Stardew Valley: Everything You Need To Know About Preserves Jars

Using artisan goods to boost your earnings in Stardew Valley is a smart move, and crafting with Preserves Jars is a fantastic way to start, even for beginners. While high-level players often set up elaborate systems to produce Jelly and Wine, Preserves Jars are available early in the game, making them a valuable tool for players of all levels.

There's a wide range of artisan goods you can create with Preserves Jars, enhancing your profits from fruits and vegetables. They're also crucial for making Fish Ponds more profitable. Here's a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about using Preserves Jars effectively.

Updated January 11, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Stardew Valley's 1.6 update has introduced exciting new possibilities for using Preserves Jars. Now, you can pickle a variety of foraged items, from common Dandelions to rare Purple Mushrooms. This update is a game-changer for foragers and artisan good enthusiasts alike, and this guide has been updated to cover all the new ways to utilize Preserves Jars on your farm.

Where To Get Preserves Jars In Stardew Valley

You'll unlock the recipe for Preserves Jars at Farming Level 4. Here's what you need to craft one:

• 50 Wood
• 40 Stone
• 8 Coal

These materials are easy to come by, making Preserves Jars an excellent choice for quickly producing artisan goods. Wood comes from chopping trees, Stone from breaking rocks with a pickaxe, and Coal can be found by mining or defeating dust sprites in the Mines.

In addition to crafting them, you can earn a Preserves Jar by completing the Quality Crops Bundle (or Rare Crops Bundle if remixed) in the Community Center. They may also appear as a prize from the Prize Machine in Mayor Lewis' house.

What Are Preserves Jars Used For In Stardew Valley?

Preserves Jars can transform a variety of items into artisan goods, each with different benefits. If you choose the Artisan profession at Farming Level 10, the sale price of these goods increases by 40%.

Here's a breakdown of what you can make with Preserves Jars:

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, such as Chanterelle or Winter Root, can be pickled. Poisonous items like Red Mushroom and Holly cannot be used.

The value of the artisan goods is based on the base value of the item used, not its quality. So, using lower-quality produce in Preserves Jars will maximize your profit margins. For instance, a Jelly made from a gold-quality Apricot will sell for the same as one made from a normal-quality Apricot.

Preserves Jars or Kegs?

When deciding between Preserves Jars and Kegs, consider the item's base value. Preserves Jars are more profitable for fruits with a base value under 50g and vegetables/forage items under 160g. They also process goods much faster than Kegs, making them ideal for high-yield, low-value crops like Eggplants, wild foraged berries, Corn, and Tomatoes.

Preserves Jars are also essential for processing Fish Roe into artisan goods, making them a key component in any Fish Pond setup. Mushrooms, which cannot be used in Kegs, can only have their value increased through Preserves Jars or Dehydrators, with Preserves Jars generally offering better profit margins.