Too much jiggle? To high a pressure?

15 years ago

Did my 1st canning of baby carrots last week. Using a Presto 18qt pressure canner and bought a 3 piece 5/10/15 vent weight, but canner has the gauge also.

I had a constant juggle ( maybe 3 jiggles a second ). Did my 10 mins steam vent first, then 25 mins with the 15 lbs weight, to can the pints.

I'm just wondering if I hurt anything by letting it jiggle to much ( which would mean a higher pressure and higher temp ). At the jiggle I had it set at, the gauge registered 14 lbs. I understand the gauge could be incorrect, but just scared me to lower the burner ( gas ) enough to make the weight jiggle on 1 a sec or so.

Thank you for the help.

Below is a link to a video I took of the weight dancing. It is a little over 8 megs, so if you want to look at it, make sure you have hi-speed internet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jiggle video ( 8 megs )

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

ksrogers
15 years ago
Higher pressure cannot be possible. The weights are designed to release excess pressure at a set amount controlled by the weight size. Over heating can harm the pot however if its boiled dry using too much heat for too long. Do a search here as just a few days there were similar posts as to how much jiggle is needed.
0
digdirt2
15 years ago
I'm just wondering if I hurt anything by letting it jiggle to much ( which would mean a higher pressure and higher temp ). At the jiggle I had it set at, the gauge registered 14 lbs. I understand the gauge could be incorrect, but just scared me to lower the burner ( gas ) enough to make the weight jiggle on 1 a sec or so.

So I assume you are high altitude so had to use the 15 lbs.?
As Ken said the higher jiggle rate doesn't mean higher pressure because the weight will keep it at 15-15.5 max. but no more. But yes, it does mean the heat was too high. Always go by the weight, NOT the gauge. So reducing the heat to get the correct jiggle weight would be best.

But no, it doesn't hurt the food but can possibly hurt the canner if used that way for long periods because you are increasing the odds of it going dry by letting all that extra steam escape. Next time cut the heat back a bit. ;)

Dave
0
Related Discussions
Low pressure drip on same zone as high pressure?
Q
Comments (4)
The 'no mixing sprinkler styes rule' doesn't have much to do with pressure, its about application rate and not having one section soggy while the other section is still too dry. Most drip sysems can handle 50 psi, if you're going to mix the zone anyway, I wouldnt bother with a pressure reducer unless your using some real cheap drip brand, it won't affect the amount of water coming out of the emmitters. It's easier to mix a zone with rotors than say spray heads. You can usually nozzle your rotors down so that less water comes out, nozzleing them up might not work, depends on how much of your availabe water is being used already. Drip emmitters also come in sizes. Usually .5, 1 and 2 gpm. really some testing is needed. How long do you usually run the lawn zone and how often? You'll need to choose an emitter size to water your shrubs in the same amount of time. There are also other styles of garden emitters that are individually adjustable, often you can shut them right off, but i find most of them put out a lot of water... if I have to mix a spray zone, thats what I typically use. Hope the rambling helped, I can clarify if it didn't!
...See More
Is it safe for a pressure canner weight to jiggle continuously?
Q
Comments (3)
Safe as in is the food safe to eat? Yes. Safe as in is it safe to run the canner that way without risk? Yes as long as you are sure the over-pressure plug is in good working order, that gauge reading is accurate so that you know the real pressure, and if there was enough water in the canner to begin with so you don't risk it running dry due to all that excess steam escape. But it isn't ideal in that it can result in over-processed food of lesser quality. Mirro canner weights are machined to jiggle/spin 3-4 times a minute when at pressure so continuous jiggling would indicate pressure in excess of 15.5 -16 lbs or more and if the guage is off even a little you'd have no way to know what the pressure was until the plug blew. Dave. This post was edited by digdirt on Thu, Feb 28, 13 at 19:55
...See More
too much pressure in cooling system
Q
Comments (10)
The boiling point is raised by increasing the pressure of the liquid. I do not have pressure tables for ethelyene glycol-water mix, so I will use that for water to illustrate the change in boiling point with pressure. The following table was extracted from the Handbook of Chemistry. WATER Deg F Pressure, psia (absolute pressure) 212 14.696 213.8 15.228 215.6 15.776 . . 221.0 17.521 . 249.8 29.717 Water boils at 212 F at one standard atmosphere of pressure. or about 14.7 psi. If a pressure cap of a radiator adds 15 psi (or 29.7 psia), then the boiling point is raised to about 250 F. In other words, a radiator with a 15 psi cap will not boil until the water temperature raises to 250F. At 250 F, that system is dangerous. If the cap is suddently removed, most of the liquid will flash to steam and gush out of the opening scalding anything it touches. A closed, non-leaking automotive coolant system filled with water with a 15 psi cap will not boil until it gets to 250 F. A leaky system can boil as low as 212 F. However, the coolant does expand while it is heating. Here's what supposed to happen. As the coolant expands, it squirts by the pressure regulator in the radiator cap and goes to the overflow bottle. The cap should have an second seal under the very top of the cap. This gasket is supposed to seal the overflow tube from the atmosphere. When the engine cools down, liquid from the bottom of the overflow bottle is sucked back into the radiator, that is, if the radiator cap's outer seal is working. If the overflow bottle is not completely emptied, then no air gets back into the coolant system. This is critical. It is the admission of oxygen into the coolant system that causes most of the corrosion and crud. After a few heating and cooling cycles, most of the air in the coolant system should be flushed out and no more will get in until the system is opened again, for example, opening the radiator cap or allowing the overflow bottle to go dry. This system fails when there is a leak somewhere from the radiator cap to the overflow bottle. One typical cause is a wrong radiator cap. A cap from an older system without an oveflow bottle may fit but it does not have the second seal under the cap. It has only the pressure regulator. A second cause is a proper cap with a second seal that no longer works. Another cause that I have seen is a leak in the hose that goes from the radiator to the overflow bottle. I had a hose that had a slit in its underside that could not be seen from above. From what you have written, your fan may not be turning on soon enough. For example, the original equipment temperature sensor for '97 Saturns was notorious for failing after about 3 years and not turning on the fan. After replacing one twice in our Saturn, I found an after market sensor with a metal sensor nose that lasted for years. The original equipment sensor had a plastic nose that eventually dissolved in the hot coolant. The head cracked on this engine at 130,000 miles probably due to over-aging of its aluminum alloy head.
...See More
LP gas pressure too high??
Q
Comments (6)
Thank you all for the fast responses. I do intend on having the problem resolved before we use the dryer - the question I had was who to call first. I think I will start with the appliance company to make sure the air/fuel mixture was adjusted properly. This should be zero cost to me since we paid for a white glove service and should be covered under that. The dryer we ordered was LP but they shipped a NG unit. A service tech had to come out and put the converter in - but I suspect that there are adjustments that need to be made. Once I know that the appliance has been set up correctly - and if the long yellow flames persist - then I will call the gas company. They will gladly come out - but I have to pay for the call if there is nothing wrong with he service. My house is at 1250 feet above sea level. Perhaps the appliance was set for sea level performance and needs to be adjusted for my higher elevation. Again - thanks very much for the very quick responses. I will post back once I have the problem resolved.
...See More
morz8 - Washington Coast
15 years ago
Why don't you practice a bit with your canner with no product (but water) in it. I wish I had a gas range for canning, but from experience I know how far/how quickly I can reduce the heat to my electric canning burner, maintaining enough to keep the pressure constant - but not the jiggling constant, requires from high to low in about three incremental steps with my old electric range. As Dave pointed out, you would be risking a dry canner with products that take a longer processing time, so may as well get it right :) and be prepared for doing those foods that may need up to an hour, or with my tuna - 110 minutes
0
jiminmichigan
Original Author
15 years ago
Altitude here dictates 11 lbs with the gauge or 15 lbs with the weight. Since I dont want to trust the gauge ( no place around here to have it checked ), I'm using the 15 lbs weight.

