Preserves Jars in Stardew Valley: A Complete Guide

Using artisan goods to boost your income in Stardew Valley is a smart move, and one of the most effective ways to do this is through the use of Preserves Jars. These jars become available early in the game at Farming Level 4, making them accessible even to new players. With the right strategy, low-level farmers can significantly increase their profits from fruits, vegetables, and foraged items by utilizing Preserves Jars.

The versatility of Preserves Jars allows players to create a variety of artisan goods, from Jelly and Pickles to Caviar and Aged Roe. This guide will dive into everything you need to know about Preserves Jars, including their crafting recipe, usage, and the best items to process for maximum profit.

Updated January 11, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: With the 1.6 update, Stardew Valley introduced a new feature allowing many foraged items to be pickled, enhancing their value. This update has opened up exciting new possibilities for foragers and artisan good crafters. This guide now includes detailed information on utilizing these new options to maximize your farm's earnings.

Where To Get Preserves Jars In Stardew Valley

To craft a Preserves Jar, players need to reach Farming Level 4. The crafting recipe requires:

• 50 Wood
• 40 Stone
• 8 Coal

These materials are easy to gather: Wood from chopping trees, Stone from breaking rocks, and Coal from the Mines, especially by defeating dust sprites. Additionally, players can earn a Preserves Jar by completing the Quality Crops Bundle or the Rare Crops Bundle at the Community Center. They may 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 profitable artisan goods. Here's a breakdown of what can be processed and the resulting products:

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	2x (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 positive energy when eaten can be pickled. Items like Red Mushroom and Holly, which are poisonous, cannot be used. The sell price of the artisan goods is based on the base value of the item, not its quality, so using lower-quality produce in Preserves Jars can maximize profit.

Preserves Jars or Kegs?

When deciding between Preserves Jars and Kegs, consider the base value of the items you're processing. Preserves Jars are more profitable for fruits under 50g and vegetables/forage items under 160g. They also process goods faster than Kegs. High-yield, low-value crops like Eggplants, wild foraged berries, Corn, and Tomatoes are ideal for Preserves Jars.

Preserves Jars are essential for processing Fish Roe, making them a crucial part of any Fish Pond setup. Mushrooms, which cannot be processed in Kegs, also benefit from being pickled in Preserves Jars, typically offering a higher profit margin than using a Dehydrator.

By mastering the use of Preserves Jars, Stardew Valley players can significantly enhance their farm's profitability and enjoy the fruits of their labor in a more rewarding way.