Stardew Valley: Preserves Jar Guide

This guide is part of our comprehensive directory: Stardew Valley: The Ultimate Guide and Walkthrough

Converting crops into artisan products represents one of the most profitable ventures in Stardew Valley. While advanced players often establish elaborate jelly and wine operations, preserves jars become accessible early in the game and can significantly boost profits for newer farmers.

The versatility of preserves jars allows for various artisan product creations. These containers enhance crop profitability and become particularly valuable when utilizing fish ponds effectively. This guide covers all essential information about preserves jars and their optimal usage.

Updated January 11, 2025: Stardew Valley's 1.6 update expanded the preserves system significantly. Foragers can now transform common plants like dandelions into valuable commodities, even rare finds like purple mushrooms gain increased value through preservation. This revision includes comprehensive details about these new preservation opportunities.

Acquiring Preserves Jars

Players unlock the preserves jar recipe at Farming Level 4, requiring these easily obtainable materials:

• 50 wood
• 40 stone
• 8 coal

Wood comes from felled trees, while stone and coal can be mined from mineral deposits or acquired by eliminating dust sprites in the Mines. Additionally, players receive one preserves jar after completing the Quality Crops Bundle (or Rare Crops Bundle with remixed bundles) in the Community Center, and sometimes obtain them from the Prize Machine in Mayor Lewis' residence.

Preserves Jar Functions

Various items transform when placed in preserves jars. The Artisan profession at Farming Level 10 boosts their value by 40% when sold.

The following table details transformation outcomes:

Input Item	Result	Value Calculation	Restoration Benefits	Processing Duration
Fruit	Jelly	2x base value + 50g	Edible fruit doubles its original health/energy benefits; inedible fruit provides reduced restoration	2-3 days
Vegetable/Mushroom/Forage	Pickles	2x base value + 50g	Edible items provide 1.75x original health/energy; inedible items offer reduced benefits	2-3 days
Sturgeon Roe	Caviar	500g	175 Energy/78 Health	4 days
Other Fish Roe	Aged Roe	Base fish price + 60g	100 Energy/45 Health	2-3 days

Important consideration: Item quality doesn't affect the final product value. Utilizing standard quality produce in preserves jars typically proves most economical.

Preserves Jars vs. Kegs

While both preserves jars and kegs process crops, jars offer greater profitability for fruits worth less than 50g and vegetables below 160g base value. Their faster processing time makes them ideal for high-yield, low-value crops like eggplant, berries, corn, and tomatoes.

Preserves jars uniquely process fish roe, making them essential for fish pond operations and fishing enthusiasts. They also provide the most profitable method for preserving mushrooms when compared to dehydrators.