Harsch & Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crocks

Harsch & Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crock Pots

Harsch & Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crock Pots: make natural nutrition-packed sauerkraut and pickled vegetables with these stoneware crock pots from Germany!

Through the years, sauerkraut has been recognized as one of the healthiest foods, and was even used on sailing ships to protect sailors from scurvy.

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* FREE "Making Sauerkraut & Pickled Vegetables at Home" Book by Klaus Kaufmann & Annelies Schoneck

Recently in the news, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables fermented the natural way with lactic acid fermentation are being credited with correcting bodily imbalances of intestinal flora, leading to problems including acid reflux for which doctors often prescribe harsh antibiotics. Natural lactic acid fermentation is one of the oldest and healthiest means of food preservation. It allows natural, beneficial bacteria to perform a fermentation process in which vegetables develop a pleasantly sour taste and remain rich in vitamins and minerals.

Lactic acid fermentation is the only method of preservation that retains all the natural plant ingredients while improving the quality, taste and aroma. 

1   Liter = 0.26 Gallons
5.0 Liters = 1.32 Gallons
7.5 Liters = 1.84 Almost 2 Gallons
10 Liters  = 2.64 Gallons
15 Liters  = 3.96 Almost 4 Gallons

OUR NEW ADDITION - The German Gairtopf Pickling Crock Pots with stone weights by Nik Schmitt & Sons and are manufactured in Germany!  Also called Nik. Schmitt & Sohn Steinzeugwaran.   These earthenware pickling crocks are perfect for making raw sauerkraut and Kim-Chi.  These Gairtopf fermentation stoneware crocks are suitable for almost all types of vegetables including cabbage, pumpkin, cucumber, carrots, radish, and more.  The Stoneware does not require special storage or care and it remains neutral during the fermentation process.

These Nik Schmitt pickling crocks come with the crock, the lid, and the two semi-circle stone weights. These crocks keep the sauerkraut air-tight which prevents any mold or yeast from growing on the food.  These new Nik Schmitt German crocks are the same as the Harsch crocks in that they are "fired" clay with a ceramic coating.

Our Harsch & Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crocks are shipped UPS.
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Size / Diameter / Height / Weight / Total Capacity of the Nik Schmitt Fermenting Crock Pots

5 liter / 10" / 12" / 12.1 pounds / 8 Liters
10 liter / 12" / 14.25" / 18.9 pounds / 14.75 Liters
15 liter / 11.5" / 16.25" / 19.7 pounds / 16 Liters
20 liter / 14.25" / 17" / 25.4 pounds / 23.5 Liters

Comparison between the Nik Schmitt German Crocks & the Harsch Gairtopf German Crocks:

Both are all designed the same way, with the stone weights, ceramic body and lid, lead-free glaze, and both use the same lid and gutter system to make the air-tight water seal. All three are equal in quality and performance.

The Nik Schmitt crocks are made a different way than the Harsch crocks.  Harsch crocks are manufactured the traditional way, where the clay is turned on a wheel and the clay is pushed and pulled into shape to form the pot. These have a homemade appearance, with slight differences in body shape and color.

The Nik Schmitt crocks are made in a mold with molten or liquid clay. Because of this the walls of the crock are thinner. The thinner wall has less weight. Because these crocks are made in a mold, each crock looks identical.

Both fermentation crocks have the lead-free ceramic glazing applied.  Both crock brands are neutral during fermentation, so there is no difference in the end result of fermentation.  Both brands have a similar appearance and performance and the food will turn out the same in terms of taste and texture.   Both use the lid and stone weights.

So what is so special about these fermenting crock pots?

Well, usually during the making of sauerkraut a slimy film or scum forms on top of the sauerkraut which needs to be cleaned off regularly as fermentation occurs. The Gärtopf & Nik Schmitt Crock Pot eliminates the need to skim off this scum. The pot is designed with a unique deep, water-holding trough in the rim which forms an air-tight seal with the lid, thus enabling the vegetables to ferment without the risk of contamination, whilst still allowing the gases produced during fermentation to bubble away. No scum is formed!

These beautifully crafted stoneware crock pots from Germany come complete with pot, lid, weighing stones, and instructions.

Remember you can only fill a pot to 80% of its total capacity.

Harsch & Nik Schmitt fermenting crocks are the ideal tool for pickling vegetables and making sauerkraut. Vegetables are fermented properly through the use of lactic acid, as this allows for beneficial bacteria to releases gases and preserve all ingredients contained in the vegetables. Vegetables pickled with lactic acid are credited with correcting such imbalances in the intestinal flora as acid reflex, and sauerkraut has even been used as a cure for scurvy.

All Harsch & Nik Schmitt fermenting crocks are sold in sizes ranging from five to 50 liters at EarthWave Living. Each Harsch & Nik Schmitt earthenware fermentation crock is unique in that the “scum” forming inside the pot doesn’t need to be removed regularly. Rather, the deep, water-holding trough around the rim forms an airtight seal with the lid, and, as no scum forms on the top, the vegetables inside don’t run any risk of contamination.