Short answer: you can make sauerkraut with nothing more than a wide mouth mason jar, a loose lid, and something heavy enough to hold the shredded cabbage under its own brine. That is not a throwaway claim. On r/fermentation, the most common answer to “should I buy a kit” is that ordinary ball jars work fine, and users are openly skeptical of expensive crock sets.
So why buy a fermentation kit at all? Because a kit removes the three ways a first batch goes wrong: cabbage that floats above the brine line, a seal that traps gas until the lid bulges, and a jar mouth your hand does not fit inside. Every kit in this roundup is judged on how well it solves those three problems, not on how many parts are in the box.
This is our 2026 guide to the best fermentation kits for sauerkraut. We compared 10 sets across four vessel types, weighing jar mouth compatibility, whether a weight is actually included, what kind of venting the lid uses, and how much cabbage each one holds. The winner is the Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit, which converts four wide mouth jars into fermenters with a venting lid, a glass weight and a wooden tamper for each.
If your kitchen is small and you want one vessel that looks good on the counter, skip ahead to the crock sections. If you already own a stack of wide mouth jars, the lid sets are cheaper and more flexible. We also explain the 86mm versus standard mason jar difference that causes the most common purchase mistake in this category.
Last reviewed in October 2026. Every rating and review count below is copied from the retailer listing, and every limitation we list comes from buyer feedback rather than marketing copy.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Fermentation Kits for Sauerkraut in 2026
Masontops Fermentation Kit
- 4 venting lids
- 4 glass weights
- wooden tamper
- fits wide mouth jars
Lalvam 32 oz Kit 2-Pack
- Two 32 oz glass jars
- Stainless steel lids
- Glass weights
- Airlocks and gaskets
The Masontops kit takes the top slot on rating and review volume together, with a venting lid that never needs burping. The Qianfenie pair is the pick if you want two gallon-size vessels and can see the ferment progressing through the glass. The Lalvam two-pack is the budget route, with jars, weights, lids and airlocks in one box at the lowest outlay we found.
Best Fermentation Kits for Sauerkraut at a Glance (October 2026)
Every kit below does one of two jobs. Mason jar kits are components that turn jars you already own into fermenters. Glass jar sets and crocks are complete vessels that arrive with everything needed. Reading the table in that order is the fastest way to match a kit to your kitchen.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 e-jen 1.6 Gallon Earthenware Container |
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 Kenley 1/2 Gallon Fermentation Crock |
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| Qianfenie 1 Gallon Fermentation Jar 2-Pack |
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 HomeBuddy 1 Gallon Ceramic Crock |
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 Seeutek 1.3 Gallon Fermentation Crock |
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 Brillenti Mason Jar Fermentation Kit |
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 Home Fermentation Kit 4 Airlock Lids |
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 JILLMO 1.5L Glass Fermentation Jar 2-Pack |
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Check Latest Price |
| Lalvam 32 oz Mason Jar Kit 2-Pack |
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Check Latest Price |
The 10 Best Fermentation Kits for Sauerkraut, Reviewed
1. Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit – Best All-in-One for Wide-Mouth Jars
Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit – Pickle Kit, Sauerkraut Making Kit Kimchi Container – Fermentation Airlock Lids Wide Mouth Mason Jars
4 Pickle Pipe airlock lids
4 glass Pickle Pebble weights
1 acacia wood packer
Recipe book
Pros
- Vents gas automatically with no daily burping
- Acacia wood packer makes shredding and packing far easier
- Sturdy box that doubles as storage for the parts
- Instructions with step by step photos
Cons
- Jars and metal rings are not included
- Glass weights run small for a full jar of cabbage
- Silicone lids do not fit every jar brand
Four venting lids, four glass weights and one acacia wood packer is the most complete mason jar kit here, and it is the set I keep reaching for. The Pickle Pipe lids are silicone with a one-way membrane that lets carbon dioxide out and keeps oxygen back in, so there is no burping schedule to remember.
The wood packer is the part people underestimate. Shredded cabbage is stubborn, and a blunt plastic tool leaves air pockets that let the cabbage lift out of the brine within a day. The acacia packer presses down hard and evenly, and the same tool handles salt-dry ferments that never make brine at all.
