If you’ve ever wondered which pressure canner is right for you, this is the perfect place to start! In this first video of my three-part series, I walk you through the three most popular types of pressure canners, sharing all the pros, cons, and practical tips along the way.
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance: Pressure Canners
- 🫙 Why Pressure Canning Matters
- 🔧 Dial Gauge Pressure Canners
- ⚖️ Weighted Gauge Pressure Canners (Like the All-American)
- ⚡ Electric Pressure Canners
- 🧭 How to Choose the Right Pressure Canner for YOU
- 📌 Don’t Miss the Rest of the Series
- More Home Canning Recipes
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Quick Glance: Pressure Canners
- Dial Gauge Canners: Great for precision, but they require regular calibration.
- Weighted Gauge Canners: Low maintenance and super reliable.
- Electric Pressure Canners: Convenient and compact, but not yet officially tested by the NCHFP.
👉 I’ll help you figure out which one fits best in your kitchen and your lifestyle!
🫙 Why Pressure Canning Matters
Pressure canning is essential for preserving low-acid foods, such as beans, broths, meats, poultry, soups, stews, and vegetables. These foods need the high heat of a pressure canner to ensure they’re shelf-stable and safe. However, with more pressure canner product choices than ever, it can feel overwhelming to pick the right one.
That’s where my Choosing the Right Pressure Canner: What Every Home Cook Should Know video comes in. I break it all down with easy-to-understand guidance, so you can feel confident getting started.
🕰️ Let’s Look at Each Type of Pressure Canner
🔧 Dial Gauge Pressure Canners
These classic canners use a dial to show you the internal pressure. They’re accurate and allow for fine-tuning your pressure based on altitude, which is helpful. However, they require one little extra step: yearly calibration.
- Pros
- Precision control
- Ideal for higher elevations where small adjustments matter
- Cons
- Needs annual calibration
- Can be harder to read for beginners
- Product Links
⚖️ Weighted Gauge Pressure Canners (Like the All-American)
These canners use a weight (or jiggler) to regulate pressure and don’t require calibration. I shared my trusty All-American in my video. It’s heavy-duty, American-made, and built to last a lifetime. (Get to know All American’s Pressure Canners, Cookware, and More. They’re made in the USA since 1930.)
- Pros
- No need for calibration
- Very reliable and simple to use
- Built to be heirlooms—seriously!
- Cons
- Heavier than other canners
- Can be more expensive upfront
- Example Products
⚡ Electric Pressure Canners
These are the new kids on the block, and I know many of my sweet friends are curious about them! They’re quiet and plug right into an electric outlet—no stove required. However, the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) hasn’t officially tested the devices for pressure canning low-acid foods.
That said, some experienced home canners are using them with good results. And the manufacturers of these electric pressure canners have stated that they tested these canners, according to the home canning guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and NCHFP.
- Pros
- Super convenient
- Great for small batch canning or folks in RVs and tiny kitchens
- Cons
- Not yet officially tested for low-acid pressure canning
- Limited capacity
- Example Product
🧭 How to Choose the Right Pressure Canner for YOU
Ask yourself:
- Do you want something easy to use and that just requires being in “earshot” and is also low maintenance? A weighted gauge might be your best bet.
- Do you spend a lot of time in your kitchen while canning and can easily keep an eye on the dial? A dial gauge may be a good option for you.
- Do you have limited space or need portability? An electric canner could work—just proceed with care and do your research.
No matter which one you choose, the key is to get comfortable using it—and that’s what I’ll help you do in the next two parts of this video series. We’ll review various supplies you’ll need to get started with pressure canning, and then we’ll pressure can a low-acid food!
💬 Comment Below!
Have you used any of these canners? Do you have a favorite? Or maybe you’re just getting started? Let me know in the comments—I love hearing from you!
📌 Don’t Miss the Rest of the Series
👉 Coming up next in Part 2: The Supplies You Need for Pressure Canning—Everything to Get Started with Confidence.
👉 And in Part 3: Let’s Pressure Can Together—A Step-by-Step Demo Using an Electric Pressure Canner. (Based on the feedback from my YouTube community poll, pressure canning with this product was your most requested, sweet friends!)
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More Home Canning Recipes
In addition to pressuring canning, if you’re interested in home canning high-acid foods, I’ll show you how to easily and safely water bath can pickles, jams, and more. You’ll have a well-stocked pantry in no time!
How to Make No Sugar Strawberry Jam with Water Bath Canning Tutorial
Enjoy this sugar-free treat and also learn how to make it shelf-stable for long-term pantry storage.
How to Can Pears – NO SUGAR Recipe
Learn how to home can fruit for long-term storage in your pantry.
Water Bath Canning Ingredients – Salts, Spices, and Pectin
Learn about the key ingredients for the water bath canning of pickles, jams, jellies, marmalades, and tomatoes.
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Shop for My Favorite Items
Favorite Pressure Canners
- Presto 01755 16-Quart Aluminum Canner Pressure Cooker
- Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker
- All American 1930: 15.5qt Pressure Cooker/Canner (The 915)
- All American 1930: 21.5qt Pressure Cooker/Canner (The 921)
- Presto 12-Qt Stainless Steel Electric Pressure Canner
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Favorite Aprons
- Spice Grinder
- Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
- Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
- Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)
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