Fermentation Tools: Choosing the Right Supplies
From airlocks to the highest quality fermentation crocks and starter kits, Fermenters Kitchen has compiled a detailed list of quality fermentations supplies and equipment you need to start making your own gut-healthy ferments at home.
OUR TOP MUST-HAVE LIST OF FERMENTATION SUPPLIES STARTS WITH A GOOD BOOK!
How to Ferment: Everything You Need to Know to Ferment the Best Vegetables Every Time
Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes
Pickling & Fermentation Jar Kit
Are you fermenting for the first time? You might be a little scared of the possibilities of mold, yeast, and bacteria? Both of these kits can eliminate all of the usual suspects when it comes to fermentation fails.
The My Mason Makes Mason Jar Fermenting Kit is a one-of-a-kind kit. It comes with a strainer and a handle, which makes it easy to separate the fruits/veggies from the drink as you pour.
So you can make beet kvass, kefir, and kombucha, as well as sauerkraut, dilly beans, kimchi, and more.
It takes the guesswork out of the fermentation process and lets you just sit back and relax. There are more expensive units out there, but I doubt they’re any easier to use.
Jars
A standard jar is the most commonly used vessel for pickling and fermenting vegetables. It is also the most cost-effective. Most online sauerkraut recipes recommend you ferment in a mason jar. Fermenting jars make it easy to do small batches and test out different recipes, and when your ferment is complete, you pop it in the fridge. Plus, they are clear, so you have an excellent visual of what is going on with your recipe at all times.
Quality Pickling Salt
Without a doubt, salt is the most essential ingredient when pickling and fermenting. Whether using a dry-salt fermentation method, a salt brine method, or a vinegar brine method, you have to use the suitable salt. Choose pure sea salt, Celtic salt, or pickling salt.
Do not use salt that is not iodized and free of other minerals.
Fermentation Crocks
The traditional German stoneware crock design, with a water-lock, is the most popular style of crock. The process is so simple. Pack the crock with vegetables and weighted to keep the ferment submerged. The moat at the crock’s mouth is then filled with water. The lid sits perfectly in it. The carbon dioxide created during fermentation quickly escapes while air, bugs, and dust are kept out. The brine will not evaporate, and the water even keeps unpleasant smells from leaking.
The K&K Keramik German Made Fermenting Crock Pot, Kerazo F2, 5L (1.3 Gal) is a beautiful ceramic stoneware piece. The construction of the crock is sturdy and elegant.
There is no comparison when it comes to fermenting in this crock and fermenting in jars. With the Keramik crock, you can do larger quantities and set it and forget it.
There are no worries of over-expansion of the kraut with the inner wall’s generous diameter and height. The ceramic weights are heavy and very effective in holding down the cabbage. The water ring around the top does not allow any outside air or debris to enter, and it is easy to add water too if evaporating fast in your area.
It is recommended to only add top off the water level by a 1/4 inch.
Adding too much water seems to cause a lot of pressure to build internally, causing the Co2 release to splash water over the retention ring.
Just check the water level every couple of days to ensure it’s adequate.
Its larger size is perfect for keeping temperature change minimal throughout the day. You will enjoy fermenting larger batches with minimal maintenance during the fermentation process.
Glass Weights
Glass weights to hold vegetables below the brine are helpful when using a fermentation crock. Luna Glass Crock Weights are made in Poland and range in size from 5.5 inches up to 8.5 inches.
A Quality Kitchen Scale
The My Weight KS-8000 “Bakers-Math” Kitchen Scale has a Baker’s Math/Percentage weighing option that makes it easy to calculate the salt needed for any given weight of cabbage.
Most kitchen scales will turn off automatically, causing you to lose your measurements. However, the My Weight KD-8000 Scale can be programmed to stay on until you turn it off yourself. This comes in handy when you have to step away to chop more vegetables.
Sauerkraut Tamper
A sauerkraut pounder or tamper comes in handy when you need to pack the vegetables tightly into a jar or crock. This 14-inch Sauerkraut Tamper works well for this as it is dual-sided to work with multiple-sized jars.
Vegetable Slicer
Mueller Austria Multi Blade Adjustable Mandoline Vegetable Slicer is the best slicer available under $70. It has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon and over 19,000 ratings.
Airlock Lids
Airlock lids allow the gasses to escape without letting oxygen in. The best set of airlock lids is made by Fermentology Sauer System. You will notice the durability and quality of the plastic as soon as you pick them up. This is my go-to airlock lid.
Fermentology Sauer System makes Fermentation Airlock lids that fit either the regular or wide-mouth jar. This kit is for the wide-mouth jar and includes 4 of each of the following: Tough Tops Durable Lid, Supreme Airlock, Silicone Grommet, Silicone Gasket, Silicone Stopper, and GLASS WEIGHTS.
Bowls
Bowls: Glass or Stainless Steel
My favorite bowls are large size stainless steel and glass bowls.
Kombucha Brewing Kit
If you are just getting started making Kombucha, Jun tea, ginger beer, this is the kit for you. Instead of shopping for 10 different items, you can buy this all-in-one kit.
The Deluxe Kombucha Brewing Kit made by the Kombucha Store has everything you need to start brewing any fermented drinks.
Automatic PH Meter
Even though it is highly unlikely you will get botulism, you may be a little worried about making yourself sick. I recommended putting your mind at ease with ph strips or a digital pen.
PH Meter with Automatic Calibration – 7Pros High Accuracy Pen Type Water Quality Tester with built-in ATC, 6 pH Calibration Packets, Best Tool to test the PH of Hydroponics, Kombucha, Wine, Drinking Water
Mead, Cider, Wine, and Beer Brewers
Now, if you are into homebrewing meads, ciders, and wines, this gallon jug with an airlock is handy and a great way to get started with a small-batch brew.
Cleaning your equipment is a crucial step when making meads and any other fermented drinks, and champagne yeast is one of the easiest to use for beginners. Try Red Star Sampler Pack Wine Yeast, it is a reliable product.
Raw honey made by Crockett Honey Raw and Unfiltered Arizona Desert Wildflower Honey is harvested in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.
Now you are set up to get started on a one-gallon batch of mead right away!