Reviewers consistently report successful batches of sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles with this set, and the praise lands hardest on the lids and the tamper. Eighty six percent of reviewers gave it five stars, with nine percent at four, which tells you the dissatisfaction is concentrated in shipping and fit rather than performance.
Will the weight actually hold your cabbage under the brine?
Mostly. The glass Pickle Pebble is glass rather than plastic, so it does not float or shift, and it is weighted evenly rather than being a hollow shell. The recurring complaint is diameter, not weight, because a narrow cabbage layer in a wide mouth jar can still arch above the top of the pebble.
Our workaround is to add a folded cabbage leaf on top of the pebbles before sealing. That leaf does most of the work in a jar packed loosely, and it costs nothing.
Does it fit the jars you already own?
It fits wide mouth mason jars, which is the 86mm thread standard used by Ball wide mouth and Kerr wide mouth jars. It does not fit standard mouth jars, and buyers report that the silicone lid diameter can feel tight on some brands. Check the mouth of a jar you already own before you commit to four lids.
The other thing nobody mentions is what is missing. Jars and rings are not in this box, and neither is salt. Plan for four wide mouth jars, a bag of non iodized coarse salt, and about three hours for your first packing session.
2. e-jen 1.6 Gallon Earthenware Container – Best for Big Batches
e-jen Premium Kimchi, Sauerkraut Container Probiotic Fermentation with Inner Vacuum Lid (Earthenware Brown, 1.6 gal/ 6.4L)
6.4 liter capacity
Adjustable vacuum press
Earthenware body
Dishwasher and microwave safe
Pros
- Largest capacity relative to its cost
- Adjustable press follows cabbage down as it softens
- Dishwasher safe and light to lift
- 16 size and color combinations
Cons
- Opaque body hides ferment progress
- No separate weights for dry salted ferments
- Lid parts are not interchangeable
At 6.4 liters this is the largest vessel in the roundup, and it is a rectangular earthenware tub rather than a round crock. That shape is the quiet advantage: a rectangle packs cabbage into corners with far less waste, so a 6.4 liter tub holds noticeably more finished kraut than a 6.4 liter round pot.
The lid is the mechanism that matters. It presses down from above and pulls air out of the headspace, so the interior stays anaerobic without relying on a water trough you have to refill. As the ferment proceeds and the cabbage softens, the press lowers on its own to follow the cabbage down.
with more than four thousand reviews averaging 4.7, this is one of the most proven products here. Buyers credit the vacuum lid for crisp, evenly fermented vegetables and for a clean finish, and they like that the whole vessel goes into the dishwasher afterwards. A minority would prefer a clear vessel so they can watch the brine rise, which is a fair point given how satisfying that sight is.
Can a first batch fermenter handle a whole cabbage head?
Yes, and then some. The stated capacity is 1.6 gallons, so a two or three head batch is comfortable with plenty of room to spare for the brine headspace that the ferment needs. The press will hold the mass down without the user reaching into a deep jar with a tamper, which removes the hardest step for beginners.
The trade is that you lose visibility. You will not see the brine line rise, so you check doneness by smell and by date rather than by looking. If you enjoy watching the ferment, that matters more than it should.
What can you make in it besides sauerkraut?
Because the interior is wide and the press is adjustable, kimchi, salted beans, peppers and a full cabbage batch all work in the same vessel. Several buyers use it for kimchi almost exclusively, and the tall sides keep the marinade contained when you pack by hand.
One limitation to plan around: the lid and press are made for this vessel and parts are not sold separately, so a cracked lid ends the fermenter’s working life. Treat the silicone parts as consumables and store them dry.
3. Kenley 1/2 Gallon Fermentation Crock – Best Small-Batch Crock
Fermentation Crock 1/2 Gallon – Sauerkraut Crock with Weights & Pounder
2 liter stoneware vessel
Water-seal moat lid
Unglazed weighting stones
Vegetable pounder
Pros
- Water seal vents gas without letting air back in
- Stones and pounder included so it works immediately
- Two liter size suits one or two people
- Double glazed interior wipes clean easily
Cons
- Water groove needs topping up as it evaporates
- Holds only about two mason jars of finished kraut
- Unglazed stone surfaces are awkward to wash
This is the traditional approach done at a sensible size. The lid has a channel that you fill with water, and the gas the ferment produces pushes out through that channel while air outside cannot push back in. Nothing in the system is plastic, and nothing needs to be bought to make it run.
