This hand-made pounder is made from hardwood maple, able to withstand the test of time and even become an heirloom in your kitchen (should your family share your love for fermentation). This is handmade in the Pacific Northwest and carried by a great online fermentation shop.

Check it out here.

An appropriate crock will make a big difference, particularly with properly fermented sauerkraut. The cabbage and onion pieces have a tendency to float to the top of the brine and can mold (in a rainbow of colors) and get awfully funky when they come in contact with air. The crocks on this website are designed specifically to avoid this problem, which makes your sauerkraut a no-fail proposition.

If you are still shopping for crocks, check out these options:

5 Liter (about 1.25 gallons): Check the price!

10 Liter (about 2.5 gallons): Get the price now!

20 Liter (about 5 gallons): Check current price!

30 Liter (nearly 8 gallons): Check the price!

• A gutter in the rim that creates an airlock, reducing the chance of surface mold. It allows gasses to escape but air cannot enter your sauerkraut from the outside. This is the key to quality ferments time after time.
• Lead-free glaze on the interior. It is stoneware fired at 1200
  degress C. The crock does not require special storage
  or use and is neutral for all fermenting vegetables.
• It comes with 2-piece stones that secure the lid and eliminate spoilage.
• Fine craftsmanship. The stoneware is high-quality and has a nice-looking profile in your kitchen.

With these fine features, your biggest issue will be size. The crock comes in many sizes to fit your needs. Most cooks will be satisfied with the smallest crock, the 1.25 gallon, 5-liter size which fits nicely on kitchen countertops, in pantries, and in store rooms.

Harsch Sauerkraut Crock

5 Liter (about 1.25 gallons): Check the price now!

10 Liter (about 2.5 gallons): Get the price!

20 Liter (about 5 gallons): Check current price!

30 Liter (nearly 8 gallons): Check the price!

Harsch Crock Reviews:

“It truly is the Mercedes Benz of stoneware fermentation pots…covered with a lead-free glazing…. The crock includes 2 stoneware weighing stones which replace the wooden board and cloth of other methods…the lid has a deep water groove which provides an airtight sealing that prevents undesired yeast from forming.”
Evalina, On Amazon

“the design of this one definitely has no flaws. It’s sturdy, heavy, and there is perfect isolation of the content from the environment, so if you follow the instructions you are almost guaranteed results. Because of better isolation, you need less salt. It even comes with two semi-circular stones to keep pressure on your pickles.”
Adrian, at Amazon

“After losing half of your sauerkraut batches to yeasty nastiness, you will appreciate the details that went into this crock’s design. It’s an investment in good eating.”
Amanda Rose, California

In the picture below, Three Stone Hearth in San Francisco ferments six large batches of food at one time. The picture below from the Flickr photo stream shows six large Harsch crocks fermenting away.