Sauer System Fermentation Airlocks – Lids, Grommets, Gaskets, Stoppers – for Regular Mouth Mason Jars – 4 Pack

The "heart" of the airlock system is the Masontops lid. It is heavy-duty and highly resistant to absorbing any aromas or odors from fermentations. I have used Masontops lids on homemade pickled peppers and kim chi, as well as on other items for several years...and I am impressed with their quality! Integral to the lid is the thick, heavy-duty, silicone sealing ring, which is replaceable, should it need to be replaced. The sealing ring is also removable for thorough washing/cleaning. It appears that the silicone grommet in the lid is also easily replaceable, if that is ever needed. The airlocks are well designed...and the stopper plug for refrigerated storage without changing lids, completes the airlock system.I've been fermenting for decades...wine, beer, sauerkraut, chili peppers and full sour pickles. As with most things, I began with a "kit" or a "starter set" (model railroading, here). Kits are basically good to see if you are really interested in learning more about the "skills" needed to pursue that interest/hobby. So too, it was, with Mason Jar fermentation. Mason jars have their limits...they need "headspace", so whatever you are fermenting is limited to roughly 50%-80% of the jar's stated capacity...and "more" headspace creates fewer "issues" than "not enough", especially in the early, comparatively "violent" stages of fermentation. My first Mason jar "kit" included 3 lids with integral "waterless" airlocks, 3 fermentation weights (stones) and a vacuum pump (large syringe)...and a recipe book which, well...it is what it is, as it were. Air, particularly oxygen and the air-borne, wild bacteria and mold spores, are NOT friendly to fermentations; and the vacuum pump was a bit of a "joke"...more "well, it won't do any harm"; but I seriously question it's functional value. Basic rule is that you don't break a fermentation "seal" unless there is still a sufficiently active ferment present that will re-establish the necessary carbon dioxide "buffer" in the headspace. "Sampling" actively fermenting foods, including wine or beer, reveals precious little about the finished product. Fermentation is complete when it's done...and not before...period. That said, there is really nothing safer than a properly maintained, water-filled, correctly functioning airlock for a "closed system"...in this case, the jar and the lid/airlock with the sealing ring. I will state that I am NOT interested in the probiotic value/benefit of the fermented foods, I ferment for TASTE...my goal is to make them shelf-stable (sterile canning) or refrigerate them for relatively immediate consumption upon the completion of the ferment. The ONLY truly usable item that I found in the original kit was the fermentation weights with their molded-in "finger grab"; but even with most wide-mouth Mason jars "of size", there is still a small shoulder to contend with, so that may pose challenges, depending on what one is fermenting. Fermentation "springs" and "gates" may offer increased functionality for some food items. Needless to say, my first Mason jar fermentation kit was quite disappointing; but at least I learned what NOT to buy/use!The waterless, one-way airlocks may have their place for some folks, but NOT in "my kitchen"! There is no visual indication that they are functioning...and they are rather easily subjectable to damage that may not be easily discernable. I and my wife have reached an age where "large scale for home use", crock-based fermentations of sauerkraut, peppers and pickles result in far more than we can use. The amount of canning and/or refrigerator space requirements means that large-scale fermentations are simply NOT as much fun as they once were! Mason jar ferments are small enough to make it all FUN again; but even on a small scale, there is absolutely no substitute for quality components and "sound" fermentation and preservation practices.Fermentology's Sauer System lids and airlocks ARE the quality components that you really need to make every ferment as successful as it can be!!!

I wanted to do some small batches of mead to test flavor additives, and was thrilled to finally find lids and airlocks for regular sized (not wide mouth) canning jars. They're mostly plastic but seem to be well made (not cheap and flimsy). Everything seals well, both lid to jar and airlock to lid. It comes with stoppers for the lids if you want to plug them while not using the airlocks. These also fit into carboy bungs, so you can get a bit of double use out of them if you do larger scale fermenting.I'm enjoying them so far. Would definitely recommend!EDITED ADDITION:- The small lids for the airlocks fit so tightly that it's a frustration to get them off without getting liquid everywhere. Probably not an issue if you don't use them regularly, but it's a noteworthy frustration if you're planning to use these a lot.

Getting ready to use them today. Appear to be good enough

Fast and efficient

The listing is confusing because it shows you pictures of things that you don't receive. The product is great and I recommend the fermentation equipment. However, the product listing includes pictures of a muddler and an air removal hypodermic type device. I would give them 5 stars based on their products if their representation were accurate instead of being misleading.

Just like others, I have had failed attempts to ferment peppers. I burped the jars and used a weight and it didn't seem to smell right. I had a lot of Kahm yeast growth. I have had this product in use for over a month now and not an off-color floater in sight. So it works and seems to be the best. I did have the ferment overflow once early on but since then, nothing. Get this is its your first and you should have success. I love the fact that I didn't have to drill any holes or anything. Screw on and let the bacteria do the rest.

The plastics used are high quality will get the fermenting job done. I will order them again.

I used these to ferment hot peppers and fruit in to make hot sauces, and they work great. Friends and neighbors really liked the sauces, so I'll be using them again this year. I've already got more peppers getting ready to plant.