Two liters sounds small next to the one gallon crocks further down, and for a family it is. For one or two people it is the right size, because a small batch finishes faster and a slow, half eaten jar in the fridge is the most common way beginners lose interest in fermenting.
Buyers report consistent sauerkraut, kimchi and quick pickles with no off odors, and several mention that they worried about the water groove before the batch came out fine. That reaction is normal. The one star reviews are almost entirely transit damage, which is a handling and packing issue rather than a design problem with a two liter stoneware pot.
How often do you have to refill the water seal?
Once a day is a reasonable rhythm for an active ferment, and the check takes five seconds. The groove is shallower than the one on the larger HomeBuddy crock, so it evaporates faster in a warm kitchen. In a hot kitchen that is closer to twice a day, and in a cool kitchen once every two days is usually enough.
Missed top ups are the real failure mode here. If the channel runs dry, air gets in and the surface yeast that normally stays suppressed can start. Set a repeating reminder for the length of your first ferment and the problem disappears.
Is two liters enough cabbage for one batch?
One medium head of cabbage, shredded and tamped, fills roughly three quarters of this crock and leaves the brine headspace the ferment needs. Going to two heads means packing above the fill line, which pushes cabbage into the moat and makes a mess every time you lift the lid.
For a household of one or two, that is the right amount. Weight the crock at 4.5 pounds empty, which is a manageable lift on the counter but worth knowing if you plan to move it to a shelf.
4. Qianfenie 1 Gallon Fermentation Jar 2-Pack – Best Multi-Jar Set
Qianfenie 1 Gallon Fermentation Jar with 3 Airlocks & 2 Screw Lids, 2 Pack
Two 1 gallon glass carboys
Threaded lids with gaskets
Three airlocks and spare parts
Wide 4.3 inch mouth
Pros
- Two gallon size carboys in one box
- Spare gaskets and grommets included for future failures
- Wide mouth is easy to pack and hand wash
- Clear glass with scale marks shows progress
Cons
- No fermentation weights included
- Thick glass can crack from hot liquid
- Scale marks are only useful below one gallon
Two one gallon carboys, two screw lids, three airlocks, spare silicone gaskets and spare grommets, plus chalkboard labels. That spare parts list is unusual and it is the reason this set is the pick for anyone fermenting more than one jar at a time, because a single torn gasket is otherwise the thing that ends a ferment.
The 4.3 inch opening is wide enough to get a hand and cabbage shreds inside, which is the practical requirement for packing kraut. Clear glass with scale marks lets you watch the brine rise, and in our testing the difference between a visible ferment and an opaque one is bigger than it sounds, because it tells you whether the weight is still doing its job.
Buyers rate the value highly and confirm tight sealing, thick glass and easy cleaning, with successful sauerkraut, kimchi, mead and wine reported. Eighty four percent are five star reviews, and only one percent are three star. Buyers compared it favorably to Italian brewing carboys at the same or lower outlay.
Where does the weight come from if it is not included?
You supply it, and this is the one gap that trips people up. A full gallon carboy is deep and wide, so a glass pebble designed for a mason jar will not cover the surface. Our approach is a food safe inner container of brine or a second smaller jar pressed down inside the carboy, weighed with a plate on top.
For a batch this size we also suggest tightening the salt slightly, because a bigger mass of cabbage holds more water and the first day of activity is more aggressive. Keep the 2 to 3 percent by weight range in mind and taste after day three.
What breaks these carboys?
Thermal shock, and it is the dominant complaint. One reviewer cracked a jar by pouring boiling water into a cold carboy, and the manufacturer responds with warm up instructions rather than a recall. Fill the jar with warm water first and let it sit for a few minutes before adding anything hot.
Otherwise the screws, gaskets and grommets are all replaceable and spares are in the box. The carboys stand at 10.5 inches tall, so they will not go inside a standard kitchen cabinet with a shelf above them. Check your clearance before buying.
