PJ+3,100g
Jelly
3 mornings per batchFinal value4,200gProcessed20Backlog0
Stardew Valley Keg vs Jar vs Dehydrator calculator
Keg, Jar, or Dehydrator?
Use your own deadline.
Compare all three routes with the same item, quality, deadline, and machine counts. The result shows which stack waits when one machine wins on price but loses on time.
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Compare Keg, Jar, and Dehydrator
Compare Kegs, Preserves Jars, and Dehydrators with the same item, quality, deadline, and real machine counts.
Deadline
Best supported routeJelly
+3,100g versus selling this stack raw
KG+1,550g
Wine
7 mornings per batchFinal value2,650gProcessed10Backlog10
Machine capacity leaves part of this stack raw.
DH+1,140g
Dried Fruit
1 morning per batchFinal value2,240gProcessed20Backlog0
Instant result · browser-only · nothing uploaded
Full farm plan
Add the rest of your chest inventory.
The quick answer and this full plan use the same saved setup on this device.
01 · Your farm
Machines & crops
One morning check per dayDay 0 starts empty.
Planning horizon
Farming profession
Machines
Crops & stock
Ready day: 0 = nowAFAncient Fruitfruit · 550g base
SFStarfruitfruit · 750g base
BBBlueberryfruit · 50g base
PKPumpkinvegetable · 320g base
Quick check
Make the shed plan yours
1Count machines2Add what's in your chest3Load the first rows
ValleyMath recalculates as you type and keeps this plan on this device.
03 · Your best routes
Recommended allocation
Load the highest-value rows first. The full day-by-day list is below.
SF
24 Starfruit→ Wine
+55,800g24 batches · KG
AF
80 Ancient Fruit→ Dried Fruit
+44,560g16 batches · DH
SF
12 Starfruit→ Jelly
+16,140g12 batches · PJ
PK
8 Pumpkin→ Pickles
+4,912g8 batches · PJ
AF
4 Ancient Fruit→ Jelly
+4,020g4 batches · PJ
BB
60 Blueberry→ Dried Fruit
+3,420g12 batches · DH
Rough capacity check: +7 Preserves jars · +2 Dehydrators under an estimate that sends each remaining stack through its strongest gold-per-morning route. This is not an optimized expansion plan.
Loading your local plan…
Full schedule
13 grouped loads
D0Load 4 Dehydrators20 Blueberry → Dried Fruit · collect Day 1
D0Load 8 Preserves Jars8 Pumpkin → Pickles · collect Day 3
D0Load 4 Preserves Jars4 Ancient Fruit → Jelly · collect Day 3
D0Load 24 Kegs24 Starfruit → Wine · collect Day 7
D1Load 1 Dehydrator5 Ancient Fruit → Dried Fruit · collect Day 2
D1Load 3 Dehydrators15 Blueberry → Dried Fruit · collect Day 2
D2Load 4 Dehydrators20 Blueberry → Dried Fruit · collect Day 3
D3Load 3 Dehydrators15 Ancient Fruit → Dried Fruit · collect Day 4
D3Load 1 Dehydrator5 Blueberry → Dried Fruit · collect Day 4
D3Load 12 Preserves Jars12 Starfruit → Jelly · collect Day 6
D4Load 4 Dehydrators20 Ancient Fruit → Dried Fruit · collect Day 5
D5Load 4 Dehydrators20 Ancient Fruit → Dried Fruit · collect Day 6
D6Load 4 Dehydrators20 Ancient Fruit → Dried Fruit · collect Day 7
Keg, Jar, and Dehydrator comparison
Choose the right machine for this stack
Kegs often create a higher final price for expensive inputs, Preserves Jars finish sooner and add a fixed 50g, and Dehydrators trade five-item batches for next-morning turnover. A useful comparison has to include what else waits for each machine and when the plan ends.
Price per item is only one view
If inventory is small and time is generous, the higher-value Keg route can dominate. When harvests are large or the deadline is close, profit gained per occupied machine-day becomes equally important.
A mixed fleet can be the best answer
The planner does not force every crop through one machine type. It can reserve Kegs for higher-value Wine or Juice while Jars process stacks that would otherwise remain idle, without allocating any item twice.
Use backlog as the decision signal
Backlog shows which profitable stacks did not fit in the executable plan. The separate capacity note estimates which machine class could help clear those stacks; treat it as directional, because it is not a second optimized schedule and does not price crafting materials.
Model scope: unmodded Stardew Valley 1.6.x · crop, brew, mushroom, honey, Raisin, and Caviar routes · one morning check per day · machines start empty on Day 0 · Casks are not included.
How the plan is made
Keg vs Jar vs Dehydrator is a capacity question, not only a price formula.
Count real capacity
Every batch occupies a real machine until the morning collection day shown in the plan.
Protect opportunity cost
Quality and the selected profession path change what the exact input stack would sell for raw. Artisan includes the Tiller crop bonus where it applies.
Keep your setup nearby
Your plan auto-saves in this browser. Bookmark the page and come back without a login or cloud account. Local save import is optional.
Reference this tool
Give readers the exact calculator.
Writing a guide, tool list, video description, or forum answer? Link to this page so another player can reproduce the calculation.
ValleyMath. “Stardew Valley Keg vs Jar vs Dehydrator Calculator” Data model: Stardew Valley 1.6.x. Page updated August 27, 2026. https://valleymath.com/stardew/keg-vs-jar
The clean reference never includes your inventory or private share-link data.
Common questions
Before you load the shed
Is a Keg always better than a Preserves Jar or Dehydrator?
No. Kegs often win on final value for expensive inputs, Jars finish faster and add a fixed 50g, and Dehydrators turn complete five-item groups over quickly. The best choice depends on your inventory, machine counts, and deadline.
Why does machine capacity change the answer?
A route that looks best per item can leave other crops waiting. ValleyMath compares gold gained per occupied machine-day and reports which machine class is limiting the queue.
Can the comparison recommend both machines?
Yes. Kegs can handle higher-value Wine or Juice while Jars or Dehydrators clear other stacks. The comparison keeps the machine capacities separate and prevents any inventory unit from being allocated twice.
Does the comparison account for raw crop value?
Yes. It measures extra profit against selling the same quality-adjusted inputs raw, so a high gross sale does not automatically become a good processing decision.