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Garrett Frost
January 14, 2026
Great little kit. High quality parts. But, extremely expensive for what you get.
So, first things first: yes, this is $50 for a pack of 4 glass weights, 4 silicone 'auto-gas-release lids', a wooden tamper, and a little booklet with a few recipes. Now, yes, all of the pieces of it are very nice, but if you're expecting more than that, you'll be disappointed.The glass weights are very nice, they're thick and heavy with a hollow basin to collect moisture, and there are no sharp edges on them. They're also very strong; I dropped one a few feet onto a tile and it didn't even chip the weight. The silicone lids work well, letting air out when the gases inside the jar build up, but they don't let oxygen in from the outside, so they make it easy for you to just screw the silicone lids on and leave the jar to ferment. You do still need to check on the jar every day though, to make sure the contents are actually fermenting, especially if you're not using bacteria cultures. The wooden tamper is also very nice, made of some kind of wood that seems natural, and so far is holding up well to actual use - just make sure you dry it off between uses. The recipe book is fine, though it is strictly just a few recipes, it doesn't have any instructions. And that leads to my next point, the downsides of this kit.This is very much not 'everything you need to get started fermenting at home'; you'll need your own vegetables, obviously, but this also doesn't include any jars, kitchen scale, nor any kind of cultures for controlled fermentation. There aren't even instructions or tips on how to use them outside of the vaguest general advice possible. Whether it's worth the price to you or not will depend on whether you already have all the jars you want but don't yet have any fermentation lids. It's hard to say whether something like this is worth the price or not, but I would probably say it's not a good value, despite how nice the pieces are - I'm quite certain you could compromise a tiny bit on aesthetics or quality, and get a lot more bang for your buck.* I only review things that I personally use myself and keep using often.* I always give my full, honest, unbiased and unfiltered opinion on everything I review.* I will not hold back or avoid describing any issues I have with a product.* I write exactly what I think about things - the good, the bad, and everything in between.* If I get multiple of something it's because I regularly use and need both of them.* And, I will update my review if something breaks, stops working as intended, or otherwise doesn't hold up as expected.
✔ Verified Purchase
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Bunbury
February 10, 2026
Useful fermenting items, needs a better instruction guide
This is a review of BALCI Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit – 9 Pc Starter Set with Fermentation Lids, Glass Weights, Wooden Tamper & Recipe Book – Wide Mouth Fermenter for Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles & ProbioticsThis set comes in a box that bespeaks quality: pieces are nestled in specially fitted foam. I was interested in the set because I can use lots of mason jars that I already own, so storing the pieces will be easy even in my overstuffed kitchen. The weights, lids, and wooden tamper are all nicely made. Each end of the tamper is a different size, with one end being about 1 3/4” in diameter and the other side being 2 1/4” in diameter. I wish the tamper were already seasoned. The booklet could be better; it needs photos of the pieces being used. I had thought this kit would be good for beginners, but some of the instructions are not entirely clear.I think it good to have some fermented foods in the diet, and making my own is very cost effective. The price of the set has gone down since I ordered, and the current price of about $35 is a pretty good deal compared to buying similar items individually. The pieces are good and it is easy enough to season the tamper if you wish to do so. There are some good videos online that explain why using those weights is important, and I’m currently looking for a better guide.
✔ Verified Purchase
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HonestA
February 10, 2026
Great beginner set
This complete fermentation kit made it really easy to try making sauerkraut and kimchi at home. The pickle pebbles keep the veggies submerged perfectly, the pipes vent gases without needing to burp the jars, and the wooden packer works great for pressing everything down. The recipe book is helpful for beginners like me, and all the pieces are high quality and dishwasher safe!!! There are plenty of size options included
✔ Verified Purchase
Easy to Use
I am stoked about this fermentation kit. It has everything you need to start your fermentation journey. I don't have a lot of experience with fermentation and have only ever made pickles before, but I'm excited to expand and try some new recipes. The recipe book that the kit comes with is simple. The recipes are easy to follow and the instructions are clear. The silicone seals are really nice and work well with the basic mason jars I already have. They seem very durable and clean well. The weights are nice and the little handle makes them very easy to remove when needed. I am surprised by how handy the tamping stick is, I thought it was kind of unnecessary, but it is just so perfect and useful when pushing down food into jars. Overall I'm really pleased and excited to use this kit for years to come.
✔ Verified Purchase
A Complete, High‑Quality Fermenting Set with One Miss
This is a really nice fermenting set, and it includes everything you need to jump right into making your own sauerkraut, kimchi, or whatever else you’re inspired to try. I’ve been fermenting for a few years now, and it’s one of those hobbies that’s surprisingly easy, economical, and genuinely rewarding - not to mention great for gut health. This kit makes the whole process super easy, especially for beginners.The components are really nice and well designed, and overall the set has a quality feel that matches its price. The only reason I’m not giving it a full five stars is the tamper. It’s not sanded as smoothly as it should be, and it definitely needs a couple coats of food‑grade oil before first use. For a set at this price, I expect everything to be ready to go right out of the box.That said, once you give the tamper a little TLC, the kit performs beautifully. If you’re looking to get into fermenting, this is a great choice.
✔ Verified Purchase
NO RECIPE BOOK INCLUDED!
I did not get the recipe book with my order
✔ Verified Purchase