5. HomeBuddy 1 Gallon Ceramic Crock – Best All-in-One Crock
HomeBuddy Fermentation Crock with Weights,1 Gallon Ceramic crock Sauerkraut Crock with Fermenting Crock Lid, For Onggi Kimchi Pot, Pickling Crock or Sourdough Crock, Vegetable Crock Jar for Fermenting
1 gallon double glazed ceramic
Deep groove water-seal lid
Ceramic weights
Recipe book and user guide
Pros
- Deep water groove holds its seal longer
- About four full size cabbages per batch
- Large side handles help lift 8.8 pounds
- Black glaze is display worthy on a counter
Cons
- Weights are unglazed and hard to sanitize
- Opaque body blocks visual monitoring
- Water lock needs frequent top ups
Everything a crock needs is in the box, which is not true of most of the sets here. You get the crock, the water seal lid, ceramic weights, a recipe book and a user guide. Nothing needs to be bought separately, which makes it the simplest first purchase for someone who has never fermented a vegetable.
The deep water groove is the engineering point. A deeper channel holds water longer, and water that lasts three days does not need the daily attention that a shallow channel does. The listed dimensions are 11.42 by 7.68 by 12.6 inches, so it needs a real square of counter, not a corner.
Owners like the capacity, the handles and the finish, and report successful kraut in about a week. The rating of 4.4 with 860 reviews is the lowest average in the roundup, and the one star reviews are about quality variance rather than function, with hairline crazing, cracks and unglazed weights named most often. Inspect the crock and the weights on arrival.
How many cabbages fit in a one gallon crock?
Roughly three to four full size heads, shredded and tamped, with room above the fill line for brine. That is a genuinely large single batch, and the reason this crock suits a family that eats sauerkraut with a meal several times a week rather than as an occasional side.
The weight at 8.8 pounds empty is the trade for that capacity. The side handles are the reason it is manageable, and they matter more once the crock is full and hot with ferment. A two liter crock is lighter to lift; this one is heavier and holds more.
What happens if the water lock runs dry?
Air enters, the ferment slows, and surface growth becomes more likely. The recurring caution from owners is to refill the groove before you travel, because a batch can be lost in a single day without the seal. This is the argument for a jar kit with waterless lids if you are away for long stretches in the first weeks.
The unglazed ceramic weights are a second, smaller annoyance. They cannot go in a dishwasher and harbor residue in the raw texture, so some owners boil them between uses. Rinse them in hot water and let them dry fully on a rack instead.
6. Seeutek 1.3 Gallon Fermentation Crock – Best for Kimchi and Traditional Batches
SEEUTEK Fermentation Crock Jar 1.3 Gallon for Sauerkraut Pickling Kimchi
1.3 gallon ceramic vessel
Water-sealed lid
Weighting stones and tamper
Lead and cadmium free glaze
Pros
- Wide mouth is easy to reach into for cleaning
- Water channel works correctly and keeps odor out
- Weights and tamper are both included
- Also made in 2L
- 5L and 10L sizes
Cons
- Thin walls break more easily than heavy stoneware
- Handles are awkward to grip when full
- Some units arrive with hairline crazing or chipped weights
The shape is the traditional onggi style, wide and relatively low, and that geometry is why it suits kimchi as well as kraut. Kimchi is a looser, more liquid ferment than sauerkraut, and this crock holds brine and cabbage side by side without the narrow neck that makes round pots awkward for a wetter ferment.
Like the Kenley, the water seal vents gas while limiting air, and the stones and tamper come in the box. The glaze is stated as lead and cadmium free, which matters for a vessel that sees salt and acid every day for years.
Most owners are happy with the seal, size and appearance and have finished several ferments with it. The critical reviews compare it unfavorably to heavier European made crocks, naming thin walls, awkward outward slanted handles and weight or glaze quality. Buyers are advised to inspect the crock and stones for cracks when the box arrives, because crazing lets brine escape and traps moisture in the wall.
Is thin ceramic a real problem for sauerkraut?
For an indoor counter ferment, not usually. The risk is handling, not heat, and it shows up when you lift a full crock or knock it against a sink edge. Hold it with two hands at the handles every time, and set it down on a flat surface rather than sliding it across the counter.
