Why does nobody talk about how you don't need a fancy airlock for a basic kraut crock anymore?

I see so many new people in Portland buying expensive setups for their first ferment, but my grandma just used a clean plate and a rock for 40 years and her sauerkraut was perfect every single time.

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_ramirez221mo ago

Man, it's so true! My buddy Mike spent like 80 bucks on a special ceramic crock with a water seal and fancy glass weights, and his first batch got moldy anyway. Meanwhile his neighbor, this old guy named Frank, just uses a clean dinner plate and a jar of water on top, and his kraut is always perfect. I watched him do it once, he didn't even wash the plate that good, just rinsed it off.

noahchen2mo ago

Yeah, the gear gets overhyped. A clean jar and some cabbage leaves to weigh it down works just fine.

noahcampbell2mo ago

Exactly! I got so tired of buying special weights and airlock lids. My grandma just used a big rock she washed really good, and her ferments were always perfect. The fancy gear just makes it feel like a hobby for rich people instead of just... keeping food.