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Can I can 1/2 pint jars in 6 qt. presto pressure cooker?

8 years ago

Okay, I know the difference between a pressure cooker & pressure canner, and I know they say you shouldn't can in a pressure cooker, but I am wondering if that would also apply to 1/2 pint jars, I have 4 or 5 1/2 pint jars of carrots and I really hate to dig out my big canner but will if I can't do them in the cooker. Thank you

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Comments (4)

digdirt2
8 years ago
Technically speaking, no. There is no tested processing times for any "cookers". I know it sounds weird but 25 mins of processing (the carrots time) in a pressure canner is not equal to 25 mins of processing time in a pressure cooker because of the very different heat-up and cool-down times involved. You would have to add an unknown amount of processing time to the cooker's processing time to make it as safe as the canner's processing time.

Now in actual practice, it is probably safe because you are canning 1/2 pints (but still have to use the full pint processing time of 25 min). But that element of the unknown, the probability aspect, makes it unapproved and strictly your choice of whether to do it or not.

Dave
gardnpondr
8 years ago
PLUS HOW could you make it say a 10 pound pressure in a cooker?
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Hey, it's no bother. ;) As to the racks, I wouldn't worry about them as long as it is a metal plate of some kind with holes in it that will keep the jars from sitting directly on the bottom of the canner. That is about all any of the racks do in a PC - space the jars up off the bottom of the pot. Your bigger concern with a canner that old will be the accuracy of the gauge. They are supposed to be tested annually and one that old will either have to be tested or replaced or the canner converted to a weighted one with the 5-10-15 lb weight set. You may also need to invest in the new gasket set for it. As for terminology, you can find most any thing you'd need in the How To Use a Pressure Canner publication from NCHFP. Hope this helps. Dave
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digdirt2
8 years ago
PLUS HOW could you make it say a 10 pound pressure in a cooker?

Easy. Most all pressure cookers come with the same weights as pressure canners have. Lots of pressure cooking is done at 10 lbs. depending on altitude. The issue with canning in pressure cookers is their size, not their ability to reach and hold the required pressure.

Dave
annie1992
8 years ago
I agree, my pressure cooker has a weight similar to the canner, with choices of 5/10/15 lbs of pressure. I also know that you are not supposed to can in a pressure cooker, as there is no approved testing that would give time required. If I were set on doing it, I'd probably just process for the required time, and use the final product only after boiling for the approved 10 minutes, but that's going to pretty much reduce the carrots to mush, mine are pretty soft after canning. Truthfully, being a low acid food, I'd drag out the big canner, probably, but mine's reasonably accessible in my garage on a shelf.

Annie

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