10% natural clay. This combo makes for optimal porosity and all components are FDA approved materials, free of BPA, DEHP and lead.

Warning: The inner seal has a little nozzle, which you need to open for a second or so every day or two depending on what you are fermenting.

If you don’t do this, the gases gradually push the inner seal upwards, and oxygen may enter.

This container can also be used for storing non-fermented foods, think coffee, bread, seaweed, cereal, and so on.

PROS	CONS
FDA approved materials, free of BPA, DEHP and lead	Made of Polypropylene Plastic
Can be used as storage container	Not Pretty
Very Affordable
Dishwasher safe
Light Weight

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K&K Keramik German Fermenting Crock Pot

Crocks that originated in Germany have a distinct style and are known as the water-sealed crock. The water gutter in which the lid sits in are shaped in a ‘u’ or ‘v’-shape. The gutter is filled with water and creates an airtight seal that only allows gases to escape, but no air to enter.

The Keramik German Made Fermenting Crock is known for its impeccable design and high-quality products. The kit comes complete with a pot, lid, weighing stones, and a recipe book.

The body is created in a single piece with walls that are 0.6 inches in thickness.
The FORM 1 seen here has a deep gully that allows the expelling of gas and prevents the entry of dust and air.

The crock works by filling the built-in channel with water to guarantee a perfect seal against the lid. The carbon dioxide that forms during fermentation can easily escape while the odor is trapped inside. The seal blocks contaminated air, mold, and insects from entering the crock.

This ceramic crock is lead-free and cadmium-free, making it a healthy option. It is a 5-liter crock with handles on each side to simplify lifting and transporting.

PROS	CONS
Deep gully 5-liter	Small Handles
Handmade German ceramic free of lead and cadmium	Heavy at approximately 30 pounds
Comes with weighing stones	Fragile
Dishwasher safe

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Open Crock

The Ohio Stoneware wide-mouth crock is microwave, broiler, stove, and even dishwasher safe. Ohio Stoneware presses these crocks in a metal mold with a hydraulic press, resulting in a sturdy and hardy crock.

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PROS	CONS
Mcrowave, broiler, stove, and even dishwasher safe	Heavy when full
Great for Bulk Fermentation	Ferment prone to developing mold and/or Kahm yeast
Lead and cadmium-free glaze	Versatile

Continuous Brewing Crock for Kombucha

Lastly, this continuous brewing crock for kombucha and other fermented drinks made by Get Kombucha is perfect if you want to keep a crock just for fermented drinks.

Get Kombucha makes this beautiful sleek crock just for Kombucha lovers. Their kombucha crocks are 2.5-gallon white porcelain and come with a wooden stand. Don’t stop at kombucha; the crock can also be used to make jun tea, kefir, vinegar, and more.

It is designed with continuous brewing in mind, as the spigot makes it easy to fill up bottles and transfer to the refrigerator.

The glaze is food-safe and lead and cadmium-free.

This crock has thick walls and is sturdy enough for regular use. It is still possible to use a thermostat strip to monitor the temperature of your liquid though.

The kombucha crock does not come with a lid. You must use a paper towel or piece of cloth secured with a rubber band to cover it and allow it to breathe. This is normal when fermenting kombucha.

PROS	CONS
Beautifully made of Porcelain, perfect for regular use	Heavy when full
Easy to clean with a water/vinegar	Handwash Only
Lead and cadmium-free glaze
Handy Spigot
Comes w/ a Stand

How do you clean a ceramic fermentation crock and stone weights?

Fermentation crocks should be cleaned with warm water and mild dish soap. You can also use a water/vinegar solution.

To remove strong smells, apply soap for at least 15 to 20 minutes before washing it: rinse and air dry.

Clean the equipment right after you remove the fermented food. Do not let it sit for a long time with food particles.

If you are storing the crock for a while, then fill it up with a scrunched up newspaper. Also, wrap the lid and stones in newspaper to protect the ceramic pieces and ensure they stay dry.

To prevent mold growth in a crock or on the weight

• Always dry the stones/crock thoroughly in a warm oven or the sun

• Never put the crock or weights away wet

• Never store your crock and weights in a damp room, such as a cellar or basement

If you notice the crock or weights, do have a little mold on them. They can still be saved by quickly cleaning them off before the next use.

How to remove mold

Sometimes, mold happens, here are some tips on how to clean them

• Scrub the mold off as best you can

• Soak the weights overnight in a pot with a few tablespoons of vinegar and hot water (not boiling), or fill the crock with vinegar and hot water.

• Rinse thoroughly

• Lastly, place the weights or crock in the oven at a low temperature until completely dried

Buying Fermentation Weights

TIP: Most of the fermentation crock kits here come with non-glazed ceramic porous weights used to keep the vegetable below the brine. Unglazed porous weights can absorb bacteria present in your ferment and cause mold to grow. It also can be difficult to remove smells and stains from a non-glazed fermentation weight.

I highly recommend you purchase these lead-free glass weights by Stone Creek Trading. The 6.5 ” Luna Glass Crock Weight weights 2.6 lbs. This is almost double the weight of most standard glass weights on the market today. This is great because I often hear people complain that the glass weights they bought are not heavy enough to actually keep the veggies below the brine.

It is important to pay attention to the size of the weight, as their smallest size 6.5” will not fit into smaller 2-liter crocks listed in this article.

Final Thoughts

As with any product, it is important to buy quality so that way you only have to buy once. That couldn’t be truer than when it comes to the purchase of a fermentation crock.

If you settle on a cheaper fermentation crock, you are going to be facing a short lifespan, along with wasting your time and vegetables. Nobody wants that, especially if you have been waiting all summer for harvest time.

I hope our Guide to Buying a Fermentation Crock serves you well. Happy Fermenting!

Related Topics:

• Fermentation Weights: How to Keep Veggies Submerged

• Does store-bought sauerkraut have probiotics?

• 11 Natural Sources of Tannins for Crunchy Fermented Pickles