What size pressure canner should a beginner start out with?

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I would like to learn how to can and need to decide what size pressure canner to buy. Any advice! I don't grow my own food yet but plan to buy items at the farmers market like I usually do. I would probably start by canning apples, tomatoes, corn and strawberries (when they come into season again).

Also, what brands do you recommend?

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), October 20, 2001

Answers

It really depends on what size of jars you need to can in. If you only need pint size jars of food, you can use a 5-quart pressure cooker. But if you want to can quart size jars, you will need a large canner intended for canning quarts.

I really cant speak as to the brand name. I got my pressure canner at a yard sale, and it is as old as the hills, with a pop-up pressure release valve and pressure guage on top. It says the brand name is "National." I couldnt find any new gaskets for that brand, so I did some checking around at farm supply stores, and by trial and error, found a gasket that fits, from another brand. I got this canner for less than $3, and have used it for 10 years. It even takes half- gallons!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.


You don't need a pressure canner to can apples or applesauce as this is acid fruit and a water bath canner is commonly used. You might look in to the Master Food Preserver course at your local County Extension Office. It is free although you have to contribute so many hours of phone duty or judging 4-H baking and cooking at the Fair. My wife found several for her friends through placing a free Wanted Ad in our local Nickel Ads. The best brand to find replacement parts, in her opinion, is the Presto. The ones she got through the ad she just asked the owners if she could have the guage checked and then took it down to the County Office (They check them free). If the guage worked then that established the price as that was the most expensive part to replace, somewhere around $17.00. She usually keeps a spare rubber seal due to one failing in the middle of canning a load of green beans and we are 45 miles from town. You might want to consider it a lifetime purchase and get the biggest size that you would forsee ever needing. You can always pass it down to your grandchildren, which is how my wife got hers. Ron in Eastern WA

-- Ron (Ron@Verizon.com), October 20, 2001.

Anita, I think what size you buy would depend on family size. I really love my little Presto, which cans 4 pints at a time. Replacement parts are easily available and it is wonderful to cook in as well. If your family is so large that you need quarts of everything, Presto also makes a seven quart canner that I also have and like. If I were just buying my first one to learn on I would get the smaller one because it is such a nice one to cook in. You can buy it at Wal-mart. Be sure you get the one that says Canner, as they have two models and only the one marked canner will be tall enough to can in.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), October 20, 2001.

There is a difference in capacity (how much loose stuff it will hold) and canning capacity (how many jars of what size it will hold). Remember that an increase in capacity does not always mean an increase in canning capacity. Many are made bigger by adding height, not breadth. A canner that has 8 quarts of capacity may hold, say, four pint jars. The next size up may be 10 quarts, but still only hold four pints, because it's taller, but not any bigger around. However, a taller canner of the same diameter may hold bigger size jars. Be sure to find out what the canning capacity is, and not just the fluid capacity. Also remember that in a really tall canner, you may be able to stack jars two high, with a metal rack seperating them, and get more canning done in the same time.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.

Hi Anita.... If I were you, I'd buy the biggest and best canner I could afford. If you really get into canning (which I think you will after the first successful batch) then you won't have to shop for a replacement for your small one. And if it turns out to be to big for you, I'm sure any Countrysider would take it off your hands. I have a Sears Canner that I have been using for 20 years and have only had to replace the gasket. The local Cooperative Extension Agency will test the gauge for me for free. I think Green Beans are by far the easiest things to can, so makes for good practice! Harmony

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 20, 2001.


I have 2 pressure canners, one sits in the cupboard with the rest of the pots and pans and 1 is stored away with the canning jars and lids.

The one in the cupboard is small, holding 5 quart jars. It is perfect for all the left over soups I make out of the weeks left overs. I can pressure cook an old chicken in this canner as well as roasts, or a turkey breast. Great for making shredded meats for Mexican cooking. I use it when people bring me bags of fruit from their trees. I make preserves or just can the fruit. I have 10 quarts of whole spiced peaches because someone gave me a couple of bags of peaches.

The one in storage is very large, holding 14 quarts or 19 pints at a time. I drag this one out if I am doing very large loads. Such as butchering season or the fruit tree that is ripening faster then I have time for. So for me it is a time saver. I can pressure cook 1 whole turkey in it, but haven't so far. Though I did use if for a very large pot of raccoon chili I made up last winter.

I need and use them both. My small one came from my husbands Grandmother. She had one because it was what they used to cook meat or to prepare foods faster. She rarely used it. I use it at least once a week.

In a larger unit you do not have to load it full, heck sometimes in my small unit I don't have 5 quarts to fill it with. Take a look at your family, how large, you said you at first you will be purchasing your canning foods. Buy one that you have room for in your cupboard or in a place easy to use. If you have to GO OUT and get it you will find that to be easier said then done.

Apples, Tomatos and Strawberries can be canned with a water bath. If you have a stew pot with a lid that is large enough to cover the jars with about an inch of water you have a water bather canner! you will need to use something in the bottom of the pot so the jars do not sit directly on the bottom of the pot. Use the rings of the canning jar lids. Now you don't have to spend the money on anything just yet. Corn lacks the acid that fruit has and needs a pressure canner. As well as meats or beans or soups to mention just a couple of examples that need a pressure canner.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), October 21, 2001.


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