The Best Storage Containers for Fermented Foods
Updated How we research
Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid (1.6 Gal Sandy Brown (6.4L))
Crazy Korean Cooking's 1.6 gallon (6.4 L) container with an adjustable inner vacuum lid, made of polypropylene mixed with 7 to 10 percent natural clay. A mid-size option for fermenting and fridge storage.
Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi and Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid, 0.4 Gal (1.7L)
Crazy Korean Cooking's premium kimchi and sauerkraut container with inner vacuum lid, a small 0.4 Gal (1.7L) size.
Fermentation does not stop when the flavor is right; it just needs to slow down. Good cold storage keeps vegetables submerged, keeps oxygen exposure low, and keeps kimchi smell inside the container instead of all over the fridge. This is a different job than the fermentation vessel: you want something that seals tight, pours or serves easily, and fits fridge shelves. Materials matter too, because acidic brine will stain and absorb into cheap plastic while glass and quality gaskets shrug it off. We weighed seal and odor containment, brine resistance over months of contact, shapes that use fridge space efficiently, and how easy each container is to serve from with wet hands. Glass containers with gasketed lids suit most ferments and go straight to the table. Dedicated kimchi containers with inner pressing plates suit anyone making large batches. Original fermentation jars work fine for storage too, if fridge height allows, so upgrade only where it solves a real problem.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 6.8 to 8.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid (1.6 Gal Sandy Brown (6.4L)). Highest overall score in this guide at 8.2/10.
- Also great value:Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi and Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid, 0.4 Gal (1.7L). Value score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Assorted Sizes, Set of 9, BPA-Free, Leak-Proof, Clear. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 7.7/10.
- Feature-rich:E-Jen Premium Kimchi Sauerkraut Container Probiotic Fermentation with Inner Vacuum Lid Earthenware Brown 0.45 gal. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid (1.6 Gal Sandy Brown (6.4L))8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi and Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid, 0.4 Gal (1.7L)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Assorted Sizes, Set of 9, BPA-Free, Leak-Proof, Clear7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.E-Jen Premium Kimchi Sauerkraut Container Probiotic Fermentation with Inner Vacuum Lid Earthenware Brown 0.45 gal7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Lock & Lock BPA Free Rectangular Pickle Kimchi Press Ferment Storage Container (3.6L)7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.7L-2 Airtight Kimchi Container with Handle, Multi-Purpose Food Storage Box with Translucent Lid6.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Plastic Kimchi Fermentation Container 5L with Strainer, Pickle Storage Box for Sauerkraut and Vegetables6.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Crazy Korean Cooking's 1.6 gallon (6.4 L) container with an adjustable inner vacuum lid, made of polypropylene mixed with 7 to 10 percent natural clay. A mid-size option for fermenting and fridge storage.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Adjustable inner lid minimizes the air above the food as the level drops with each serving.
- + Polypropylene blended with 7 to 10 percent natural clay, a design based on the Korean onggi principle.
- + 1.6 gallons sits between the small 0.9 gallon tubs and the bulky 2.2 gallon size.
- - Opaque walls hide the contents, so you have to open the lid to check the brine level.
- - The inner lid has to be pressed back into place after every serving to keep air out.
#2Crazy Korean Cooking's premium kimchi and sauerkraut container with inner vacuum lid, a small 0.4 Gal (1.7L) size.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 1.7L size keeps a small daily kimchi supply in the fridge door or shelf
- + Inner vacuum lid presses kimchi down after every serving
- + Compact box is ideal for singles or as a serving container
- - Too small to ferment a full head of napa cabbage
- - Plastic may hold kimchi color and smell over time
#3A set of 9 Rubbermaid Brilliance glass containers in assorted sizes with airtight, leak-proof latching lids. For portioning finished ferments in the fridge, not for active fermenting, and it costs more than a single jar.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Lids are described as 100 percent airtight, leak-proof and odor and stain resistant, useful for kimchi and kraut.
- + Glass bases do not take on color or smell, and the assorted sizes suit splitting a batch into portions.
- + Modular, stackable shapes with universal lids keep several ferments organized on one shelf.
- - Airtight lids have no gas release, so use them for finished, refrigerated ferments rather than active ones.
- - Individual containers are small next to a kimchi tub, and the set costs more than one large jar.
#4E-Jen's premium kimchi and sauerkraut container with inner vacuum lid in earthenware brown, sized at 0.45 gal.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Inner vacuum lid presses down on kimchi to limit air contact
- + 0.45 gal size suits small households making kimchi weekly
- + Designed in Korea specifically for kimchi fermentation and storage
- - Small capacity fills quickly with a single napa cabbage batch
- - Plastic body can hold on to kimchi smell and color over time
#5A 3.6 liter rectangular LocknLock container with a press plate for kimchi and pickles. Transparent, BPA free and about 248 x 180 x 120 mm, so it slides onto a normal refrigerator shelf.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Press design pushes vegetables down under the brine, the main job when storing kimchi or pickles.
- + Transparent body lets you check the brine level and color without opening the lid.
- + LocknLock is an established food storage brand, and the rectangular shape uses shelf space well.
- - 3.6 liters is a modest size, closer to a single cabbage than a bulk batch.
- - The listing is sparse: it gives dimensions but few details on the press mechanism or the lid seal.
#6A 7L-2 airtight kimchi container with handle and translucent lid, a multi-purpose food storage box.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Handle makes a heavy full container easier to lift from the fridge
- + Translucent Lid lets you check contents without opening
- + Multi-Purpose box also stores pickles, kraut or marinated meat
- - Plastic build may stain red from kimchi over time
- - Confirm the exact pack count and capacity before you order
#7A 5L plastic kimchi fermentation container with strainer, a pickle storage box for sauerkraut and vegetables.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Strainer insert lifts vegetables out of brine for easy serving
- + 5L capacity handles a good family batch of kimchi or pickles
- + Plastic box is light and will not shatter if dropped
- - No press-down lid, so vegetables may float above the brine
- - Plastic can absorb garlic and chili smells
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.
- Opaque walls hide the contents, so you have to open the lid to check the brine level. (Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi,...)
- Too small to ferment a full head of napa cabbage (Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi and...)
- Airtight lids have no gas release, so use them for finished, refrigerated ferments rather than active ones. (Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage...)
- Small capacity fills quickly with a single napa cabbage batch (E-Jen Premium Kimchi Sauerkraut Container...)
- 3.6 liters is a modest size, closer to a single cabbage than a bulk batch. (Lock & Lock BPA Free Rectangular Pickle...)
- Plastic build may stain red from kimchi over time (7L-2 Airtight Kimchi Container with Handle,...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among the best storage containers for fermented foods?
Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid (1.6 Gal Sandy Brown (6.4L)) is our top overall pick. Crazy Korean Cooking's 1.6 gallon (6.4 L) container with an adjustable inner vacuum lid, made of polypropylene mixed with 7 to 10 percent natural clay. A mid-size option for fermenting and fridge storage. It earns our score of 8.2/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Crazy Korean Cooking Premium Kimchi and Sauerkraut Fermentation and Storage Container with Inner Vacuum Lid, 0.4 Gal (1.7L) is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Crazy Korean Cooking's premium kimchi and sauerkraut container with inner vacuum lid, a small 0.4 Gal (1.7L) size.
›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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