Pickles Oak barrels, 20L

About this barrel

Home cooks often ferment in a new 20L oak pickle barrel to get that crisp, old-world crunch in cucumbers, cabbage and other brined vegetables. At 20 liters it's a medium size: big enough for a family's yearly batch but still easy to move.

How do you prepare an oak barrel for pickles?

Rinse it, then fill it with water for a few days so the wood swells and seals any seams that seep. Drain it and add your brine.

• Capacity: 20.0L, a practical size for dill pickles or sauerkraut.
• Lid and weights: the title doesn't mention them, so check the listing for what's included.
• Inside of the barrel: ask whether it's charred or plain wood. Most picklers prefer plain wood.
• Price: $185.67, new.

Keep the barrel somewhere cool so it ferments at a steady pace.