This Stardew Valley guide compares Kegs and Preserves Jars, two crucial tools for transforming crops into valuable artisan goods. While both boost profits, especially with the Artisan profession's 40% price increase, they offer distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Kegs and Preserves Jars: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Both Kegs and Preserves Jars create artisan goods from produce, regardless of input quality. This means using lower-quality items is most efficient.
Preserves Jars: Produce Jellies, Pickles, Aged Roe, and Caviar. Obtained via Community Center bundles, Prize Machine, or crafted at Farming Level 4 (50 Wood, 40 Stone, 8 Coal).
| Item In Jar | Product | Base Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Any fruit | [fruit name] Jelly | 2 x [base fruit price] + 50 |
| Any vegetable/mushroom/forage (positive energy) | Pickled [item name] | 2 x [base item price] + 50 |
| Roe (except Sturgeon) | Aged [fish name] Roe | 2 x [roe price] |
| Sturgeon Roe | Caviar | 2 x [roe price] |
Kegs: Produce Wine, Beer, Pale Ale, Mead, Coffee, Juice, Green Tea, and Vinegar. Obtained via Artisan/Brewer's Bundles, Prize Machine, or crafted at Farming Level 8 (30 Wood, 1 Copper Bar, 1 Iron Bar, 1 Oak Resin).
| Item In Keg | Product | Base Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Any fruit | [fruit name] Wine | 3 x [base fruit price] |
| Any vegetable/forage (positive energy, excluding hops/wheat/mushrooms) | [item name] Juice | 2.25 x [base item price] |
| Hops | Pale Ale | 300g |
| Wheat | Beer | 200g |
| Honey | Mead | 200g |
| Tea Leaves | Green Tea | 100g |
| Coffee Beans (5) | Coffee | 150g |
| Rice | Vinegar | 100g |
Kegs vs. Preserves Jars: The Verdict
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Kegs: Generally yield higher profits, especially with Cask aging for Iridium-quality products (double the normal price). However, they are more expensive to craft and have longer processing times.
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Preserves Jars: Cheaper and faster, ideal for early-game profits and low-value, high-yield crops (e.g., Blueberries). Their simpler design makes them easier to mass-produce.
Conclusion: Both Kegs and Preserves Jars are valuable. Kegs offer greater long-term profit potential, while Preserves Jars provide a faster, more accessible route to early-game wealth. A balanced approach, using both, maximizes efficiency and profit. The 1.6 update expanded compatible items, increasing versatility for both.
