Best Fermenting Equipment for Beginners
Updated How we research
JILLMO Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with Airlock and Glass Weight, 2L (64oz), Pack of 2
JILLMO's wide mouth 2L glass fermentation jars with airlock and glass weight, pack of 2, for watching kraut and pickles bubble.
Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, 2nd Edition
Wild Fermentation, the 2nd Edition of Sandor Katz's guide to the flavor, nutrition and craft of live-culture foods.
A first fermentation setup is decided by standardisation, not by quality. Nearly every accessory sold for home fermenting is built around the wide mouth jar with roughly a three inch opening, so a beginner who buys that opening can swap lids, weights, airlocks and pumps between makers for years. Choose an unusual vessel and every replacement part becomes a research project. Glass matters for a practical reason rather than an aesthetic one: you can see the brine line and the first bubbles, which is the only feedback available in week one. Weights are quoted by diameter and have to match the jar opening, since a weight a quarter inch too wide will not drop and one too narrow lets shredded cabbage float past it. Salt should list nothing but salt, because iodine and anticaking agents cloud a brine and can slow the culture down. A scale reading to one gram is what turns a recipe percentage into a repeatable result, and early on it is more useful than any thermometer. What does not matter yet is airlock style, since waterless silicone valves and water filled locks both work, or the piece count printed on a starter kit box.
The short version
We compared 10 picks. Our scores range from 7.2 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:JILLMO Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with Airlock and Glass Weight, 2L (64oz), Pack of 2. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, 2nd Edition. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Elementi Glass Fermentation Weight Set of 4 - Easy Grip Fermenting Weights for Wide Mouth Mason Jars. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Etekcity 0.1g Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Ounces and Grams for Cooking, Baking and Meal Prep, 11 Pounds, Black. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.JILLMO Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with Airlock and Glass Weight, 2L (64oz), Pack of 28.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, 2nd Edition8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Elementi Glass Fermentation Weight Set of 4 - Easy Grip Fermenting Weights for Wide Mouth Mason Jars8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Etekcity 0.1g Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Ounces and Grams for Cooking, Baking and Meal Prep, 11 Pounds, Black8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Morton All Natural Canning & Pickling Salt, 4 lb Box8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Wide Mouth Mason Jar Fermentation Lids - Silicone Fermenting Caps with Waterless Airlock, Self-Burping Fermenter Tops for Pickles, Kimchi, and Probiotic Foods, 3 Pack Grey (Jars Not Included)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.ComSaf Half Gallon Mason Jar 64oz 3Pcs, Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Lids and Seal Bands for Pickling and Fermentation7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Compact Wooden Cabbage Shredder Slicer with Hand Guard for Finely Cut Sauerkraut and Coleslaw7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 9.SOLIGT 12 inch Sauerkraut Pounder for Mason Jars Vegetable Fermentation One Piece of Solid Wood7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 10.Fermenter Adhesive Crystal Strip Thermometer 46-82F (8-28C) for Kombucha, Beer, Wine, Brewing and Fermentation7.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1JILLMO's wide mouth 2L glass fermentation jars with airlock and glass weight, pack of 2, for watching kraut and pickles bubble.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Clear glass lets you check brine level and color without opening the jar
- + Each jar includes an airlock and glass weight, so both are ready to use
- + 64oz size fits a head of cabbage and still slides into most fridges
- - Glass lets in light, so jars should sit in a dim spot while fermenting
- - Glass jars can break if dropped or hit with cold water while warm
#2Wild Fermentation, the 2nd Edition of Sandor Katz's guide to the flavor, nutrition and craft of live-culture foods.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Approachable recipes make it a friendly first fermentation book
- + 2nd Edition updates the original with expanded recipes and notes
- + Encourages a relaxed, experimental approach that builds confidence
- - Loose, flexible recipes may frustrate readers who want exact measurements
- - Overlaps with the author's larger reference book if you own both
#3Elementi Glass Fermentation Weight Set of 4 - Easy Grip Fermenting Weights for Wide Mouth Mason Jars
Elementi's set of 4 easy grip glass fermentation weights for wide mouth mason jars, built to keep veggies under brine.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Easy grip design lets you lift the weight out without fishing with fingers
- + Set of 4 covers a full rotation of wide mouth jars at once