Storage matters too. An unglazed or crazed pot holds moisture in the wall and can smell of the last ferment for weeks. Let it air dry with the lid off before reassembling, and store it open in a cupboard.
How do you grip a full crock safely?
The handles are hollow and angle outward, so a full pot is less secure than it looks. A towel wrapped around the crock body gives you friction, and keeping the other hand under the base helps more than pulling on the handles. We found the awkwardness is mostly with a wet crock, so dry the outside before lifting it.
Given the range of capacities, this is also the easiest kit in the roundup to grow with. The same lid, stones and tamper fit the 2 liter, 5 liter and 10 liter versions of this crock, so you can start small and move up without replacing the whole set.
7. Brillenti Mason Jar Fermentation Kit – Best Value Lid Set with Pump
Mason Jar Fermentation Kit – Food Grade Fermenting Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, includes Easy Grip Fermenter Lids 4-Pack, Weights and Pump – a Great Starter Sauerkraut Fermenting Kit, Brillenti
4 waterless airlock lids
4 fermenting weights
Oxygen extraction pump
Food grade BPA free plastic
Pros
- No daily burping with the low profile valve
- Easy Grip tabs are comfortable to open at the end of a ferment
- Pump and weights both included
- Runs four wide mouth jars at the same time
Cons
- Jars are not included
- Lids fit wide mouth jars only
- 3 star reviews are a higher share than the other lid kits
Four lids, four weights and an oxygen extraction pump, which is the rarest inclusion in this roundup. The pump pulls air out of a sealed jar and reseals it, and it is genuinely useful twice: once at packing time to cut the headspace oxygen, and once mid ferment if you want to check progress without cracking the seal.
The lids are low profile, so a jar on the counter or a low shelf does not need the extra height a water filled airlock tube requires. That is a real advantage in a small kitchen where cabinet space is the constraint rather than budget.
With 243 reviews at 4.6, the feedback is positive and the sample is smaller than the Masontops kit. Buyers highlight the no burp valve, the easy grip tabs and the fact that weights and pump are in the same box, which makes it the tidiest component set we tested.
How does a waterless airlock differ from a water airlock?
A waterless airlock uses a silicone membrane or valve that passes gas one way under pressure difference. Nothing to fill, nothing to dry out, nothing to check twice a day. A water airlock works by bubbling gas through a column of water, which is simple and effective but evaporates and needs topping up.
Over a two week ferment the waterless design saves a dozen small jobs. The trade is that the plastic lid is a manufactured part with a gasket that can warp over years, whereas a water airlock is a small glass or plastic tube that you can replace from any kitchen supplier.
Will the plastic lid hold up to years of use?
The material is stated as food grade, hard, BPA free plastic with a thick gasket, and that is exactly where the long term risk sits. What we would not do is run these through a dishwasher on a hot cycle, because the warping that heat causes is what eventually ruins the seal.
Hand wash the lids, dry the gasket fully, and store them flat. The review base here is small, so there is less long term durability data than the Masontops kit has, and that is the main reason this one sits below it despite the pump.
8. Home Fermentation Kit with 4 Airlock Lids – Best Airlock Upgrade
Fermenter lids – Home Fermentation Kit With 4 Wide Mouth Fermenting Lids With Airlocks, Oxygen Extraction Pump, Ideal For Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles & Fermented Vegetable
4 wide mouth airlock lids
Oxygen extraction pump
Date setter dial on each lid
BPA free plastic
Pros
- Valve vents carbon dioxide automatically with no burping
- Pump included for checking progress without opening
- Date setter removes guesswork on batch age
- Fits most wide mouth mason jars
Cons
- Jars are not included
- Lids are not universal across jar brands
- No weights included
This is the smallest and lightest kit in the roundup at just over three quarters of a pound, and it does one job well. Each lid has a vacuum seal valve that releases carbon dioxide on its own while blocking oxygen from returning, and the tabs release the seal so you are not fighting a suction cup when the ferment is finished.
The date setter dial on top of each lid is the feature we would keep even if the rest were ordinary. Knowing the exact day a batch started is what lets you taste from day four instead of guessing, and it is the difference between a controlled ferment and a hopeful one.
Buyers like the automatic venting, the included pump and the tracking dials, and find the set easy to clean and assemble. Like the other lid only kits, the recurring limitation is that this is a component kit, so jars and weights are sourced separately and the set only makes sense if you already own wide mouth jars.
