With canning season almost here, I get tons of questions about canners and the difference between them.
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Water Bath Canning
Water bath canning is when you boil jars filled with food in a canner filled to the brim with water. You should use this method for high acid foods like fruits and foods that have added acid (like vinegar pickles).
Pressure Canning
Similar to water bath canning, only with this way, you raise the pots pressure to kill bacteria.
Note: Never Try to pressure can in a pressure cooker.
Water Bath Canners
You can actually use any large pot to water bath can. You don’t need a pot that was specifically designed for canning. However, most people who can will evently invest in one because they fit a specific amount of jars inside and that’s super convenient when planning out what you’re going to can. If you do decide to can in a pot that was not designed for canning then you’ll need to place a towel or a rack in the bottom.
Pressure Canners
You can can most things that you would normally can in a water bath canner in a pressure canner and you can use all pressure canners as water bath canners provided your stove is heavy duty enough to support the weight of the canner when it’s filled with water.
Presto
I have the 23 qt dial gauge only Presto.
Dial Gauge Only-- Presto makes two kinds of pressure canners. One is a dial gauge only and then the other uses a weighted gauge only. Currently the weighted gauge is only in the 16 quart version. The gauge is what tells you that the pressure inside the canner. Most of Presto’s canners are dial gauge only.
Sealing Ring--Presto canners have a sealing ring that allows the pressure to build inside the canner.
Safety--The Presto has an air vent or pressure lock that indicates that the canner has pressure inside. The Presto also has an overpressure plug to make sure there are no explosions. This plug will pop open if the vent pipe is blocked.
Rack--The Presto comes with a rack for the bottom but you’ll have to buy an additional rack to help stack pint jars. You don’t technically need a rack to stack jars, but it makes it much easier.
Handles/Lid--The handles are plastic and need to be tightened sometimes. Also the location of the handles forces your hands into the hot steam coming from the bottom of the canner.
Cost--All Presto pressure canners are very affordable and are great starter canners. You can also use your canner as a water bath canner.
Pros--Works well and the dial gauge will allow you to can odd increments such as 11, 12, 13, or 14 pounds pressure. They are lightweight.
Cons--Only having a dial gauge could be a problem after a while since it seems less and less people can, so it may be harder and harder to have the gauge checked.
All American Pressure Canner
I have the 30 quart All American Canner
Dial and Weighted Gauge (Pressure Regulator)--The All American Canners come with both weighted gauge and dial gauge.
Sealing Ring--The All American pressure canner doesn’t have a sealing ring. So there are no parts to replace. It’s a metal on metal seal. You do have to lubricate it from time to time with olive oil.
Safety--The All American also has a overpressure plug. This plug will pop open if the vent pipe is blocked.
Rack--The 30 quart comes with two racks. One for the bottom and one for stacking.
Handles/Lid--The lid is heavy but the handle stays cool throughout the canning process. The handle location is on top of the lid and not on the sides like the Presto.
Cost--This canner is an investment, but it will probably outlive you if you take care of it. It’s so heavy duty it might outlive your children too.
Pros--This will be the last pressure canner you ever buy. There are instructions for canning tin cans if you have a tin can lid sealer..
Cons--These pressure canners are heavy. If you have a hard time lifting heavy things you might want to go with a smaller model.
Note: If you want to get a bigger model All American be sure to measure the space above your stove if you have a microwave or second oven above your stove as the 30 quart and 44.
I like all my canners for different reasons. My stainless steel Victorio is a great multi-purpose pot. My presto is light weight and I use it when I have small batches. And my All American is my workhorse. I know I can load it up time and time again and it will deliver the best canned food I’ve ever tasted.
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