Using crops to craft artisan goods is one of the most lucrative strategies for earning money in Stardew Valley. While players typically set up large-scale operations for producing Jelly and Wine at higher levels, Preserves Jars are accessible early in the game, offering significant benefits even to novice players.
Preserves Jars provide a versatile tool for processing a wide range of items into valuable artisan goods. By crafting these jars, players can boost their profits from fruits and vegetables, making them essential for enhancing the profitability of Fish Ponds. This guide has been updated as of January 11, 2025, by Demaris Oxman to include the latest additions from Stardew Valley's 1.6 update, which allows players to pickle a variety of foraged items, from Dandelions to Purple Mushrooms, enhancing their value.
Where To Get Preserves Jars In Stardew Valley
To craft a Preserves Jar, players need to reach Farming Level 4, unlocking the recipe which requires the following materials:
- 50 Wood
- 40 Stone
- 8 Coal
These materials are easy to gather, making the Preserves Jar an excellent choice for players aiming to produce artisan goods quickly. Wood comes from chopping trees, Stone from breaking rocks, and Coal can be obtained by mining or defeating dust sprites in the Mines.
In addition to crafting, players can earn one Preserves Jar by completing the Quality Crops Bundle (or the Rare Crops Bundle if playing with remixed bundles) at the Community Center. They may also find them in the Prize Machine located in Mayor Lewis' house.
What Are Preserves Jars Used For In Stardew Valley?
Preserves Jars can transform various items into different types of artisan goods, with a 40% increase in sale price if the player chooses the Artisan profession at Farming Level 10. 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 | 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, such as Chanterelle or Winter Root, can be pickled. Items like Red Mushroom and Holly, which are poisonous and subtract energy, cannot be processed.
The value of the artisan goods is calculated from the base value of the item placed in the jar, not considering item quality. Therefore, using lower-quality produce in Preserves Jars maximizes profit.
Preserves Jars or Kegs?
When comparing Preserves Jars to Kegs, both used for creating artisan goods from fruits and vegetables, Preserves Jars are more profitable for fruits with a base value under 50g and vegetables/forage items under 160g. Additionally, Preserves Jars process items faster than Kegs. Ideal crops for Jelly and Pickles include high-yield, low-value items like Eggplants, wild foraged berries, Corn, and Tomatoes.
Preserves Jars are also crucial for processing Fish Roe, making them essential for Fish Pond setups and increasing the profitability of fishing. Mushrooms, which cannot be placed in Kegs, can only have their value increased through Preserves Jars or Dehydrators, with Preserves Jars generally providing a higher profit margin.
