# Best Onggi Crocks Source: https://fermentnest.com/best/best-onggi-crocks Updated: 2026-10-02 Publisher: Ferment Nest. Our score is an editorial rating out of 10 (fit 35%, features 25%, build 20%, value 20%), not a customer rating. Method: https://fermentnest.com/how-we-research#our-score 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. ## Picks ### 1. BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Breathing Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 3L (0.8 gal) Our score: 7.9/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) BALWOO's 3L breathing onggi jar, a step up in size for weekly kimchi batches while keeping traditional clay fermentation. Pros: - 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 Cons: - 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 Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B0F1SJDDYG ### 2. BALWOO Earthenware Onggi 8 Liter (2 gal) Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock Our score: 7.9/10 (Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) BALWOO's 8 liter (2 gal) onggi crock, sized for family kimchi making and larger batches of fermented radish or cabbage. Pros: - 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 Cons: - 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 Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B0GFD1134K ### 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. Our score: 7.8/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10) A 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. Pros: - 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. Cons: - 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. Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B0D1BB1DNK ### 4. BALWOO Earthenware Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Kimchi Fermentation Crock, 2L (67.6oz) Our score: 7.3/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10) BALWOO's 2L earthenware onggi, a small breathable Korean clay jar for kimchi, pastes or a single cabbage worth of banchan. Pros: - 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 Cons: - Unglazed clay needs gentle hand washing and full drying to avoid off smells - Too small for whole-head napa kimchi batches for a family Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B0FRFM13NP ### 5. BALWOO 11 Liter (3 gal) Onggi Korean Traditional Clay Jar Ceramic Canister Kimchi Fermentation Crock Our score: 7.3/10 (Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10) BALWOO's 11 liter (3 gal) onggi, the biggest in its range, for households making kimchi in bulk or storing fermented pastes. Pros: - 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 Cons: - 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 Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B0GK5Z6GW9 ### 6. Ohio Stoneware 1 Gallon Preserving Crock Our score: 6.9/10 (Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10) Ohio 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. Pros: - 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. Cons: - 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. Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B002YHYO9A ### 7. 29.75ounce(5.82inches,880cc) Korean Traditional Table Earthenware Compact Size Pottery Pot Jar Hangari with Lid Our score: 6.2/10 (Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10) A 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. Pros: - 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. Cons: - 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. Details: https://fermentnest.com/product/B00WJNTBS8 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.