My cousin insisted I needed a specific airlock for my first batch of sauerkraut, and I should have listened.

He told me to get a water-seal airlock, not the cheap silicone one-way valve lids. I thought the lids were fine and saved $5. My first two quarts in Ball jars got moldy after about 10 days. The valve lids just didn't seal right in my cool basement. I switched to the airlocks he suggested for my next batch, and it fermented for a full month with zero issues. Has anyone else had problems with those silicone lids versus proper airlocks for long ferments?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ruby2mo ago

Ugh, learned that lesson the hard way too.

taylor.phoenix1mo ago

What'd you break exactly? A pipe or the whole fixture?

betty_reed612mo ago

Tried to fix my own sink once. Flooded the kitchen and had to call a plumber anyway.