I'm wanting to purchase a pressure canner. Years ago I had one (an old, hand-me-down) but then I had a couple of scary incidents with it (probably operator error) and got rid of it.
Since then I've counted on my freezer(s) to preserve many foods that I could/should pressure can. Now I'm thinking I need to depend less on those convenient, energy-using big white boxes for some of our food storage. Therefore, I am in the market for a good, reliable pressure canner.
So I'm coming to you today, dear and trusted readers, for recommendations. To those of you who have a pressure canner, what brand do you have and are you happy with it?
If you're in the contemplating stages of a purchase as I am, have you settled on a brand or specific model while saving your pennies for the purchase?
Any and all info you'd care to share will be much, much appreciated. As far as a recommendation, there's nuthin' like first-hand experience with a product by real people doin' the real thing . . . and I value all of your opinions even if you're in the same boat I am and just researching out that pressure canner on your wish list.
Thanks a bunch!
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15 comments:
I have one that I like very much, but I'm not home to check what brand it is - I'll check tonight. I used it a lot last year and was very happy with the results and ease (read: less fear) of use.
I have a Presto pressure canner with a weighted guage. Model# 0171003 I have had it for almost 20 years and replace the rubber gasket and valves every couple of years. I could not begin to count the number of quarts this baby has canned for us! I highly recommend it!
I WILL HAVE TO RING BACK TO SEE ALL YOUR RESULTS OF ADVICE- AM WILLING TO LISTEN TO ALL THE GOOD IDEA'S BUT WHEN YOU PURCHASE IT DOES IT COME WITH A FEAR OF USING WARRANTY- I WOULD LOVE TO OWN ONE , GOOD LUCK!
All American Pressure Canner. I can not recommend this one enough. It will last 3 lifetimes and is built super heavy duty. It has several safeties and has the best locking method on the market. It does not have a gaskets so you will never need to buy another part. They come in several sizes so you can get the one that suits your needs the most. It was worth every penny.
Mama Pea, I could have written a post identical to yours! I, too, want to move toward more canning/less freezing but am clueless as to where to start. I even may have a guest poster writing about pressure canning soon. SO excited to read the comments from your readers- thank you!!
Like Jane, I've got an All American. And I love it! It was my holiday gift from my darling hubby a few years ago. Isn't he the sweetest! I like that I don't have to worry about replacing a gasket. It has both a valve and a gauge and has an excellent safety record. When I got mine, there was a flaw in the lid. I complained to the company and we got a message back from the foundry foreman himself with a new lid, no questions asked. Pretty impressive.
Judy
You stole my post LOL! I was going to post the same thing this evening, now I'm off the hook LOL since we share all the smartest readers/blogger friends :)
I'm going with the 16 qt Presto, a couple of reasons - I have a ceramic glass cooktop so the larger one will have a harder time heating up and the smaller one still fits 7 quart jars, and will also be small enough to fit on a camp cookstove if that ever became necessary in the event of "squirrel attack", and the second reason is that it's cheaper than the All-American LOL.
One other thing I learned from Master Canning class at the Extension is that the dial gauges have to be tested yearly for accuracy but they can't be reset, so you would have to mentally compensate for pressure lbs needed unless you want to buy a new gauge every year. I'll most likely go with the weighted petcock type and count knocks, eliminating the worry about my gauge being off.
Hands down this is the best thing for food safety, since everything can go in it from meat to high acid stuff, and it can be used on most any surface since it has a flat bottom. I'm tired of traipsing out to hubby's propane burner in the backyard with all my stuff to use the steam canner! Plus, it's always full of hops scum from him stealing it for homebrewing LOL
I have a Presto w/ the weighted guage also. It's a double decker, which I highly encourage regardless of which brand or model you go with. My other one did not have the weighted guage and after having one with it, I wouldn't go back. I have never looked into the All American Jane was talking about and probably should not do that either! Probably would want one!!!
But I will give you a big ole pat on the back for canning more and freezing less!
I have an All American and I love it. It has both a weighted gauge and a dial, needs no gaskets and has been easy to operate. It is a bit more expensive but I think it'll last forever.
There's a site/blog that has a lot of feedback on the different types of canners, this link is for the All-American post, but you can navigate to all kinds of other stuff from there...
http://www.simplycanning.com/all-american-pressure-canner.html
I'm telling you, just think if all us bloggers lived in a commune the nice gear & equipment we could accumulate with merged funds! Mills, canners, long arm quilters, LOL... a girl can dream, right?!
Wow! Thanks to all of you for all the information and insight on pressure canners. I'm making notes like crazy and will do some follow-up.
Susan, can you let me know which brand yours is? Thanks!
We have a huge one from Lehman's catalog. We hardly use it, but it's very, very good.
Well, I have two pressure canners. The first is a Mirro, which holds only 4 quart jars. I got it because it was the only one locally available (and that was before I had Amazon or other online resources). I really wanted one to hold 7 quarts, but that Mirro was all they had. The second is a Presto, which holds 7 quart jars. Again, it was the only brand available. They gauge pressure differently. The Mirro requires counting jiggles, the Presto visually, by a "gentle" rocking of the gizmo on top. The Mirro has separate holes in the pressure weight to choose the pressure. The Presto requires adding little rings as weights. I really can't say I recommend one over the other. A long time ago I had a dial gauge model, but I hear those need to be tested periodically to make sure they're accurate. Looking forward to hearing about your choice.
JJ and Leigh - Thanks much for your input . . . much appreciated. :o}
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