This Stardew Valley guide compares Kegs and Preserves Jars, two crucial tools for transforming crops into valuable artisan goods. While both increase profits, especially with the Artisan profession's 40% bonus, they differ significantly in cost, production time, and the types of goods they create.
Kegs vs. Preserves Jars: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Kegs:
- Pros: Generally yield higher profits. Alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, etc.) can be aged in casks for further profit increases. Produces juice from various forageables and vegetables (excluding hops and wheat).
- Cons: More expensive to craft, requiring metal bars and oak resin. Longer production times. Requires the farmhouse's final upgrade for cask aging.
Preserves Jars:
- Pros: Inexpensive and easy to craft, using readily available materials. Faster production times, making them ideal for early-game profits and high-yield, low-value crops (e.g., blueberries). Can process roe and some items not usable in kegs.
- Cons: Lower profit margins compared to kegs for most fruits and vegetables.
Which is Better?
The "best" choice depends on your farm's stage and goals.
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Early Game: Preserves Jars are superior due to their low cost and quick turnaround. They provide a solid income stream while you gather resources for Kegs.
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Mid to Late Game: Kegs become more attractive due to their higher profit potential, especially when combined with cask aging.
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Optimal Strategy: A balanced approach is best. Use Preserves Jars for quick profits from low-value crops and for items exclusive to them (roe). Focus on Kegs for higher-value products and long-term profit maximization. Consider the processing time relative to the base price of the input item. If the base price is 50g or less for fruit, or 200g or less for vegetables, Preserves Jars are generally more profitable.
Item Lists:
The following tables detail the items that can be processed in each container and their respective base selling prices. Remember that item quality does not affect the final product's quality or selling price.
Preserves Jars:
| Item Placed In Jar | Product | Base Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Any fruit | [fruit name] Jelly | 2 x [base fruit price] + 50 |
| Any vegetable | Pickled [item name] | 2 x [base item price] + 50 |
| Morel, Chanterelle, etc. | Pickled [item name] | 2 x [base item price] + 50 |
| Cave Carrot, Leek, etc. | 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:
| Item Placed In Keg | Product | Base Sell Price |
|---|---|---|
| Any fruit | [fruit name] Wine | 3 x [base fruit price] |
| Any vegetable (except hops/wheat) | [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 |
This information should help you optimize your artisan goods production in Stardew Valley! Remember to factor in production time and material costs when making your decisions.
