Stardew Valley: How to Choose the Right Processor for Your Crops

This Stardew Valley guide compares Kegs and Preserves Jars, two crucial tools for transforming crops into valuable artisan goods. While both increase profit, especially with the Artisan profession's 40% bonus, they differ significantly in cost, processing time, and the types of goods produced.

Kegs and Preserves Jars: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Both Kegs and Preserves Jars create artisan goods from produce, regardless of the input's quality. This means using lower-quality items is most efficient.

Preserves Jars:

Produce Jellies, Pickles, Aged Roe, and Caviar. Obtained from Community Center bundles, the Prize Machine, or crafted at Farming Level 4 with 50 Wood, 40 Stone, and 8 Coal.

Kegs:

Produce Wine, Beer, Pale Ale, Coffee, Juice, Green Tea, and Vinegar. Obtained from Community Center bundles, the Prize Machine, or crafted at Farming Level 8 with 30 Wood, 1 Copper Bar, 1 Iron Bar, and 1 Oak Resin.

Kegs vs. Preserves Jars: The Verdict

Kegs generally yield higher profits, especially with Cask aging for increased quality and sell price. However, they are more expensive and time-consuming to produce and utilize. Preserves Jars offer a faster return on investment, making them ideal for early-game players or high-yield, low-value crops. The choice depends on your farm's stage and your preferred playstyle. Using both maximizes profit potential. Note that the 1.6 update added several forage items to both Keg and Preserves Jar recipes.