I am a life-long "addict" and fortunately, there is no re-hab! There is just NOTHING more satisfying than:

researching varieties all winter, ordering and then waiting for them to arrive, starting your seeds, transplanting them out, looking EVERY day with a magnifying glass (not really) to see the first few tomato sets, watering, weeding, staking, tieing, thinning, cursing the weather Gods and whoever is in charge of bugs, swaping ideas or asking for advice from other gardeners on sites like this one, buying cases of canning jars, a vacuum sealer and bags, eating the very first ripe anything and finally, harvesting your crop. Canning is just the next logical step! With produce prices climbing due to fuel/fertilizer costs, it really makes sense to grow and conserve your harvest. And it is just so much darn fun! I feel really sorry for those who don't feel the call in the spring to get their hands dirty in soil and to nurture growing things. Gardening has brought me more contentment, made me learn patience, given me time to ponder life while I am busy weeding and a multitude of other intangible benefits. SO...If you hear that "pressure cooker callin'" pick up the phone and buy one!

But yeah, you do NOT need a $250 All American!! A $79 Presto is just as good. ;)

Dave

Dave is right, start out with the smaller Presto or even check out estate sales, garage sales and flea markets for a nice used pressure canner. I bought a smaller pressure canner when I started about 40+ years ago and still have it in perfect condition. I inherited my mother's 22 qt. pressure canner and use it, but still use the smaller one a lot. Save that additional money right now to put into jars and lids. It will take a while to get a good supply of them so you don't have to buy new every year.

Madonna

Hi kframe,

Dave is right (again, lol). Here's the one I purchased last year and the place I purchased it from. If you look in the "features" box, there is a link to a comparison chart of all the pressure canners they carry, including American. As you will see, the Presto 23qt stacks up rather well. I sure like mine anyway.

It might be fate, since this company is located in Hillsville in the Great State of Virginia (just like us). Shoot, if you order it quick today, you MIGHT get it TOMORROW!!!!

Enjoy and happy canning!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pressure Cooker Outlet

I don't think I'd purchase a Presto no matter what.

I don't like the fact that the gauge has to be recalibrated regularly, and finding someone to do that in Fairfax County, Virginia, might be just a little tough.

And yes, I've been looking at PCO for the past couple of weeks...

I have an 8 quart pressure cooker right now (bought it last year) that I could can in, probably, but I loves me my toys, and I loves me my expensive toys.

I'll tell you one thing...

When I tell my coworkers (mainly city folk) that I'm going to spend my weekend canning jam, or shredding cabbage for sauerkraut, I get some mighty weird looks.

At least I don't get bothered much. :-)

You don't have to re-calibrate the gauge. You just buy the three-piece pressure regulator and use that. There have been many previous discussions on this issue.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Presto Three-Piece Regulator

kframe19: I love my Presto 23 qt. canner. I bought the 3-piece weight so if the gauge goes off the pressure is still maintained at 10 psi or 5 psi. There is no need to spend $250+ on a canner.

Gauges on all brands have to be checked so the All American has the same problem in that respect. Spending 12 bucks to buy the 3 piece weight set solves that problem.

And you can't do pressure canning in an 8 qt. pressure cooker, sorry. It isn't safe because it is so small that it screws up the required times.

Dave

Another satisfied Presto user; mine is the 23qt. that's 79 bucks at Amazon. I also bought the 3-piece weight set and am very, very pleased. I'm going to buy another one for my stepdaughter and her hubby for Christmas. :-)

OH!

OK. problem solved.

"I do NOT need a $250 All American pressure canner, I do NOT need a $250 All American pressure canner..."

Yes you do, yes you do...!

They are built like a tank and will last a lifetime. Get the 930 model - hold 19 pints or 14 quarts. Eventually you will need it, and you will never regret it!

TomNJ

Another presto canner user here, and to think I balked many years ago when I spent $79 dollars for it, lol. It has paid me back a gazillion times in food savings. My kids both can (one male and one female) and we sort of do it like the farmers in kansas do, cause we each have our own canning supplies .......and whenever one of us has massive canning to do, all the pressure cookers go to that house. LOL.

Tom?

You're not helping.

"Tom? You're not helping."

Sure I am, you just don't know it yet :-)

Let's see, $250 over 25 years equals $10/year equals less than 3 cents/day (giggle, giggle).

Of course it depends on how much canning you will do in the future. If you get up to good volumes, you'll really appreciate the double layer 14 quart capacity of the All American 930. If not, a cheaper model will suit you fine. But do get one!

TomNJ

I agree with the "I never should have come here" post but for different reasons. I have yet to can. I have yet to process a BWB or HWB. But seeing what people are putting up for the winter has inspired me.

My gardens, are no longer sufficient or even fun. I want food. Lots of it. I want to grow, store, grow and store some more.

My chest freezer is almost full. I finally broke down tonight and canned a batch of pickles. I am calling them "Eeyore" pickles. Close enough to the acronym for "eat at your own risk."

Gee, I won't even try to figure out what my smaller Presto canner comes out to over a 40+ year life or my late mother's 22 qt. (two layer canning). I just know they didn't cost as much as the ones today, but have paid for themselves so many times over. I bought my sister a used, but like new 16 qt. Presto last year at a sale and am going to get her the weight pressure regulator this year. Also, if Fairfax probably has an Extension office that could regulate the guages that come on them today. Use to live in Fairfax, then Leesburg. Surely there's an Extension office somewhere nearby.

Fairfax has an extension office, but they're pretty far removed from actually providing useful information on much more than square foot gardening anymore.

This area isn't what it was 40 years ago.

Michael, I'm happy to see you here, I knew the sauerkraut would lure you over eventually!

OF COURSE you need an All American, trust me. LOL I'd love one, the Cadillac of canners. Oh, and no gaskets to replace either.

That said, I use Grandma's old Presto, it holds 9 pint jars or 7 quart jars and it's canned thousands of quarts and still going strong.

Of course, here I'm friends with the local extension service director who assures me she will test my guage until she retires.

Annie

Hi, Annie!

Very sorry to hear about your Father. I know all about that kind of pain.

Well, as I said, I'm not going to be canning my kraut. I like the texture better when it's frozen.

FWIW.....My 2, yes TWO Mirros work just fine.
One heating up, one cooling down, UP, Down, UP, Down...

Yes, I can can.

LOL

Deanna

No matter how much I read about or look at those All American ones, I simply cannot understand how they can possibly justify their price! And the price for replacement parts for them is equally out of line.

Sure, if I fell over one in the road I'd take it home and use it but I'd buy 3 of either of the other 2 brands before I'd spend that much money for one All American.

Dave

Yeah, what Dave said!

Well, I might consider it if I win the lotto....

Ya think I'll need a ticket for that??? :+)

Deanna