Review on 🥦 Humble House SAUERKROCK Fermentation Crock with Glazed Weights and Cabbage Tamper - 2 Liter (0.5 Gallon) German-Style Water Sealed Jar in Traditional Brown for Fermenting Sauerkraut, Kimchi, and Pickles by Mary Hawkins

I'm relatively new to home fermentation and was excited to improve my skills with this pitcher. The price was better than the competition so I took a chance. Out of the box this jug arrived as described although the bottom was a bit uneven so it wobbled a bit on the counter. never mind Contrary to other negative reviews, the glaze was in good condition. I ferment in my cellar so that the temperature remains relatively stable. I cooked my first cabbage, filled the jug and waited. I noticed that during the fermentation process, the water fountain suddenly disappeared. I put it down to evaporation, checked daily and added as needed. When the party ended, something obviously went wrong. The batch tasted decent but was soggy. A problem I've never had. I assumed I had done something wrong and prepared the second batch, slightly smaller than the previous one. It was late winter and turning into spring. I again noticed the water disappearing so I checked everyday and refilled when needed. One evening I noticed it was a bit small so I filled it up again. I woke up the next morning and found myself in my basement, so I checked it: it was completely empty. During this time not so much water could evaporate. In fact, the temperature had dropped the night before. Out of curiosity, I lifted the lid to inspect the starter and found there was about twice as much liquid as I started. Normally, the amount of liquid decreases as the fermentation progresses. I then wondered if changes in barometric pressure were causing my water to be pushed/pulled into the pitcher? YES SIR. I decided to research further online and found that others were having the exact same problem. Some have complained about the enzyme "leaking" out of the pot, but I suspect pressure fluctuations are probably the real culprit. Cleveland is not the place (don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes). So for me it was a waste of money and I wouldn't recommend it.