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Pressure Cookers and Canners

UserPost

3:49 pm
November 4, 2009


Pete

WV

Moderator

posts 4712

Smiley Rabbit

Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!

5:39 pm
November 4, 2009


WV_Hills

Guest

Pete said:

beeyourself said:

Well Pete, I'm no expert on pressure canners, but I am an expert on frustration!  I'd buy me that brand spanking new one mentioned in two posts above…free shipping…to me, it isn't worth the worry of losing something I've worked that hard to prepare. 

I giveth you permission to purchase said new pressure canner!   Wink


Be glad to buy a new canner, but the one I have is less than a year old!  And it IS the 23-qt Presto we've been talking about.  Works wonderfully well, except for the 10 pound (and none other) pressure variations.  It's the electric stove I'm threatening to set out some night and claim that a ghost came and stole it!

As long as the instructions are to process at 12 pounds or above, we don't have a problem.  Sounds like Kathy sometimes has a similar issue. Oh, well.  Will keep contemplating potential solutions, hoping to find one which won't cost much!

Hmmm.  Maybe I COULD justify getting a new range.  This one has a dity oven, and I don't have a clue how to clean one…


I managed to go 1 1/2 hours with the canner at 10 pounds pressure!  Never less than a shade under 10, and never more than 11 when I  turned my back for two mintues.  I'm on my notebook on the table in the kitchen where I can glance up at the gauge every two minutes.  In 35 seconds I'll turn it off for the cool-down phase, and we'll see if I managed to can lentil and pea soups.  I'll let you know.

7:53 pm
November 4, 2009


WV_Hills

Guest

The jars came out of the canner — and I can report that not one of the jars leaked or exploded, and all seven of the jars have given me a loud 'ping' as they sealed.  I'll reserve judgement until tomorrow when I remove the rings, but it seems like I may have actually succeeded in canning bean and lentil soups.  On to chicken broth and butter beans tomorrow.  They both take the same amount of time at the same pressure so I'm going to let them share a canner.

11:21 am
November 5, 2009


CindyP

Hart, MI

Moderator

posts 4772

Pete, I have the same canner as you……..and when I used it for the 1st time I had a horrible time keeping it down!!  That's when I lost 2 jars of chili!!

I used the PC for doing tomatoes, and I finally figured it out with my stove (it is gas, not like your electric, but it may work with electric, too)……….when doing the chili, I followed the book…………….not now!!  I have it on high until I put the pressure thingy on.  Then I turn it down to simmer (as low as I can go without it going off)  That brought it up to 10 and left it there for the entire time. Never to 11 and not down to 9.  It took a couple loads to get that figured out……..I just didn't think simmer would get it hot enough, but it did!

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. ~ Cherie Carter-Scott

2:07 pm
November 5, 2009


Pete

WV

Moderator

posts 4712

Thanks, Cindy.  That is how I found that I can keep the pressure closest to 10 pounds, but nothing seems to keep it precisely there.  Figure I may be able to learn to live with 12 pounds, but can't tolerate it going on up to 15 or 16!

Have been looking at the professional grade, chef's commercial hot plates.  That may just be the resolution!

Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!

2:32 pm
November 5, 2009


wvhomecanner

North Central WV

Moderator

posts 1547

For my altitude, I need to PC at 11 lbs. pressure. If I get to and stay at 12 or 13 I do not sweat it. It sometimes takes a good bit of canning before you find the "sweet spot" for your canner, your stove, and yourself. I have canned on many stoves including a very old electric stove and it was a "start all over" process with each one.

That doesn't make you feel any better does it No

dede

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~ The Lorax by Dr. Seuss ~

2:35 pm
November 5, 2009


Pete

WV

Moderator

posts 4712

Actually, it does, Dede!  It's reasuring to know that this is not the first time it has been an issue for someone!

Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!

6:35 am
November 18, 2009


CindyP

Hart, MI

Moderator

posts 4772

runningtrails said:

I have decided to get a canner! I have wanted one for awhile now, especially after reading all the things you guys do with your's. I don't have time to persue a new things hobby right now, but soon I will.

Any tips to look for when buying?

Its so exciting! I can't wait to have a canner and the time to play with it!

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. ~ Cherie Carter-Scott

10:14 am
November 18, 2009


CindyP

Hart, MI

Moderator

posts 4772

wvhomecanner said:

Good for you!

Buy the best you can afford because it is truly a one time investment when you buy a pressure canner. There are several options available. Some folks believe they have to have everything stainless steel but a PC does not provide any contact of food with metal, so not an issue UNLESS you will use it as a huge pressure cooker. As in pressure cooking huge amounts of meats for say, pet food (one use I know of).

All American is pretty much the 'cadillac' – big advantage is that it requires NO gasket – so no worries about availability of replacement gaskets. If I were buying new I would save for their AA941 which allows for double stacking quart jars.

Presto and Mirro also make very nice canners and the prices are much more affordable and the replacement gaskets available online and sometimes in local hardware stores, etc.

Finding an older used PC is really a treasure – they are workhorses and last and last – we've seen Suzanne's jewel of a PC in her blog.

HTH

Dede

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. ~ Cherie Carter-Scott

12:28 pm
November 18, 2009


TXLady

Big Chicken

posts 100

Does anyone use a small canner and how small.  I know there are people that can in their pressure cookers but I don't want to do that.  I would though like a small canner. 

12:38 pm
November 18, 2009


Pete

WV

Moderator

posts 4712

Most of us have the big ones, if memory serves.  Think so many of us got our canners in the last year, and just decided we wanted the flexibility of doing large and small jars, meats, beans, juice, whatever.  Of course, they do take up more space.   Wink

Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!

12:47 pm
November 18, 2009


CindyP

Hart, MI

Moderator

posts 4772

Here is a 16 qt exacly like my 23 qt one……and it's actually $5 more than what the 23 qt one is!!

http://www.everyespressomachin…..O1052.html

Either size you can can 7 qts

The 23 qt has 24 Half-Pints, 20 Pints capabilities  (I'm thinking more half-pints than that?)

The 16 qt has 24 Half-Pints, 10 Pints capabilites

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. ~ Cherie Carter-Scott

12:55 pm
November 18, 2009


wvhomecanner

North Central WV

Moderator

posts 1547

The powers that be (USDA etc.) say that to be a pressure canner as opposed to just a cooker, it must hold 4 quart jars to process. I know some folks that have the smallest AA canner and really like it for small batch canning.

HTH?

Dede

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." ~ The Lorax by Dr. Seuss ~

9:05 am
November 19, 2009


Debnfla3

North West Florida

Mighty Chicken

posts 217

What have I stumbled into?  OMG….I do believe I would love canning.

…and so it begins….

Deb



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