- + Solid glass is non-porous, so it will not hold odors or react with brine
- - Wide mouth only, these will not fit regular mouth mason jars
- - Glass weights can chip a jar if dropped straight onto the bottom
#4Etekcity's 0.1g black food kitchen scale in ounces and grams for cooking, baking and meal prep, up to 11 Pounds.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 0.1g readings weigh salt precisely for accurate brine percentages
- + 11 Pounds capacity handles cabbage heads and full jars on a tare
- + Etekcity is a popular, budget-friendly scale brand
- - Small platform can be hidden by a large bowl, blocking the display
- - Button cell or AAA batteries need replacing over time
#5Morton's all natural canning and pickling salt in a 4 lb box, a pure, additive-free salt for brines and kraut.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Morton is a trusted salt brand that is easy to find again
- + All Natural pickling salt has no iodine or anti-caking agents
- + 4 lb box covers a full season of pickling and fermenting
- - Cardboard box can clump in humid kitchens unless stored dry
- - Fine grains are denser by volume, so weigh salt for accuracy
#6WENQING 3-pack of silicone waterless airlock lids for wide mouth Mason jars. A one-way valve vents gas without water or daily burping.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Three lids in a pack, the same count as the original Pickle Pipe set
- + One-way waterless valve vents gas automatically, with no water or daily burping needed per the listing
- + Listing says the one-piece silicone design is dishwasher safe and low profile for cupboard storage
- - Not the original Pickle Pipe brand, so it is an alternative design rather than the patented original
- - Wide mouth jars only, and jars and rings are not included
#7ComSaf's 3Pcs set of 64oz wide mouth half gallon mason jars with lids and seal bands, pitched for pickling and fermentation.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3Pcs set lets you run kraut, pickles and a brine test at the same time
- + Lids and seal bands are included, so the jars are ready to close out of the box
- + Wide mouth size accepts common fermentation weights and airlock lids sold separately
- - Two-piece metal lids can rust when they sit against salty brine for weeks
- - No airlock or weight is included, so it is a jar set rather than a full kit
#8A compact wooden cabbage shredder slicer with hand guard for finely cut sauerkraut and coleslaw.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Hand guard protects fingers as the cabbage gets small
- + Compact size stores easily in small kitchens
- + Fine cut produces thin strands that release brine quickly
- - Compact board limits how much cabbage you can slice per pass
- - Fine cut setting may be too thin for chunky kraut styles
#9SOLIGT's 12 inch sauerkraut pounder for mason jars, made from one piece of solid wood for vegetable fermentation.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + One Piece of Solid Wood avoids seams where brine and bacteria collect
- + 12 inch length packs cabbage to the base of tall jars
- + Mason jar sizing makes it easy to tamp without hitting the rim
- - Check the listing photos for the wood type before you order
- - Wooden tampers can stain from beets or chili pastes
#10An adhesive crystal strip fermenter thermometer reading 46-82F (8-28C) for kombucha, beer, wine and fermentation.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + 46-82F range covers vegetable ferments, kombucha and ale temperatures
- + Dual Fahrenheit and Celsius marks suit recipes from any source
- + Adhesive strip gives constant readings without batteries
- - Single strip only, so several vessels need several purchases
- - Crystal color bands can be hard to read in low light
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.
- Glass lets in light, so jars should sit in a dim spot while fermenting (JILLMO Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with...)
- Loose, flexible recipes may frustrate readers who want exact measurements (Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and...)
- Wide mouth only, these will not fit regular mouth mason jars (Elementi Glass Fermentation Weight Set of 4 -...)
- Small platform can be hidden by a large bowl, blocking the display (Etekcity 0.1g Food Kitchen Scale, Digital...)
- Cardboard box can clump in humid kitchens unless stored dry (Morton All Natural Canning & Pickling Salt, 4...)
- Not the original Pickle Pipe brand, so it is an alternative design rather than the patented original (Wide Mouth Mason Jar Fermentation Lids -...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among fermenting equipment for beginners?
JILLMO Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with Airlock and Glass Weight, 2L (64oz), Pack of 2 is our top overall pick. JILLMO's wide mouth 2L glass fermentation jars with airlock and glass weight, pack of 2, for watching kraut and pickles bubble. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, 2nd Edition is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Wild Fermentation, the 2nd Edition of Sandor Katz's guide to the flavor, nutrition and craft of live-culture foods.
›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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