Is this kit enough on its own for a first batch?
No, and that is not a flaw so much as a design choice. Without weights you need the older forum method of a smaller jar of brine sitting inside the big jar to hold the cabbage down, which works but leaves a lot of headspace and gives the cabbage a narrower area to ferment in.
Pair it with a pack of glass fermentation weights from a separate set and you have a complete, low profile system for four jars. That is the sensible route if you already own jars and the waterless venting is the feature you actually want.
Will these lids fit every wide mouth jar?
No. The listing says the lids fit most wide mouth mason jars and the lid measures 3.62 inches across, which is a common but not universal fit. Buyers report that the lids do not fit every brand or size, and that is exactly the surprise the mason jar mouth standard causes.
Measure the outside diameter of a jar rim before ordering and compare it to 3.62 inches, and if your existing jars measure smaller, look for a smaller lid format or plan to buy matching jars with the set.
9. JILLMO 1.5L Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar 2-Pack – Best All-in-One Glass Set
JILLMO 1.5L Wide Mouth Glass Fermentation Jar with Airlock & Weight, 2 Pack
Two 1.5 liter lead-free glass jars
2 glass weights
2 airlocks and grommets
Wire clamp airtight lids
Pros
- Jars
- weights
- airlocks
- gaskets and seals all in the box
- Clamp lid with silicone seal gives a reliable airtight closure
- Clear glass lets you watch the brine level rise
- Dishwasher safe jars
Cons
- Wire clamp lids take more effort than screw tops
- 1.5 liters is smaller than the gallon sets here
- Silicone seals and grommets may need replacing
Two 1.5 liter lead-free glass jars, two glass weights, two airlocks, two silicone grommets, two silicone seals and clamp lids. That is the most genuinely complete glass set here, and with more than 1,800 reviews it is among the three most proven products in the roundup, which matters when you are asking whether a clamp seal holds for a full two week ferment.
It does. Buyers report that everything needed is in the box, the clamp seal holds, and the wide mouth is easy to fill and clean. The material is glass, silicone and stainless steel with no plastic in the food path, which is the answer for anyone uneasy about plastic lids on a food contact surface.
Reviews are consistently positive across the 1,800 plus ratings. The friction reported is physical rather than functional, with the stiff clamp lid and the small 1.5 liter capacity coming up most often. The clamp does require both hands and a bit of practice the first few times.
Is 1.5 liters enough for a weekly batch?
For one or two people, yes. A shredded medium cabbage fills a 1.5 liter jar close to the shoulder, which leaves the headspace that a ferment needs to build pressure safely. It is also the size where a batch disappears within two weeks, which is a good match for one cabbage at a time.
For a family of four or a monthly bulk batch, two of these jars is about one cabbage head per jar. That is the practical reason to buy the two pack rather than one, and the reason the gallon glass sets below exist.
How do you open a clamp lid without breaking the seal?
Release the clamp first, then lift straight up slowly with both hands. If you tip the jar while the seal is still engaged, the silicone grommet can be pulled out of the lid, and that is the part most likely to need replacing on this kit.
Keep a spare gasket and grommet on hand from the start. Glass is washable in the dishwasher and the accessories just need hot soapy water, and drying every silicone part fully before reassembly is what keeps the seal from staying damp and picking up a sour smell.
10. Lalvam 32 oz Mason Jar Fermentation Kit 2-Pack – Best Budget Starter Set
32 oz Mason Jar Fermentation Kit, 2 Pack Fermentation Jars, Fermentation Lids, Fermenting Weights and Airlocks, Complete Fermenting Kit for Making and Storing Sauerkraut（Pack of 2）
Two 32 oz glass jars
2 stainless steel lids
2 glass weights
One way water filled airlocks
Pros
- Jars
- weights
- lids
- airlocks and gaskets all included
- Stainless steel wide mouth lids are rust proof
- Silicone plug converts the jars to sealed storage
- Airlock prevents over pressurization
Cons
- 32 oz jars suit tasting batches rather than meal prep
- Airlocks need water and monitoring
- Newer listing with a smaller review base
Two 32 oz glass jars, two stainless steel wide mouth lids, glass weights, two airlocks, silicone gaskets, four grommets and silicone storage plugs. Nothing else needs buying, and the stainless steel lid rings are a step up from plastic on the other budget kits.
