Pressure Canners - electric verse stove top. - Ask Extension
Do the new electric pressure cookers like "Presto", or "One Pot", work as well as stove top pressure canners like "All Americ...
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Pressure Canners - electric verse stove top. #867788
Asked May 09, 2024, 4:38 PM EDT
Do the new electric pressure cookers like "Presto", or "One Pot", work as well as stove top pressure canners like "All American"? Do the electric hold up to use like the stove top pressure cookers?
I have used water bath canning for pickles and tomatoes for many years. I want to can more vegetables, and possibly meat too. I'm partial to products made in USA, rather then made in China. I've done research on the cost and know the stove top pressure canners are about 3 times more expensive then the electric. I'm willing to buy the better of the two.
I have one other question related to pressure canning. For about the last 4 years I stopped using Mason jars and rings and went to online brand of glass canning jars and metal screw on caps with Plastisol Lined caps. They have sealed and worked well with water bath canning. Will the screw on caps seal when using a pressure cooker?
Thank you for time
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Sorry for the delay in answering the question. I thought I answered it earlier but somehow it did not go through.
Here is a good link to give you information on the different kinds of canners that are available.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pnw421.pdf
The price range varies by the brand as well as the size of the canner. I personally can't say that one canner is better than another as long as they are made for home canning. Both Presto and All American are well known brands that follow research guidelines for pressure canning. The new Presto Electric canner specifically designed for canning and not cooking follows safe guidelines for canning. The other multi cookers are not safe since the temperature fluctuates in the canner during the process so the spores of Clostridium botulinum may not be destroyed which could cause serious illness. There is information on the multi cookers and the Digital Electric Canner in the publication listed above.
The kind and size depends on how much canning you plan to do. If you plan to can a lot of meats and fish that have longer processing times, you might consider a tall canner where you can layer the jars so you can do more at one time since the processing time takes much longer than water bath canning.
Then there is a choice between weighted gauge and dial gauge canners. Some canners come with both a dial and a giggling weight. The weighted gauge is often easier to regulate. If you have both you should go by the weight not the dial. The dial gauges also needs to be checked at least once a year but you don't have to check the weighted gauge. If you live at higher altitudes you have more choice for regulating the pressure with the dial than the weighted gauge. With the weighted gauge you have to process at 15 pounds if over 1000 ft. rather than going up gradually depending on elevation. This could result in softer texture of the canned product.
Then there is the weight of the canner to consider. The All American canners are made of very heavy metal so when full are heavy to move. That said if you plan to can on a propane burner outdoors or have a gas stove they don't warp as easy as the lighter weight canners if they happen to boil dry. That said if you run them properly, put in enough water and watch them they should not run dry. The companies don't recommend canning outdoors on propane, but many people do to keep the heat out of the kitchen in the summer. We often get calls on the hotline about warped canners.
If you follow the directions for canning and take good care of your canner they all work well and should last for years. I am still using the canner we received for a wedding present over 50 years ago and it still works great.
The drawback I see with the electric Digital Presto Canners is that you are limited to the number of jars. You also have to follow the instructions carefully, so you don't get an error and have to start all over again. That said they are carefree, and you don't have to sit and watch them like the stove top canner. People who are scared of pressure canners seem to love them. The company has a great Facebook group with lots of ideas and their customer service is excellent to give you help as you learn to use the canner. We are hoping to have independent research published in the near future regarding the safety of the canner but do know that Presto has followed all the safe pressure canning directions and temperatures for this canner so you should direct your questions regarding the safety of the canner to Presto.
As for your one-piece lids. As far as I know those lids are used for commercial canning and there has not been research published for home canners. I would not recommend them for pressure canning.
Hope that helps
Thanks for using Ask Extension.
Nellie Oehler
Here is a good link to give you information on the different kinds of canners that are available.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pnw421.pdf
The price range varies by the brand as well as the size of the canner. I personally can't say that one canner is better than another as long as they are made for home canning. Both Presto and All American are well known brands that follow research guidelines for pressure canning. The new Presto Electric canner specifically designed for canning and not cooking follows safe guidelines for canning. The other multi cookers are not safe since the temperature fluctuates in the canner during the process so the spores of Clostridium botulinum may not be destroyed which could cause serious illness. There is information on the multi cookers and the Digital Electric Canner in the publication listed above.
The kind and size depends on how much canning you plan to do. If you plan to can a lot of meats and fish that have longer processing times, you might consider a tall canner where you can layer the jars so you can do more at one time since the processing time takes much longer than water bath canning.
Then there is a choice between weighted gauge and dial gauge canners. Some canners come with both a dial and a giggling weight. The weighted gauge is often easier to regulate. If you have both you should go by the weight not the dial. The dial gauges also needs to be checked at least once a year but you don't have to check the weighted gauge. If you live at higher altitudes you have more choice for regulating the pressure with the dial than the weighted gauge. With the weighted gauge you have to process at 15 pounds if over 1000 ft. rather than going up gradually depending on elevation. This could result in softer texture of the canned product.
Then there is the weight of the canner to consider. The All American canners are made of very heavy metal so when full are heavy to move. That said if you plan to can on a propane burner outdoors or have a gas stove they don't warp as easy as the lighter weight canners if they happen to boil dry. That said if you run them properly, put in enough water and watch them they should not run dry. The companies don't recommend canning outdoors on propane, but many people do to keep the heat out of the kitchen in the summer. We often get calls on the hotline about warped canners.
If you follow the directions for canning and take good care of your canner they all work well and should last for years. I am still using the canner we received for a wedding present over 50 years ago and it still works great.
The drawback I see with the electric Digital Presto Canners is that you are limited to the number of jars. You also have to follow the instructions carefully, so you don't get an error and have to start all over again. That said they are carefree, and you don't have to sit and watch them like the stove top canner. People who are scared of pressure canners seem to love them. The company has a great Facebook group with lots of ideas and their customer service is excellent to give you help as you learn to use the canner. We are hoping to have independent research published in the near future regarding the safety of the canner but do know that Presto has followed all the safe pressure canning directions and temperatures for this canner so you should direct your questions regarding the safety of the canner to Presto.
As for your one-piece lids. As far as I know those lids are used for commercial canning and there has not been research published for home canners. I would not recommend them for pressure canning.
Hope that helps
Thanks for using Ask Extension.
Nellie Oehler
