Description
5 Gallon Fermented Food Crock Starter Kit (Ohio Stoneware)
Kit Includes:
5 Gallon Stone Crock
5 Gallon Crock Weight
5 Gallon Crock Lid
5 Gallon Fermented Food Crock Starter Kit is perfect for fermenting batches of homemade sauerkraut or other delectable fermented foods.
These multi-functional preserving crocks serve many uses such as the traditional use of preserving vegetables like cucumbers for pickling and cabbage for sauerkraut, or for everyday uses like pantry and kitchen containers. Crocks filled with food for fermentation purposes should be kept in cool, dry environments which allow the vegetables or fruits to ferment naturally. These American Made crocks are safe and easy to clean due to our lead-free glazes. They are also oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe.
Using Your Crock :
Preparation: Cleanliness is very important, not only to prepare good quality vegetables, but also to maintain the crock and especially the lid. To clean, simply wipe, brush off or spray the inside and outside of the crock and lid, and the stone weights, and let them dry completely. Unlike other crocks, this one cannot absorb water, which can affect taste and preservation and cause mildew growth. The glaze prevents flavors being absorbed into the crock and transferring to or contaminating other vegetables.
Juice or brine should cover the vegetables about 4-6 cm (approx. 1 1/2"-2 1/2"). A brine of saltwater in a predetermined concentration (see recipes) may be prepared by boiling and cooling the vegetable juice if there is not enough to sufficiently cover the vegetables. Linen cloths (traditionally used to cover the vegetables) are not needed as long as the crock and lid are kept clean. Lining the crock with large cabbage, grape or horseradish leaves is adequate.
Filling the crock: Vegetables should be clean and of high quality. Cut away all the damaged, bruised, brown or black parts. Remove stems, leaving only the best parts of the vegetable. Wash thoroughly. For sauerkraut, you can make clean and uniform slices (which are important) using a Cabbage Cutter. After preparing the vegetables, fill the crock about  ¾ full. After the weight stones are placed on top of the vegetables, there should still be about 1 inch of space. The mixture of juice from the cut vegetables and brine (see recipes for details) should cover the weight stones by at least an inch. (This is to allow space for the carbonic acid which will accumulate later.) Let stand at room temperature (64-68F) for 8-10 days to begin the fermentation process. Adding some whey, buttermilk or wine will encourage and speed up the process (see recipes). You will hear an occasional "gurgle." This is normal, and is caused by carbon dioxide leaving during the fermentation process. After 8-10 days, move the crock to a cool, dark place (such as a basement or root cellar) at approx. 40-47F.
Observation and Maintenance: Keep the lid on at all times to keep out dust, insects, etc. After 4-8 weeks, depending on the type of vegetable, the finished vegetables may be removed. When removing vegetables, be careful not to keep the crock open any longer than necessary. Vegetables that are too sour can be tempered by mixing in some fresh ones. If mold has formed on the surface of your brine, you can skim it off and discard. Your pickled food will not be harmed, since harmful microorganisms cannot survive in the acidic brine.
Recipes : Here are some recipes you can use....
Sauerkraut (Sour Cabbage)
Note: Five pounds of cabbage makes about one gallon of sauerkraut. So, this recipe makes more than 10 gallons of sauerkraut. You will want to adjust this recipe to match the size of crock you purchased 25 kg (55 lbs) cabbage, 150g (2/3 cup) salt, 1/2 liter of buttermilk or whey, juniper betties, apple slices, dill and caraway to taste. Chop cabbage uniformly and finely. Mix with other ingredients and firmly press down into the crock until the juice stands above the cabbage. The salt should be more or less evenly distributed throughout the cabbage. Add boiled salt water (1 liter [quart] water to 15g [1 qt to 3 tsp] salt) or the whey. Fluids should cover the stone weight.
Wine Cabbage :
Prepare the same way as sour cabbage, but instead of the whey, add 1 liter of fry white wine. To enhance the taste, add a few peeled and sliced apples. Cover with a few cleanly washed grape leaves.
Russian Cabbage (Caucasian Cabbage) :
Small white cabbage heads, chopped celery stalks and leaves, green tomatoes, sliced onions, cut red and green peppers, garlic and peppercorns. Quarter the white cabbage and stack together with tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic and green peppers in the crock. Prepare a luke warm brine using the celery leaves and a few peppercorns (25g [5 tsp] of salt per liter [quart]). Pour this over the vegetables until the stone weight is covered.
Pickled Beans :
In 10 Liter crock 6-7 kg (13-15 lbs) beans, 40-50g (1/4 cup) salt, bean brine or salt water (15g [3 tsp] salt per 1/2 liter [pint]). Use whey to start the fermentation process. Use fresh, young beans. Be careful not to let the beans get too soft. Fill the crock (over the stone weight) with bean brine or salt water.
Red Cabbage :
Prepare in the same fashion as sour cabbage. Add onions and spices like marjoram, thyme and garlic to enhance the flavor. Generously pour oil over and add potatoes boiled in their skins.
Salt Pickles :
Use medium length, firm cucumbers whose seeds should still be soft. Add onions, garlic, horseradish slices, dill, tarragon, bay leaves, cloves and cover with horseradish leaves. Pour salt water (25g [5 tsp] per 1 liter [quart] water) over and add 1/4 liter [cup] of whey to begin fermentation.
Red Beets :
Use finely grated beets and the same ingredients and preparation as the pickles. Keep closed at least 6 weeks. The fermentation process is very explosive (meaning bubbly) and much room in the crock is needed.
Celery:
(Celeriac) Grate coarsely or medium, but don't let stand out, since it will discolor. Use the same ingredients and preparation as the pickles.
Red Peppers:
Use the firm peppers found in late fall. The earlier ones will become soft and unsightly. Yellow or green peppers can also be used. Scrape out the seeds and cut into 1/2" wide strips. Place into the crock, adding seasonings like garlic, bay leaves, allspice seeds and horseradish slices. Layer the top with grape twines or horseradish leaves. Pour in the salt water (25g [5 tsp] salt per 1 liter [quart] water) until stone weight is barely covered. (Not as much liquid is needed for this recipe, since a generous brine will develop later.
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