Canning season is here, and the kitchen appliances used to preserve food have come a long way! From stainless steel canners to electric ones, here are the top three to use for success!
First off, just in case you don’t know what the heck canning is, here’s a quick breakdown explanation. Canning is primarily used to preserve fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish, ensuring that they remain safe to eat and retain their nutritional value even after an extended period. It is particularly beneficial for seasonal produce, as it allows people to enjoy fresh-tasting foods year-round.
Ok, now that we have gotten the official stuff over with, here are the two main ways to can.
Water Bath Canner
Water bath canning is suitable for preserving high-acid foods, such as fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, and tomatoes. The food is packed into clean canning jars, and the jars are submerged in a large pot of boiling water. The high heat destroys any harmful microorganisms, and as the jars cool, a vacuum seal is formed, preventing spoilage.
I’ve had my Granite Ware Enamel on Steel 21.5-Quart Water Bath Canner for over 10 years! Here’s the features below:
Capacity: The canner has a generous capacity of 21.5 quarts, making it suitable for canning larger batches of food at once. This is beneficial if you have a bountiful harvest or want to preserve more food in one canning session.
Enamel Coating: The canner is made from steel and coated with a durable enamel layer. The enamel coating provides excellent heat distribution and prevents the steel from interacting with acidic foods, ensuring that the taste and quality of the canned products remain unaffected.
Lid: The Granite Ware Water Bath Canner comes with a fitted lid that helps retain heat and speed up the canning process. The lid also helps maintain a steady water temperature during the canning process.
Jar Rack: The canner includes a jar rack or canning rack that fits inside the pot. The rack keeps the jars elevated off the bottom of the canner, allowing water to circulate freely around the jars during processing. This ensures even heat distribution and helps prevent jars from cracking.
Side Handles: The canner is equipped with side handles for easy lifting and carrying, even when it is filled with water and jars. The handles are designed to stay cool to the touch for added safety.
Easy to Clean: The enamel coating makes the canner easy to clean, and it should be hand washed with warm soapy water after use.
Multi-Purpose: While its primary function is for water bath canning, the canner can also be used as a large stockpot for cooking, blanching, or preparing other foods.
Pressure Canner
Pressure canning is used for low-acid foods, including vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish. These foods require higher temperatures to destroy harmful bacteria, which can cause botulism. Pressure canning involves using a specialized pressure canner to reach higher temperatures, thus ensuring food safety.
I grow a garden every year, and my “All American Canner” has been a tried and true canner for me.
Heavy-Duty Construction: All American canners are made of hand-cast aluminum, which provides excellent heat conductivity and durability. They are designed to withstand long-term use and can last for generations with proper care.
Metal-to-Metal Seal: These canners use a metal-to-metal sealing system without the need for rubber gaskets. The metal-to-metal seal ensures a reliable and airtight closure, eliminating the need to replace rubber gaskets over time.
Safety Features: All American canners come with several safety features, such as a weighted pressure regulator, geared steam gauge, and a safety control valve. These mechanisms help maintain the correct pressure inside the canner and prevent pressure buildup beyond safe limits.
Large Capacity: All American canners are available in various sizes, ranging from smaller models suitable for home canning to larger ones used for commercial purposes or high-volume canning.
Versatility: These canners can be used for both pressure canning (for low-acid foods) and water bath canning (for high-acid foods). Some models can also function as large-capacity stockpots for cooking or boiling.
No Rubber Gaskets: Unlike some other pressure canner brands, All American canners use metal-to-metal seals, eliminating the need to replace rubber gaskets periodically.
Made in the USA: Enough said. 🙂
Electric Canner
The Presto Electric Canner is a little dynamo! It’s a twofer, with its ability to both water bath & pressure-can food! Check out these features.
12-Quart Capacity: With a 12-quart capacity, this electric canner can accommodate smaller batch canning needs. It is ideal for smaller households or for those who want to preserve smaller quantities of food.
Multi-Functionality: The Presto 12-Quart Electric Canner can be used for both water bath canning (for high-acid foods like fruits, jams, and pickles) and pressure canning (for low-acid foods like vegetables, meats, and poultry). This versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of home canning needs.
Precise Temperature Control: The electric canner comes with a dial or digital temperature control, allowing you to set and maintain the desired temperature for water bath canning or pressure canning.
Safety Features: Presto is a reputable brand known for its safety features. The electric canner typically comes with a vent pipe, safety control valve, and cover lock indicator to ensure proper pressure and prevent accidental opening while under pressure.
Easy-to-Use: The Presto 12-Quart Electric Canner is designed to be user-friendly, making it suitable for beginners who are new to home canning.
Energy Efficiency: Electric canners are generally more energy-efficient than stovetop models, as they use electricity to generate heat directly and don’t waste energy heating the surrounding air.
Seriously, what’s not to love about the Presto 12-Quart Electric Canner? It will take up less space and is a suitable option for those looking for a compact and convenient electric canning solution.
Sidenote: I love the huge digital display which lets you know where you’re at in the canning process. It’s like a guided tour of canning.
Those are the top three canners that I use for success in canning my garden goodies. If I had to pick one for beginners, I would defiantly go for the Presto and take advantage of the 2-In-1 feature.