2 Gallon Fermentation Pot - Crock Kit

My new crock arrived a couple days ago and I'm extremely pleased! I have other water seal crocks in various smaller sizes and was looking for a not-too-large one for fermenting pickles and big batches of kraut (Ohio Stoneware also makes a 3 gallon crock which was overkill for me). Not only is this the perfect size for my needs, but the weights that came with it are the heaviest and nicest ones of any crock I own! I also really like how the inner rim of the water seal "moat" is so tall since it will help prevent water from being sucked into the crock by changes in barometric pressure. Additionally, there are small notches in the lid to allow gas bubbles to escape easily and two larger notches in the outside rim of the water seal "moat" to help you pour off water before removing your finished ferments.Overall I'm extremely pleased with the craftsmanship of this crock - there are no bubbles or pinholes in the glazing (as I've discovered in cheaper crocks), and even the slightly wonky lid handle is an endearing touch showing this was handmade! I can't wait to use my new crock and would absolutely recommend to anyone looking to make medium/large batches of fermented foods!

Thick, heavy duty real stoneware water seal crock made in the USA! This thing is big, sturdy, heavy, and can hold 15 pounds or so of cabbage no problem. If you can't lift too much weight, you may want to think about filling this thing in the place you intend to let it sit, because while I didn't have any problem moving it around full, my wife can't even lift it.I was worried the water seal on this crock wouldn't work well, because while most reviews were very positive, a few complained that the water seal was flawed. Well, let me put any concerns to rest right away. The water seal works wonderfully. The water bath that creates the seal can be up to about 1/2 inch deep - more than enough to cover up the small breathing openings at the bottom of lid and top of inner crock rim (these openings allow air to escape which is essential when fermenting.)I also read a review or two that said the crock was leaking. I can only imagine it suffered some damage in shipping or had a factory defect. Mine (I now have 4) certainly do not leak, and every one came packaged beautifully wih lots of bubble wrap and no chips, cracks, or damage.Unfortunately the water seal creates an inner rim in the crock that can make it challenging to clean out. Thankfully, the crock is dishwasher safe so you can at least sanitize it if your dishwasher has that setting.

Great crock! Well made and american made! Highly recommend!

(2-gal) The top of the crock is not level. When you fill the rim with water it is barely deep enough on the high side to make a seal with the lid. After a day of evaporation, the water level drops below the point where a seal is made and air leaks into the crock. The lid is also not round. This does not make the lid unusable but for over a hundred dollars I would have expected something that was closer to round than what I got. I feel like what was shipped was a factory second.

Loved it very nice

The picture is incorrect. This is not a European Style crock. It is a standard crock but does come with a lid and stones

This is the second Ohio Stoneware crock I've purchased. I have old crocks, but the house always gets pretty smelly when making sauerkraut, but not with this crock. The water ring eliminates smell and slime. I also had an occasion to contact their customer service regarding a damaged weight. They sent me a new weight that same day.

This crock is right sized to make a fairly large batch of sauerkraut while being small enough to be able to lift without worrying about injuring your back or dropping it on the floor. Any bigger and it would be difficult to move when full because the handles aren't the best for getting a good grip on the crock.The water seal is very effective, and allows gasses to bubble out without contamination of the fermenting media.My biggest complaint is that it seems a little thin and fragile. I'm extremely careful with it. The lid had a very small chip in it upon arrival, but I'm not too worried about it.I've made two batches of 'kraut in it so far and both have had zero mold growth.