Review on 🍲 5L / 1.3 Gallon Seeutek Fermentation Crock Jar - Stoneware Pot for Fermenting, Pickling Kimchi, Pickles, Vegetables, Kombucha - Glazed Fermenter with Stone Weights, Lid & Pickle Tamper by Kimberly Evans

As I just received this pot and am currently fermenting my first batch of vegetables I cannot judge the taste or quality of the product. However, I am very disappointed with the quality of the product. I've had two Polish fermenting jugs from TSM Products and I know what a quality jug should be, but this one is a lot worse. Even though it shipped from Kentucky, the grammar in the instructions indicates it was made in China or some other Asian country, not the US or Europe. First, the ceramic walls are only about 5/16 inch thick like regular ceramic. This makes it much less stable and durable and more likely to break if something falls on it. My other shards were almost twice as thick, which made them heavier but also meant they could withstand all but the roughest treatment (one of mine was flown to Guyana in regular baggage, another was shipped in a barrel and then exported) . . brought to the backcountry by plane, hand-ported between different buildings and used there several times.) Second, the handles slope outward from the bottom, making them very difficult to hold on to when filled. They are also hollow, molded along with the rest of the vessel and the same thickness as the walls, so they could easily break if something fell on them. In general they are poorly designed and are probably based on an image of another shard rather than any real knowledge of how it was intended to be made. 4 completed. This might not be a problem if you're just fermenting sauerkraut or kimchi, but such a jar should be able to pickle cucumbers, carrots, or other hard veggies. The weight stones are almost the same size as the ones that came with my 10 liter TSM Shard. They also have different diameters at the top and bottom, making them difficult to insert. If they were the right size it wouldn't matter much, but in their current form they exacerbate the problem. The pound is a good complement, but in no way compensates for other deficiencies. I ordered this pot because it was cheaper and shipped to Hong Kong for less than $100, but I would happily buy one of the others even though they are more expensive. Save yourself the frustration and buy a more reputable brand. This one isn't worth half that.