Saturday, May 28, 2022

Electric canners

A reader had a question as follows: "We have to move out of our house and into an apartment for a few months (sound familiar?) Unfortunately, we'll be in an apartment during the height of canning season. I won't be able to use a regular pressure canner on their glass top stove. I've been looking at electric canners. Do you, or do any of your readers have any experience using an electric canner? I'm curious about your experiences!"

I can offer no advice since I've never even seen an electric canner. So I'm throwing this open to comments. Can anyone offer any personal experience or advice with electric canners? (Remember, this is an electric pressure canner, not a pressure cooker.)

20 comments:

  1. I think I would consider using a camping stove instead.

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  2. Becky, from Acre Homestead on YouTube has recommended this pressure canner for a glass stove tip. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000BYCFU/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=acrehomestead-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0000BYCFU&linkId=aa2308bbee
    But she also cans with her electric canner and seems to be pleased.

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  3. I love my Presto Digital pressure canner! So much easier than the regular one. Highly recommend it, if you can find one. They’re pretty hard to find right now.

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  4. I love my digital canner. Mine is only big enough for pints but it is so nice to set it and forget it. It cans at 10# pressure, pressure can't be regulated, so if one is higher altitude, it needs to be taken into consideration.

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    1. What kind of pressure canner is this? Pints are the biggest jars I need to can.

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  5. Check out Pam Cantrell at rose red homestead on YouTube. She has a video testing electric canners, using a data device to measure the temperature inside the canner in real time to determine if they are safe to use.

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  6. I never knew these existed! I canned on my glass top stove with a pressure canner that had a flat bottom with the same diameter as the largest burner. Can't remember the brand. It disappeared during my last move. Try Google

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    1. I too can on my glass top. I am careful though. My canner only holds one layer of quarts, so thankfully its not to heavy BUT I still never slide it on the glass top either and I only use the largest burner.

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  7. if you have any outdoor space, could you set up a heavy duty propane barbeque? I follow Becky At Home and she pressure cans on an outdoor BBQ.
    SJ in Vancouver BC Canada

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  8. I have used the Carey / Nesco (they are the same). They have tested out okay (thanks for the reference to the RoseRed Homestead channel; she knows what she's doing). The USDA won't give an all-clear to electric canners until there's a peer-reviewed study establishing their safety. This was the case for the atmospheric steam canners for a long time, then someone finally published on them. Pam's work could be published but probably won't be, so they're going to stay in the gray zone. Until the USDA/NCHFP gives a thumbs-up, some will not believe they're safe. But they seem to be fine.

    I also have an All American 921, and use it for big batches. Sometimes I have both going at once if the load is big enough. A major plus of the Nesco is that it doesn't heat up the house as much in the summer.

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  9. We also have a glass top stove and do not try to can on it. My husband has a propane burner that he uses to melt lead and we set it up in the garage on canning day. Mary in Pennsylvania

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  10. And another stunning banner photo. You are a wonder!

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  11. I'm with the others, I have successfully canned on a glass top stove. I did only a single layer of half pint jars, however and was careful with the canner.
    I wish there was more information on the subject.
    I'd be skeptical of electric canning because they don't have much power available.
    jH

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  12. I used to can on a glass top long ago and kept the weight down as much as possible. Never slid it either due to scratches. Mine was a white corningware top, and not like the ones now, so I would be leary, esp in a rental. I couldn't water bath, because I couldn't get it to stay boiling.

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  13. Just purchased this month a Instant Pot Max Electric canner and I love it. RoseRed Homestead on YouTube is very good at demonstrating and testing these canners...

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  14. I have canned on my patio using the base of a turkey fryer...

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  15. A cousin of my husband's wanted to learn to can. She has almost no use of one of her hands and her mother was always afraid to teach her. I stumbled across the last one of these Prestos in a small town farm store last July. (Haven't seen one since.) We did a little research and bought it. We took it home and canned pints of hamburger in it. She did everything on her own - including loading and unloading the unit, and opening and closing the lock and vent. She could do it all.
    I told a second friend about it who is a seasoned water bath canner. She was afraid to pressure can. She managed to find one in her area and has "gone to town" - even teaching her young grandson how to can! (Memories she says!) She now cans potatoes, low acid garden produce, and all kinds of things in addition to jams, pickles, tomatoes and salsa she has always done. Absolutely loves it!

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  16. JulieT from MinnesotaMay 31, 2022 at 11:12 AM

    I have the exact canner pictured. I LOVE it!! Once you get to the actual canning process, no babysitting the gauge. I do all my long things like meat and legumes. It will take quarts or pints. I use my conventional one for veggies that take less time plus usually have lots of jars. At times I have 2 canners on the stove and the electric going all at once. Hope you can find one!

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