Fermenting newbie

[Jojo F.]

So, I really want to start fermenting and have the books, but have a bit of a problem......TOOLS! I have a crock pot, but it tapers and the plate will not go all of the way down, I have some Ball jars, but they are not quite big enough, I don't have non-metal lids and I couldn't get a proper one in there anyway because they are not wide mouthed.:

I have been looking online for crocks and all I see is Harsch. They look AWSOME, but there is no way I am paying that much for a crock and then pay for shipping. The thought of going to Good Will and looking for something there has crossed my mind, but I am uneasy about that because I wouldn't know if is food grade and safe.

Should I just suck it up and buy a Harsch crock, or do you think Good Will finds would be OK to use?

TIA

[gina2328]

I have a book called "Making Sauerkraut and other pickled vegetables at home" and they highly recommend the Harsch crock. It supposed to be state of the art, easier, quicker, and more sanitary.

[mbravebird]

If you're doing sauerkraut in a jar, a good trick for keeping it submerged in the brine is to roll up a few cabbage leaves and place them across the top of the cabbage mix, wedged under the lip of the jar. That eliminates the need for a weight, and leaves the jar open for the good bacteria to populate it.

[quietserena]

I usually make sauerkraut in a jar and I weigh it with a smaller jar filled with water.

[Jojo F.]

Thank you for the trick

One of these days I will get a Harsch, they just look so great(DH said- Ohhhh, reeeaaallly?)

I went searching today and they just don't sell them like they used to. I found 2 sets out of all the places I went to and bought just one crock. I think I will go back to the other store and buy the set of three, they looked nicer too, but I just couldn't pass on the .60 one.