Best Onggi Crocks
Updated How we research
BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Breathing Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 3L (0.8 gal)
BALWOO's 3L breathing onggi jar, a step up in size for weekly kimchi batches while keeping traditional clay fermentation.
BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal) Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock
BALWOO's 8 liter (2 gal) onggi crock, sized for family kimchi making and larger batches of fermented radish or cabbage.
Onggi are unglazed Korean earthenware jars that breathe. The porous clay lets a small amount of gas move through the wall, which is why kimchi made in onggi behaves differently from kimchi in glass. Products vary in clay body, firing, whether the interior is partly glazed, and lid fit. Porosity itself varies too, and it affects both seepage and how much brine the vessel drinks up during its first few uses. We looked for honest sourcing, sane lid fit, and sellers who describe glaze and porosity plainly, since a fully glazed jar sold as onggi is really just a crock. Seasoning instructions matter for a first-time buyer. Smaller onggi suit a household batch of kimchi that lives in the fridge. Larger ones make sense only if you have a cool cellar or garage and ferment in season, not year round.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 6.2 to 7.9 out of 10.
- Best overall:BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Breathing Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 3L (0.8 gal). Highest overall score in this guide at 7.9/10.
- Also great value:BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal) Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock. Value score of 8/10, overall 7.9/10.
- Solid build:BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 2L (67.6oz). Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.3/10.
- Feature-rich:Fermentation Crock 2 Liter / 0.5 Gallon, Sauerkraut Crock with Lid, Weights & Pounder - Ceramic Fermenting Crock Kit for Pickling Cabbage Kimchi Pickle Vegetables- Sauerkraut Fermentation Crock.. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Breathing Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 3L (0.8 gal)7.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal) Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock7.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Fermentation Crock 2 Liter / 0.5 Gallon, Sauerkraut Crock with Lid, Weights & Pounder - Ceramic Fermenting Crock Kit for Pickling Cabbage Kimchi Pickle Vegetables- Sauerkraut Fermentation Crock.7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 2L (67.6oz)7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.BALWOO 11 Liter (3 gal) Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Ceramic Canister Kimchi Fermentation Crock7.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Ohio Stoneware 1 Gallon Preserving Crock6.9/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.29.75ounce(5.82inches,880cc) Korean Traditional Table Earthenware Compact Size Pottery Pot Jar Hangari with Lid6.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1BALWOO's 3L breathing onggi jar, a step up in size for weekly kimchi batches while keeping traditional clay fermentation.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3L capacity gives room for a proper kimchi batch without taking over the kitchen
- + Breathing earthenware wall helps regulate moisture during slow fermentation
- + Same BALWOO clay style as the smaller jar, so a matched pair works for rotating batches
- - Onggi clay is heavier and more fragile than glass or food-safe plastic
- - No weights or airlock included, so you manage the brine level yourself
#2BALWOO's 8 liter (2 gal) onggi crock, sized for family kimchi making and larger batches of fermented radish or cabbage.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 liter volume fits several napa cabbages, so a single kimchi day fills it
- + Traditional Korean clay jar supports slow, even fermentation for deeper flavor
- + Wide opening makes packing and scooping out kimchi easy with a hand or ladle
- - Needs real floor or pantry space, it will not tuck into a small cupboard
- - Porous clay should be seasoned and cared for, unlike a dishwasher-safe jar
#3A 2 liter (0.5 gallon) glazed ceramic crock with a water-seal lid, glazed weights and a wooden pounder. A complete small-batch kit for sauerkraut, kimchi or pickles on the counter.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Water-seal lid lets fermentation gas escape while keeping outside air away from the brine.
- + Comes with glazed weights and a wooden pounder, so the kit is complete apart from vegetables and salt.
- + Glaze is described as lead-free and cadmium-free, with thick walls, large handles and a wide opening.
- - Two liters holds only a small batch, roughly one medium cabbage at a time.
- - LIYYOO is a little-known brand, so long-term durability is harder to judge than with older makers.
#4BALWOO's 2L earthenware onggi, a small breathable Korean clay jar for kimchi, pastes or a single cabbage worth of banchan.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Traditional porous earthenware lets the ferment breathe the way onggi is meant to
- + 2L size suits small kimchi batches or storing gochujang and doenjang
- + Korean-style shape looks good on a counter or open shelf between batches
- - Unglazed clay needs gentle hand washing and full drying to avoid off smells
- - Too small for whole-head napa kimchi batches for a family
#5BALWOO 11 Liter (3 gal) Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Ceramic Canister Kimchi Fermentation Crock
BALWOO's 11 liter (3 gal) onggi, the biggest in its range, for households making kimchi in bulk or storing fermented pastes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 11 liter capacity suits kimjang-style batches meant to last a whole season
- + Doubles as a ceramic canister for grains or pastes when not fermenting
- + Traditional Korean clay construction keeps contents cool and dark
- - Very heavy once filled, so moving it to a fridge or cellar is a two-person job
- - Overkill for anyone making a jar of kimchi at a time
#6Ohio Stoneware's 1 gallon preserving crock is a plain open stoneware crock for small batches of sauerkraut or pickles. It is sold as the crock alone, so weights and a cover are separate purchases.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + One gallon capacity takes roughly 5 pounds of cabbage, a manageable size for a first open-crock batch.
- + Stoneware from Ohio Stoneware, a maker known for traditional American preserving crocks.
- + Costs far less than the lidded water-seal crocks here, which leaves budget for weights and a cover.
- - The listing describes only the crock itself, so plan to buy weights and a cover separately.
- - The listing gives no dimensions or glaze details, and 1 gallon limits you to small batches.
#7A compact Korean earthenware hangari with lid holding 880 cc (about 30 ounces). Sized for the table or a small portion of kimchi, gochujang or doenjang rather than a full batch.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10
- + Earthenware with many micro holes for air flow, which the listing says helps pastes and kimchi ferment properly.
- + Small footprint, under 6 inches across, so it fits on a counter, table or refrigerator shelf.
- + Comes with a matching lid and a 3.5 inch mouth, wide enough to spoon paste or kimchi in and out.
- - At 880 cc it holds less than a quart, far too small for a whole napa cabbage.
- - Expensive for the capacity, and the listing states it is for food storage only, not for cooking.
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.
- Onggi clay is heavier and more fragile than glass or food-safe plastic (BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional...)
- Needs real floor or pantry space, it will not tuck into a small cupboard (BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal)...)
- Two liters holds only a small batch, roughly one medium cabbage at a time. (Fermentation Crock 2 Liter / 0.5 Gallon,...)
- Unglazed clay needs gentle hand washing and full drying to avoid off smells (BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional...)
- Very heavy once filled, so moving it to a fridge or cellar is a two-person job (BALWOO 11 Liter (3 gal) Onggi Korean...)
- The listing describes only the crock itself, so plan to buy weights and a cover separately. (Ohio Stoneware 1 Gallon Preserving Crock)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among onggi crocks?
BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Breathing Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 3L (0.8 gal) is our top overall pick. BALWOO's 3L breathing onggi jar, a step up in size for weekly kimchi batches while keeping traditional clay fermentation. It earns our score of 7.9/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal) Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. BALWOO's 8 liter (2 gal) onggi crock, sized for family kimchi making and larger batches of fermented radish or cabbage.
›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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