Anyone tried the Pickl-it system?

[aba]

I saw this on another forum and am intrigued.  www.pickl-it.com.  Has anyone tried or heard anything about this?  Her story is interesting:  http://www.pickl-it.com/about/our_story/

[AZgirl2207]

These jars are nice looking but you can make something similar on the cheap.  I can buy an airlock for $1 at my local homebrew store, a half gallon jar for $6.   Simply drill a hole in the lid, insert airlock, and you are ready to go. 

I find her story very interesting.  I wonder what her son was eating (formula?) before they adopted him. 

[Starfreedom]

so how do you drill a hole in the glass?

[cristeen]

You drill a hole in the metal lid.

[tinuviel_k]

I've made one! As AZGIRL said, it's fairly easy. I went to my homebrew shop. They had gallon sized glass jars, lids, corks with holes in various sizes and the airloks that fit into them (usually used with carboys for beer and wine making). I do like the look of the Pickl-it and the glass lid, but for $42 plus shipping... I would much rathermake my own for $10. I haven't yet, but I plan to go back anf get smaller sized jars with plastic lids so I can make smaller batches. I like making one gallon of dills and sauerkraut, but would like to try smaller (quart and pint) jars of chutneys and such. I know you can get plstic lids for Mason jars; I may give that a try.

How I made my fermentation jar:
I bought a gallon jar and two plastic lids ($6), airlock and cork ($4), and that was it: $10 total. I used a drill bit the size of the middle of my cork so it wouldn't go all the way through. it is helpful if you already have a nice variety of drill-bits, but you can pick up a sigle one at Home depot for pretty cheap. You just drill in the cener of the lid (over a piece of wood), insert the cork, and voila!

I made the recipe (I've done pickles and sauerkraut) , filled my jar, and put on the lid and airlock. For a weight I found that one of my Asian-style teacups (no handle) fitted nicely in the neck of the bottle. I put in a coupe of sterilized rocks to weight it down and keep the vegetables submurged under the brine.
When the food was done fermenting I simply swapped the airlock lid for a fresh solid lid (remember that I bought two lids at the homebrew shop) and popped the jar in the fridge. (you can also get smaller jars and transfer the pickles into those if you'd rather.)
I thought it worked great as a fermenter, and I loved being able to watch the action.

I really advise using a plastic rather than a metal lid. I know most of us tend to steer clear of plastics, but when you drill into the metal lid the hole is very jagged and sharp, doesn't seal well with the cork, and it rusts very quickly.
Edited by tinuviel_k - 4/20/11 at 10:55am

[AZgirl2207]

I made mine on the super cheap.  $1 airlock from homebrew store--drill a hole in metal canning lid ($3 for a box of 12), insert airlock and seal with wax.   I used a regular canning jar.  Once my fermenting is done, I use a plastic lid (Ball brand, I think) and pop in the fridge.  So far, so good!

[Starfreedom]

Thank you for the detailed instructions. I think I have a new project for this weekend :)