A few words of caution...
Follow the manufacturer's directions for all pressure cookers!!!
They can and do explode if not followed. Yes, this has happened.
It is no fun cleaning food and glass from everywhere.
Follow all directions for the hot water bath!
Keep water in the pot at all times!
They can and do explode if not followed. Yes, this has happened.
It is no fun cleaning food and glass from everywhere.
Other equipment I use for canning.
Long handled wooden spoons
(I bought mine in an Amish store.)
silicone or other pot holders
(My favorite ones are the heavy leather gloves for the wood burner.
They have a long cuff, withstand the heat, and can be washed.
However, hubby was none too pleased the first time I used them.)
several large plastic bowls
(I use the biggest Tupperware bowls the company produces!)
assorted knives - paring, chef, etc.
several cutting boards
(My favorite one fits across my sink proving more counter space.)
food mill
(They can be pricey when bought new. They last forever. The one I have was my mom's.
Don't bother with one with ANY plastic parts - it will not last.
My son-in-law found theirs for $5 at a flea market. I've found several at garage sales.
Don't worry about rust. It can be scubbed off with steel wool.)
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| Food mill |
Rubber spatulas
One-gallon (or 1/2 gal.) pitcher for pouring water
Measuring cups and spoons
(My favorite canning one is metal with a 5" handle and holds 2.5 cups)
Colanders
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| Left to right - stirrer used to remove air bubble, magnet to pick up hot lids and rings, and a wide-mouth funnel. |
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| Ok, the name escapes me this morning. Its function is to keep the jars off of the bottom of the pressure cooker. Jars set directly into the pressure cooker will burst easier because they are in contact with the heat. The depth of this is about 1/8:. The holes allow the water to circulate. |
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| A wire basket for the pressure cooker. I use this also in my hot water bath. It is easier to remove jars then. Safety valve from the bottom (red and black dot) |
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Medium size pressure cooker. |
When buying a pressure canner look for these things...
the heaviest bottom pot you can get
preferably wood handles although the new ones are plastic
(yes the do break but a handy s-i-l or hubby can replace them with wood.)
depth matters - picture putting in quart jars- head room is needed to add water above the jars
If buying from flea market or garage sale, check for pitting, loose handles, all pieces of the shuttlecock are there, the ring is there, the glass pressure gauge is not cracked (usually models over 20 years old).
Safety valve from the top (red and black dot) Shuttlecock
Not pictured - the rubber ring which seals to create the pressure.
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| Pressure cooker with the lid on tight. |
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| Various shuttlecocks for the pressure canner. In this picture the top shuttlecock regulates the various pressures ( 5, 10, or 15) by the size of the holes. This fits onto the stem on the top of the pressure canner. The bottom two shuttlecocks regulate pressure by adding rings. This model goes to (5, 10 and 25 psi). |
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| Jar lifters. The left one is easier to use because it grasps the top of the jars straight down. The yellow one requires a sideways motion and puts your fingers closer to the boiling water. |
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| How I contain all my rings. Strainer - ingenuity at work when my old strainer finally got too many holes. I used a canning jar, coffee filter, and jar lid. Worked very well.  |
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| Corn cutters. |
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| Hot water bath with pears inside. |
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| Tomato soup from 2009 - 110 quarts in this batch. |
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