My $40 airlock mistake with a new batch of sauerkraut

I was so excited to start a big batch of red cabbage sauerkraut last month. I saw these fancy glass airlocks online and thought they were a must-have for a better ferment. I spent about $40 on a set of three, thinking it was a smart upgrade from my old jar lids. Well, after two weeks, I checked the crock and found mold. The airlock had a tiny crack I didn't see when it arrived, so it wasn't sealing right at all. All that cabbage, about five pounds of it, was ruined. I felt so dumb for not just sticking with my simple method that always worked before. The worst part was the smell when I opened it up. Has anyone else had a problem with these special airlocks, or should I just go back to burping the jar?

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3 Comments

grace_white6mo ago

Ugh that's brutal. I actually had a similar crack happen, but from overtightening the lid. The glass ones are so fragile. I switched to the cheap plastic ones with the little s-curve, they bend instead of break. Still mad about that lost kimchi though.

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patricia_mason6mo ago

Yeah @grace_white, I switched to those plastic ones too after my last glass jar cracked.

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lopez.karen5mo ago

My old glass jar collection lasted five years without a scratch. Then one cold morning I just picked one up and the bottom fell right out. That was the day I finally gave in and bought the plastic kind.

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