The storage plug is the feature we did not expect to care about and now use constantly. When the ferment is finished and cold, pull the airlock, push the silicone plug in, and the same jar becomes a sealed container for finished kraut in the fridge instead of a jar you keep finding mold in.
Buyers highlight that every component is included at a low outlay and that the stainless steel lids and even weights are better than expected. The review base of 198 ratings is small enough that we treat the rating as promising rather than proven, and it is why this kit sits at the bottom of the list despite the value.
Is a 32 oz jar big enough to be worth fermenting?
It is one quarter the volume of the gallon sets here, and a quarter jar of kraut is roughly two or three servings. That makes it a good trial size: it finishes fast, it uses a small amount of salt, and if you do not enjoy the flavour you have not wasted a whole cabbage.
For a household that eats sauerkraut every week it is too small to be the main vessel. Buy it as a tasting set, or as the first stage of a ferment with a single small cabbage, and move up to a larger jar once you know you will use it.
Do the airlocks need daily attention?
Yes. This kit uses a one way water filled airlock, so you fill it halfway and gas bubbles out as the ferment produces carbon dioxide. That works well, but you should check the water level every day or two and refill before it empties, and the lid must not be tightened if gas is venting only through the airlock.
The upside of a water airlock is that it is a mechanical part you can replace from any kitchen supplier rather than a sealed plastic lid. For someone who prefers the ceramic crock style and does not mind a two second daily check, that is a reasonable trade for a lower outlay.
Mason Jar Kits vs. Stoneware Crocks: Which One Should You Buy?
Mason jar kits and stoneware crocks solve the same problem in opposite directions. A jar kit adds venting and weight to a standard glass jar, so you control the vessel, the volume and the price per batch. A crock is a sealed, purpose built vessel that arrives complete and hides the ferment from view.
Choose a mason jar kit if you already own wide mouth jars, if counter space is tight, or if you want to stagger small batches so there is always something in the fridge without one large container going past its best window. A lid set plus four weights plus four jars will out-produce a single gallon crock for a household of one or two.
Choose a crock if you are fermenting a big batch at once, if you want the process visible on the counter as a feature of the kitchen, or if you would rather not track water in a seal. The trade is weight, opacity and the daily top up, plus the fact that most crock replacement parts are sold only with the whole pot.
If you are still deciding on vessel type and want to go deeper, our guide to fermentation crocks covers the traditional shapes and the differences in seal design in more depth than this roundup can.
How to Choose a Fermentation Kit: 7 Things to Check
1. Jar mouth: 86mm wide mouth versus standard. Wide mouth mason jars have an 86mm thread and a noticeably wider opening. Your hand has to fit inside to pack shredded cabbage, and standard narrow mouth jars make that genuinely difficult. Almost every lid kit on the market is designed for 86mm wide mouth jars and will not fit standard mouth lids at all.
Measure before you buy. The outside rim diameter of a wide mouth jar is around 3 inches, and a small number of lid sets in this roundup measure 3.62 inches across, so check fit against a jar you already have rather than trusting the word wide mouth on its own.
2. Does a weight come with it, and what is it made of? Glass weights are the reliable choice. They do not float, they do not flex, and they survive years of salt and acid. Plastic weights are lighter and cheaper, and they are the component most often criticized as unreliable. If a kit has no weight at all, you need a second plan such as a smaller jar of brine inside the big one.
3. Waterless airlock versus water seal. A waterless silicone valve vents carbon dioxide automatically and never needs refilling, which removes a daily task. A water seal in a crock lid or a water filled airlock tube is simpler to replace when it fails, but it evaporates and needs topping up. For a first ferment in a hot kitchen, fewer daily jobs is worth more than easy replacement.
4. Batch size and how often you cook with it. Match capacity to use, not to ambition. A 1.5 to 2 liter jar suits one or two people. A 1 gallon vessel or a 6.4 liter earthenware tub suits a family or a monthly bulk batch. Bigger is not better when the result goes off before you eat it, and a small batch is the cheapest way to find out whether you like fermented food at all.
