Using an Airlock for Vegetable Fermentation

Do You Really Need An Airlock for Fermenting?

Fermenting vegetables is a great way to preserve them while adding nutrition and beneficial bacteria to your diet. When fermenting vegetables, you must let the pressure out and not let oxygen into your containers. You can achieve this in a few ways, but the best tool for successful vegetable fermentation is an airlock.

One way to keep air from reaching your veggies is by placing a weight, like our Ceramic Fermentation Weight, to keep them submerged. Another is using an airtight lid and burping the container regularly – sometimes 2 or 3 times a day if it’s hot out. This process is essential so the jar doesn’t explode from the gases produced.

We have found that one of the easiest ways to keep out oxygen while letting the CO2 escape safely is by using an airlock (yes, just like the kind they use for beer and wine making!). This device keeps air from getting in while allowing the gases to escape. An airlock can also help prevent mold and Kahm yeast from forming on your veggies.

How Fermentation Airlocks Work

An airlock, also known as a burping lid or fermentation valve, is a device that sits on top of a fermenting vessel, such as a glass jar or mason jar. Its purpose is to allow the release of carbon dioxide produced during fermentation when the bacteria is gobbling up the sugars while preventing the entry of oxygen and other contaminants.

There are multiple versions of airlocks that you can use. The S-shaped, or bubbler and the three-piece airlock system are the more traditional versions, often used by wine and beer makers. They both use water in their process and are placed in a hole in the lid, usually with some kind of stopper.

Most pickle pipes are silicone, fit in the mason jar rings, and have a one-way release valve. The new kid on the block, and our favorite, the Hop Top, fits wide-mouth jars and developed a system of using liquid but keeps the profile low like pickle pipes.

Using An Airlock For Vegetable Ferments: Step By Step

To use an S-shaped or 3-piece: Remove the small cap at the top of the airlock. Add water to the top of the airlock (fill to the line), and replace the lid. This water creates a barrier that keeps air from getting in. As a result, the gasses produced during fermentation can bubble through the airlock and out. Next, insert the bottom of the airlock into the lid’s hole, place the lid on top of the jar, and secure it with the ring.
To use pickle pipes or Hop Top, place the parts between the jar and the lid ring, then tighten.
Be sure to allow some headspace on the top of your jar (1-2 inches).
Allow your veggies to ferment at room temperature. They will ferment faster in warmer weather and when cut into small pieces, so check them for crunch factor within a few days. They’re ready when the texture and sourness are to your liking!

Fermenting Sauerkraut or Pickles with an Airlock

Ready to get started fermenting veggies? Here are two recipes we think you’ll enjoy – one for Sauerkraut and another for Fermented Cucumber Pickles. After your jar is empty, save any leftover juices – you can drink them like a gut shot or use them to jump-start your next batch!

Cleaning Fermentation Airlocks

When your fermentations are done, clean the airlocks so they will be ready for when you want to make more probiotic veggies. For pickle pipes and our mason jar airlock, we suggest rinsing them with warm soapy water – making sure to rinse thoroughly so no residue remains.

The S-shaped airlocks are the hardest to clean, while the 3-pieces are easier since they come apart more readily. Soak them for at least a half hour in a bowl of warm/hot soapy water to help break up any gunk that may have collected. Shake to release leftover particles further. Flush with water. You may want to consider sanitizing them too.

Airlock for Vegetable Fermentations is a YES!

Is an airlock necessary for fermentation? It’s not a must-have tool, but it makes the process easier and more consistent. You can ferment your vegetables without an airlock, but check on them daily and release the carbon dioxide manually. An airlock eliminates the need for this step, making the process more hands-off.

We love the low-profile lid of the HopTop mason jar airlock we offer – it makes for easy storage and cleaning! The maker of the Hop Top says he based the design on DaVinci inventions. It also fits nicely on a quart or a half-gallon-sized canning jar, making it easy to create smaller batches that tuck right into the fridge when ready.