Under pressure!

August 11, 2009 3:44 PM

Are there any pressure canners available that are smaller than 16 quarts? If not, are there any pressure *cookers* on the market that can double as a pressure canner?

We brought home a 16-quart pressure canner because it was the only one that the big box store stocked. Only after getting it home did I realize that it was too big for me to store easily, and that it would come close to taking up two burners on my stove. (One of the reasons we bought the pressure canner is that the water bath canner I scored for free on the street is a 33-quart monster; it's too big to lift when full, requires too much heat, and is generally MUCH larger than what I need.)

Another drawback of the 16-quart pressure canner is that we'd like to use it as a pressure cooker as well, but it's just too damn big for a pot of beans for two. (Even if it cooks the beans in 5-7 minutes).

So, 1) are there smaller pressure canners available that I'm not finding online?

2) Is it a really bad idea to use an 8- or 10-quart pressure cooker (even 12 looks too big) as a canner? I know that the two main factors are that it must maintain up to 15 lbs of pressure to can some foods, and that jars must be raised off the bottom of the pot. Do normal pressure cookers maintain that level of pressure, and would they be deep enough to accommodate a rack + pint jar + 1" water?

3) Other options I'm overlooking?

posted by mudpuppie to home & garden (5 comments total)

I've got a Presto 6 Quart Pressure Cooker. While I have yet to do any canning, it does come with a canning rack for the bottom of the pot .
posted by zerokey at 3:59 PM on August 11

Is it actually billed as a canning rack, zerokey? And do you know if it'll do 15 lbs of pressure?
posted by mudpuppie at 4:03 PM on August 11

All American Pressure Canner 910 10 Quart.

"Capacity - 10 1/2 Quarts (Liquid), 7 Pint Jars, 4 Quart Jars
Inside diameter - 10 1/4 inches
Inside Height - 7 3/4 inches
Overall Length - 13 inches
Overall Height - 12 inches

Pressure regulator weight with settings of 5, 10 and 15 psi."
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:15 PM on August 11

Thanks, MonkeyToes. Should have mentioned a budget. (<$100).
posted by mudpuppie at 4:25 PM on August 11

Using a pressure cooker as a canner looks dubious, but contact these folks for a definitive answer.

I understand the budgetary constraint. I bit the bullet and bought an AA pressure canner after hearing a horror story involving an inexpensive canner and hours spent scraping food off the ceiling. Perhaps you can sell the monster pressure canner and put the proceeds toward buying a smaller one?

Are you planning to can a lot, or are you looking for a way to speed up meals? I assume you're interested in pressure canning low-acid foods?

If this discussion doesn't turn up more answers, contact your county's agricultural extension agency/cooperative extension and ask them.
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:23 PM on August 11