TOMO 3L Fermentation Crock with Ceramic Weights - Stoneware Sauerkraut, Pickles & Kombucha Brewing Jar - Perfect for Homemade Fermented Foods, Probiotic Drinks & Healthy Gut Recipes (Great for Kitchens, Pantries & DIY Fermentation Projects)

These crocks are beautiful, but more delicate that American made stone crocks.1st one came with a broken lid.2nd one has the extrusion nub on the bottom down below the floor rim, so it wobbles. I'm being charged for the replacement, so I will make 1 good crock and send back the defective parts.All in all it is a nice product, but delicate.The crock is beautiful! Well made and easy to use. Comes with great instructions and recipes. HUGE crock - lots of space for large batches. Most importantly, the company is fabulous. My first crock arrived cracked. I contacted the company and they had a new one shipped out immediately- even responding after normal business hours! Highly recommend.I commend the company for making a beautiful product. My recommendation if you are willing to live without the airlock (which I kinda feel is not a big focus point because you are going to have everything under your brine, and if there is something that made it above the brine I think I’d want to know about it and rectify rather than not being able to see it because I have to keep it air locked for 3-6 weeks) So today after packing my cabbage in I realized when I got 3/4 full, to put the weights in I had to push down each tip about half way down through the packed cabbage to be able to get the stone through the top. The reason I would prefer not to do this is because my top layer is two large cabbage leaves holding down the shredded cabbage, so having to shove the corner of the weight way down makes the possibility of shifting around the top leaves and letting floaters through. I can get good at anything so I’ll develop ways to do it better (maybe using 2 layers of top leaves) but I think in future purchases I will order a crock with no narrowing lip, just an open top so I can put the weight straight down. I just searched and the product I found was Ohio Stoneware. You purchase the weights separate from the crock, and a lid too if desired. To create an airlock of sorts I will get a heavy duty piece of plastic (maybe a 2-3 gallon ziplock) that will fit over the mouth and rubber band it shut. Then put micro holes with a needle for the CO2 to escape. Then I would wash and reuse it.Only other thing I would have preferred is a wood packed with a larger surface area. It probably will work just as well, but my newbie mind thinks maybe the company could upgrade that in the future.Happy Fermenting no matter what you use and I still say this TOMO crock is great is great and beautiful.My first batch of sauerkraut was crispy, and delicious. I love that it has a water seal. It's pretty large. If you want just a small batch to keep in the refrigerator you might go with a wide-mouth mason jar. But if you're going to can a larger batch, this is the way to go!I made my first batch of sauerkraut and it could have easily taken more cabbage. Now I’ll know for next time. I did use the recommended book on fermentation too, which is a good source of info having never fermented before. The design is simple, yet clean looking. It comes with weight that are a smooth-fired ceramic so they don’t get slimy. I do wish it was a bit bigger, but too big would make it difficult lift when full; perhaps half again bigger?So nice! I made sauerkraut and no odor! The water seal does the trick. The weights are included.Arrived quickly, n perfect condition, and can’t wait to make some homemade sauerkraut!Great size, works perfectly.