Using one's crops to craft artisan goods is one of the most lucrative strategies for earning money in Stardew Valley. While many players might think of massive setups for producing 
Jelly and 
Wine at higher levels, 
Preserves Jars are accessible early on in the game, offering a significant advantage to even novice farmers.
Preserves Jars open up a world of possibilities for players, allowing them to produce a variety of artisan goods. By crafting these jars, players can boost their profits from fruits and vegetables and make Fish Ponds more profitable. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and maximizing the potential of Preserves Jars in Stardew Valley.
Updated January 11, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The 1.6 update of Stardew Valley has introduced an exciting feature for farmers: the ability to pickle many new items! From common foraged items like 
Dandelions to rare treasures like 
Purple Mushrooms, players can now enhance their value by using Preserves Jars. This guide has been updated to reflect these new opportunities for foragers and artisan goods enthusiasts.
Where To Get Preserves Jars In Stardew Valley
To craft a Preserves Jar, players need to reach Farming Level 4, which unlocks the recipe. The materials required are:
- 50
Wood - 40
Stone - 8
Coal
These materials are readily available, making Preserves Jars an excellent choice for quickly producing artisan goods. Wood comes from chopping down trees, Stone from breaking rocks with a pickaxe, and Coal can be efficiently farmed by defeating dust sprites in the Mines.
In addition to crafting, players can earn a Preserves Jar by completing the Quality Crops Bundle (or the Rare Crops Bundle if using the remixed option) in the Community Center. They might also find one in the Prize Machine at Mayor Lewis' house.
What Are Preserves Jars Used For In Stardew Valley?
Preserves Jars can transform various items into different artisan goods. If players select the Artisan profession at Farming Level 10, the sale price of each product increases by 40%.
| Item | Product | Sell Price | Health/Energy | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | Jelly | 2x (base fruit value) + 50 | For edible fruit: - 2x base fruit energy - 2x base fruit health For inedible fruit (e.g., Coconut): - Health: 0.5x base fruit value - Energy: 0.225 base fruit value | 2-3 in-game days |
| Vegetable, Mushroom, or Forage |  Pickles | 2 x (base item value) + 50 | For edible items: - 1.75x base item energy - 1.75x base item health For inedible items (e.g., Pumpkin): - Energy: 0.625x base item value - Health: 0.28125 base item value | 2-3 in-game days |
| Sturgeon Roe |  Caviar | 500g | - 175 Energy - 78 Health | 4 in-game days |
| Any Other Fish Roe |  Aged Roe | 60 + (base fish price) | - 100 Energy - 45 Health | 2-3 in-game days |
Only Mushrooms and Forage items that provide a positive energy value when eaten can be used in Preserves Jars, such as Chanterelles or Winter Roots. Items like Red Mushroom and Holly, which are poisonous, cannot be pickled.
The sell prices are based on the base value of the item, not its quality. Therefore, using lower-quality produce in Preserves Jars maximizes profit, as the value of the resulting Jelly or Pickles remains the same regardless of the input quality.
Preserves Jars or Kegs?
When deciding between Preserves Jars and Kegs, consider the base value of the items you're using. Preserves Jars are most profitable for fruits with a base value under 50g and vegetables/forage items under 160g. Additionally, Preserves Jars process items much faster than Kegs. High-yield, low-value crops like Eggplants, wild berries, Corn, and Tomatoes are ideal candidates for making Jelly and Pickles.
Preserves Jars are also essential for turning Fish Roe into artisan goods, making them a crucial part of any Fish Pond setup. Mushrooms, which cannot be processed in Kegs, also benefit more from Preserves Jars than from Dehydrators, offering a higher profit margin.
By leveraging the power of Preserves Jars, players can significantly enhance their earnings and make the most of their farming efforts in Stardew Valley.
