Spent $80 on a fancy fermentation crock that cracked on my third batch

I bought this nice stoneware crock from a local kitchen store in Portland, thought it would be perfect for sauerkraut. Around week two of my third batch, I noticed a hairline crack running down the side, and then brine started leaking all over my counter. Turns out the glaze wasn't even heat-treated right for long term moisture. Anyone else had a crock fail on them like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

wright.rowan6d ago

Man, that really stinks. I had the exact same thing happen with a "handmade" crock I got at a farmers market in Seattle - the glaze started spiderwebbing after like two months of constant use. Ended up just switching to a basic food-grade plastic bucket with an airlock for my kraut, honestly. For the crock itself, I'd try hitting the local shop with some photos and your receipt; they might at least give you store credit since that sounds like a manufacturing defect with the glaze. Mine leaked brine all over my hardwood floor and left a ring, so I feel your pain on that cleanup.

val_wilson5d agoMost Upvoted

Tossed my second ceramic crock after the same issue happened, and I feel your pain @wright.rowan. The glaze on mine started flaking off into the brine after about six weeks, which was just gross. I tried a cheap glass jar with a pickle pipe lid instead, way less fancy but zero drama. You might want to check if the shop has a returning customer deal, some of those smaller stores are flexible if they know you'll keep coming back.