I thought about the worry of it running dry. Next batch I will try to get it at a 1 per second rocking motion.

And I did search Presto's web site. I couldnt find any info on how to use the weight set. Only one statement, and that was " A gentle rocking ". Gentle by who's standards? LOL

Thanx for the help
Jim
0
ksrogers
15 years ago
Dial gauges are not accurate and the ones used in home canners cannot be physically 'calibrated' as there is no means to do so. Taking them apart and bending elements inside will damage them further. A dial gauge is used only to show that some kind of pressure is present inside the canner. Weights that require steam pressure to lift them are more accurate for pressure control. Even home water heaters have over pressure valves, but these are usually a one time use, and are spring loaded. Once they blow, water escapes preventing an explosion or bursting. Newer Pressure canners also have another safety valve that will open if pressures exceed above 15 pounds. THis can happen if the steam vent rube s clogged, or the weight has stuck to the lid and doesn't allow excess steam to escape. I usually give a spritz of Pam to the inside hole of the weight before its place on the vent tube. Gentle like grandma in the rocking chair, vs. a kid that makes it go so far that it can tip over backwards violently. Thats called the 'grandma standard'.
0
Linda_Lou
15 years ago
With the Presto the weight will jiggle the whole time. It doesn't have to be "violent", but has to jiggle the whole time.
0
jude31
15 years ago
jiminmichigan, I know you are asking serious questions and I hope you'll forgive me but when I saw this thread my first thought was "that describes me".
0
dgkritch
15 years ago
BIG GRIN, JUDE31!!!

Thanks for the smile.

jiminmichigan, check your charts for carrots...
Often when a dial guage asks for 11 lbs. a weighted guage requires 10 lbs.

Here's a link to the NCFHP. Awesome reference site. Completely trustworthy.

Deanna

Here is a link that might be useful: NCFHP
0
shirleywny5
15 years ago
I think the jiggle sounds OK. You do more harm than good by trying to get the perfect jiggle. Too much adjusting of the burner causes syphoning. Yours sounds steady but not violent. It's better to have it a bit fast than too slow.
0
mellyofthesouth
15 years ago
You know, it would be very imformative to see a video of a presto canner jiggling properly. I too find the instructions a bit vague.
0

Too much jiggle? To high a pressure?

Comments (10)

ksrogers

digdirt2

Related Discussions

morz8 - Washington Coast

jiminmichigan
Original Author

ksrogers

Linda_Lou

jude31

dgkritch

shirleywny5

mellyofthesouth

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Too much jiggle? To high a pressure?

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

jiminmichiganOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jiminmichigan
Original Author