Best Fermentation Kits
Updated How we research
Jillmo Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Stainless Steel with Airlocks and Silicone Grommets, 4 Pack
Jillmo's 4 pack of stainless steel wide mouth lids with airlocks and silicone grommets, a durable classic setup for jar ferments.
Easy Fermenter Fermentation Lids Kit, Mason Jar Airlock Lid for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Pack of 4
Easy Fermenter's 4-pack of airlock lids that turn wide mouth mason jars into sealed vessels for kraut, pickles and hot sauce.
A kit gets you from nothing to a jar of kraut without placing three separate orders. What you actually get varies a lot: some kits are lids and weights for jars you already own, while others include the jars, a tamper, and a recipe book. The weak link is usually the weights or the airlock valve, so a kit is worth judging on its worst component rather than on its part count. We looked at whether each part is one we would buy on its own, whether replacements are sold separately, and how clear the instructions are for a first ferment. Lid-and-weight kits are the best value if you already have mason jars in the cupboard. Full kits with jars included suit gifts and true beginners. Skip anything padded out with plastic gadgets you will not reach for a second time.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.6 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Jillmo Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Stainless Steel with Airlocks and Silicone Grommets, 4 Pack. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Fermentation Lids, 6 Set Fermentation Kit for Wide Mouth Jars, 6 Stainless Steel Fermenting Lids with 6 Silicone Grommets, 6 Airlocks, 6 Silicone Rings(Jars Not Included). Value score of 9/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Solid build:Easy Fermenter Fermentation Lids Kit, Mason Jar Airlock Lid for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Pack of 4. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Brillenti Fermenting Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars - 4 Waterless Airlock Fermentation Lids Kit with Oxygen Pump. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Jillmo Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Stainless Steel with Airlocks and Silicone Grommets, 4 Pack8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Easy Fermenter Fermentation Lids Kit, Mason Jar Airlock Lid for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Pack of 48.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Brillenti Fermenting Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars - 4 Waterless Airlock Fermentation Lids Kit with Oxygen Pump8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Fermentation Kit, Stainless Steel Fermenting Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Fermentation Lids, 6 Set Fermentation Kit for Wide Mouth Jars, 6 Stainless Steel Fermenting Lids with 6 Silicone Grommets, 6 Airlocks, 6 Silicone Rings(Jars Not Included)8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Artcome 32 PC Fermenting Airlock Lids Kit Set for Large Wide Mouth Mason Jars7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Fermentation Lids Kit for Wide Mouth Jars, 6 Set Plastic Fermenting Lids with 6 Airlocks, Grommets and Rings7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Jillmo's 4 pack of stainless steel wide mouth lids with airlocks and silicone grommets, a durable classic setup for jar ferments.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Stainless steel lids will not rust or warp like painted tin mason lids
- + Separate airlocks and grommets are easy to replace if one wears out
- + 4 Pack covers a steady rotation of kraut, pickles and kimchi jars
- - Three-piece airlocks need water topped up during long ferments
- - Tall airlocks add height, so jars may not fit in low cabinets
#2Easy Fermenter's 4-pack of airlock lids that turn wide mouth mason jars into sealed vessels for kraut, pickles and hot sauce.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pack of 4 lets you run several ferments at once in jars you already own
- + Built-in airlock vents gas while keeping outside air and fruit flies out
- + Easy Fermenter is a well-known name in mason jar fermentation gear
- - Fits wide mouth jars only, regular mouth jars need different lids
- - Weights are not included, so vegetables can float above the brine
#3Brillenti's 4 waterless airlock lids with an oxygen pump for wide mouth mason jars, a sealed vacuum-style fermenting kit.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Waterless airlocks remove the chore of topping up water in the valves
- + Oxygen pump draws out air at the start, helping reduce mold and yeast
- + 4 lids are a good count for a family that ferments on a regular cycle
- - Pump seals rely on clean jar rims, a chipped rim can leak air
- - Weights are not included in the lid kit, so floating pieces need a separate solution
#4A 4-pack kit of stainless steel fermenting lids with airlocks, silicone grommets and glass weights for wide mouth mason jars. It covers both the lid and the weight in one purchase.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Includes 4 stainless lids, 4 BPA-free airlocks, 4 glass weights and 4 grommets, enough for four jars at once.
- + Glass weights are about 7.4 oz (210 g) each, with a 1 inch knob handle for lifting them out of the jar.
- + Fits wide mouth pint, quart and half gallon jars, and the lids are listed as dishwasher safe.
- - Jars are not included, and the lids fit wide mouth jars only, not regular mouth.
- - No tamper is included, and the airlocks add height above the jar, so check your shelf clearance.
#5Six 18/8 stainless steel wide mouth lids with silicone rings, six 3-piece water airlocks and nine grommets. A lids-and-airlocks set for running several jar ferments at the same time.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Six complete lid and airlock sets plus spare grommets, a low cost per jar.
- + Lids are listed to fit Ball, Kerr and other wide mouth jars from 4 oz to 64 oz.
- + The 3-piece airlocks come apart for cleaning, and a silicone cap closes the lid hole after fermenting.
- - No weights or jars are included, so you still need a way to hold vegetables under the brine.
- - The plastic airlocks must not be sterilized in boiling water, according to the listing.
#6Artcome's 32 PC fermenting kit of airlock lids and accessories for large wide mouth mason jars, a broad all-round starter set.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 32 PC count bundles lids, airlocks and fittings so nothing is missing on day one
- + Designed for wide mouth mason jars that most kitchens already have
- + Good for people who want to start several different vegetable ferments together
- - High piece count includes small parts that are easy to misplace
- - Jars are not part of the kit, so you still need to buy those
#7A 6 set of plastic fermenting lids with airlocks, grommets and rings for wide mouth jars, a budget way to run many ferments.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + 6 complete sets give plenty of capacity for batch pickling season
- + Rings are included, so the lids seal on standard wide mouth jars right away
- + Plastic lids are light and will never rust from salty brine
- - Plastic lids can crack if overtightened or left in hot water
- - Check the listing photos closely for build quality before buying
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Three-piece airlocks need water topped up during long ferments (Jillmo Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason...)
- Fits wide mouth jars only, regular mouth jars need different lids (Easy Fermenter Fermentation Lids Kit, Mason...)
- Pump seals rely on clean jar rims, a chipped rim can leak air (Brillenti Fermenting Lids for Wide Mouth...)
- Jars are not included, and the lids fit wide mouth jars only, not regular mouth. (Fermentation Kit, Stainless Steel Fermenting...)
- No weights or jars are included, so you still need a way to hold vegetables under the brine. (Fermentation Lids, 6 Set Fermentation Kit for...)
- High piece count includes small parts that are easy to misplace (Artcome 32 PC Fermenting Airlock Lids Kit Set...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among fermentation kits?
Jillmo Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Stainless Steel with Airlocks and Silicone Grommets, 4 Pack is our top overall pick. Jillmo's 4 pack of stainless steel wide mouth lids with airlocks and silicone grommets, a durable classic setup for jar ferments. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Easy Fermenter Fermentation Lids Kit, Mason Jar Airlock Lid for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Pack of 4 is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Easy Fermenter's 4-pack of airlock lids that turn wide mouth mason jars into sealed vessels for kraut, pickles and hot sauce.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Ferment Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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