As others have said you can use the pressure canner if it allows 2 inches of boiling water above the jars. Be very careful, however. Two years ago I was using this method and had locked down the lid leaving the vent open as JodieMo suggested earlier. A small amount of pressure had built up and when I removed the lid, the superheated water exploded up out of the canner and burned me quite badly. I still have the scars to prove it. This was a very old canner (it has since been retired) and did not contain the pressure lock that modern Presto models have. However, I will never again lock a pressure cooker lid down for boiling water processing. Either remove the seal or search for a lid that fits the pot.

How would that work? I tried finding it on Presto's site, but couldn't locate it. Does it replace the gauge or work in conjunction? Would I still need to get the gauge calibrated? Here is a link to one of the many previous discussions here on the 3 piece weight set. It includes links to where to buy it. As mentioned the weights are used (work just like the Mirro weight) and the gauge is ignored. Can I mix jar sizes? i.e. combine pints and quarts? It is safe but isn't recommended. Check the recipe. You'll note different processing times for each. Some are just a few mins. difference but some are also very different. If you process pints for the same time as quarts you risk over-processed mushy food at the least. Honestly, there simply is no reason to use any other pressure canner than the Presto. Dave myk1 - what edition of the BBB are you using? I checked back in several editions to 1998 are most all of the most commonly canned produce instructions are based on 9 pints or 7 quarts. Check out the recipes on NCHFP.

Melly, I'm remembering the conversation we had last season about that three-piece weight. I got mine nearly 30 years ago from Presto. At that time they specifically listed it in their canner manual as an accessory. It's intriguing that sometime later they quit recommending it, though as far as I know they've always offered the part, and now they're back saying it's OK again. Strangely enough, my All-American canner came with just that set-up, a gauge and a three-piece weight. They state specifically to go by the weight and that the gauge is just a visual reminder, nothing more. I've been fortunate. The Presto weight and the gauge have always been in sync, but if they weren't, like you I'd trust the weight since it's been machined for accuracy. I do like having the gauge, though. Carol

This is the bottom of the 18 qt, but it's the same. 8 inch raised section fits well on glass or coil round burner, not sure how it will be on your 6 inch (square). It will fit, but depending on how close the center of that burner is to the edge of the stove it will overhang just like your 14" stockpot does. I can't speak to whether you could set this centered between the burners which you said span 15" - it might not be stable and I don't know how 2 flames on the sides (lapping up the sides? Unless you can control just the left or right ring of each burner - I saw a camp stove like that, might have been at Northern Tool or Amazon) and cool spot in the middle would affect function, or whether it would warp. Be sure to ask the rep tomorrow.