My sauerkraut went from slime to sublime after I ditched the fancy jar

I tried making a batch in a trendy ceramic crock I bought online for $80, but after five days it just smelled weird and got a slick film. Switched to a plain old glass gallon jar with a simple airlock lid, and two weeks later it was perfect, crisp and tangy. The difference was night and day, and I'm pretty sure the crock just didn't seal right. Anyone else have a piece of gear that totally let them down?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopher_west11mo ago

Honestly, could that fancy crock have had a tiny crack or bad glaze that let in the wrong bacteria?

daniel5111mo ago

Yeah, that's a real thing. I read an article about how even a hairline crack you can't see can mess up fermentation. The glaze is supposed to seal everything, but if it's not done right or gets damaged, all kinds of stuff can get in. It doesn't take much to ruin a whole batch. Makes you wonder about some of those expensive "artisan" pieces, if they're actually made right for the job.

james6611mo ago

Wait, you can't even see the crack? That's terrifying. So you could have this perfect looking jar, follow every step right, and still end up with a science project because of a flaw you'd need a magnifying glass to spot. No wonder my grandma's old stoneware crock was so beat up but never failed. Maybe the new pretty ones are just for show.