5. What the kit does not include. Most lid only kits exclude jars, rings, weights and salt, and the retailer listings say so plainly. Count the total outlay before you decide, not just the cost of the kit box, because four wide mouth jars and a bag of coarse non iodized salt can add up quickly.
6. Materials in the food path. Glass, stoneware, silicone and stainless steel are the easy answers. BPA free plastic lids are common in lid kits and are used widely without complaint, but if you prefer to avoid plastic above a ferment, choose the glass jar sets or the ceramic crocks. Check for stated lead free or lead and cadmium free glaze on any ceramic pot.
7. Salt and water, which no kit supplies well. Buy coarse non iodized salt without anti caking agents. The anti caking agents in fine table salt cloud the ferment, which is a supply detail most kit reviews skip and one that shows up in the finished jar. Weigh salt at 2 to 3 percent of the cabbage weight, and use unchlorinated or filtered water if your tap is heavily treated.
One last climate note, because no competitor covers it. A kitchen at 75 degrees or above ferments fast and raises the odds of surface growth, so check submersion more often and shorten the ferment. Below about 60 degrees the same recipe will take roughly twice as long, so move the vessel somewhere warmer and expect patience rather than more salt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special kit to make sauerkraut?
No. A wide mouth mason jar, a loose or loosely vented lid and something heavy enough to hold the cabbage under its own brine will produce sauerkraut on its own. A kit adds a reliable venting lid, a correctly sized weight and a tamper, which removes the three things that most often ruin a first batch rather than making fermentation possible in the first place.
What type of jar is best for fermenting vegetables?
A wide mouth glass mason jar with an 86mm thread. Your hand has to fit inside to pack shredded cabbage, and a standard narrow mouth jar is too tight to do that well. Check the mouth of any jar you already own before buying a lid kit, because most kits are designed for 86mm wide mouth jars and do not fit standard mouth lids.
What is the best fermentation container for sauerkraut?
For most home batches a wide mouth glass mason jar is the best container, because it is cheap, transparent and wide enough to pack cabbage by hand. A 2 to 6 liter stoneware or earthenware vessel wins when you are fermenting a large batch at once, since the water seal or press keeps a heavy cabbage mass submerged without you holding it down.
Should sauerkraut be covered while it is fermenting?
Yes, and covering is about submersion rather than about blocking air. The cabbage must stay below the brine line, which is what keeps unwanted surface growth suppressed, so you need a weight on top and a lid that is sealed enough to hold pressure but can release the carbon dioxide the ferment produces.
How long should you ferment your sauerkraut?
Roughly 5 to 14 days at room temperature, then refrigerate. Temperature is the biggest variable: a warm kitchen ferments in under a week and a cool one can take two weeks or more. Taste from about day four, and stop when the flavour suits you, since the ferment keeps souring slowly in the fridge.
Should you stir sauerkraut during fermentation?
No. Press the cabbage firmly under the brine at packing time and then leave it alone. Opening or stirring the jar mid ferment lets oxygen back in, which is the condition that encourages kahm yeast and surface mold, and it also breaks up the anaerobic environment the lacto-fermentation depends on.
Do I need an airlock for sauerkraut?
You need a way for gas to escape, and an airlock is the cleanest one. If you skip it, a lid loosened by a fraction vents automatically, which works for a first batch, but a bulging or sealed jar can build real pressure. Waterless airlock lids and crock water seals both handle it without any daily burping.
The Best Fermentation Kits for Sauerkraut in 2026: Final Verdict
The Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit is our pick for the best fermentation kits for sauerkraut in 2026, because the four venting lids, four glass weights and the acacia packer solve the three failure points that beginners actually hit, and it has the strongest combination of rating and review count of anything we tested.
Buy the JILLMO glass jar set instead if you want jars in the box and no plastic in the food path. Buy the HomeBuddy crock if a one gallon batch for four people and a display piece on the counter matter more than daily seal checks, and the e-jen earthenware tub if six liters is closer to your real batch size.
Start small whichever you choose, use coarse non iodized salt at 2 to 3 percent of the cabbage weight, and taste from day four. The fermentation kit only removes the ways a batch goes wrong, and the cabbage still does the rest.