What should I buy? (Canning)

elliephant 5/23/2012, 1:57 pm

Ball Water Bath Canner

Presto Pressure Canner

These are the 2 I'm looking at right now. I don't know that I would be canning anything that needs more than a water bath, but if the price is basically the same, should I just go ahead and get a pressure canner?

acara 5/23/2012, 2:03 pm

FWIW ... that Ball waterbath is a little pricey.

HERE is what I use ....comes with a lot of the other utensils you need, for about the same price.

If your going to drop the coin anyways ... I'd just go with the pressure canner (more preserving options)

elliephant 5/23/2012, 2:09 pm

acara wrote:FWIW ... that Ball waterbath is a little pricey.

HERE is what I use ....comes with a lot of the other utensils you need, for about the same price.

If your going to drop the coin anyways ... I'd just go with the pressure canner (more preserving options)

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I have a glass stove top. Does that enamel one have a flat bottom? That's why I was looking at the stainless steel one; it specifically says that it's ok for glass stove tops.

dianamarie03 5/23/2012, 2:17 pm

I started canning about 3 years ago and just used my largest stockpot. I could can 8 oz jars in it covered with 2-3 inches of water. That works fine. That being said, I purchased the Presto pressure canner with christmas money and look forward to the versatility of being able to pressure can. You can also waterbath can in it, so if you're willing to put up some money, I'd go with the Presto. If you get the Presto, you'll still need some simple tools. You need a jar lifter, funnel, and lifter. Those are cheap and easy to come by.

**camprn** 5/23/2012, 2:20 pm

I often feel I cannot answer this type of question for someone else...

What do you need?

acara 5/23/2012, 2:22 pm

x2 on the stock pot

I used to use the stock pot, but then went to the enamel Ball bath a year ago.

Honestly, they both work the same ..... and I'd rather have my cupboard space back (but the wire rack that comes with the Ball pot is nice and will save you a busted jar or two).

I'll try to remember to take a look at the pot when I get home & let you know if it's flat bottom.

BTW ... depending on what you want to waterbath, you may want to check the pot height. The 4oz & 8oz jars work with almost any canner (just a matter of how many), but if your using the bigger jars (like for pickles), your pot size is going to affect your batch size. IMHO ... fewer batches = more time for other stuff Very Happy

dmj24 5/23/2012, 2:54 pm

can you use the pressure canner for hot water canning baths?
The pressure canner has many more functions such as low acid pressure canning. If I could afford one that is the road I would go. But they are expensive.
You can cann a lot more with it that a regular hot water canning can't do.

happycamper 5/23/2012, 3:12 pm

I know two people that ruined their flat top stoves canning. If you want to can, only purchase something that will not destroy your stove. FYI, any deep stock pot is capable of water bath canning as long as there is a rack at the bottom of it (even if it is made out of canning jar rings). I preserve alot of food each year and I find that I use my pressure canner more than my water bath canner by far. Good luck on your decision and happy canning!

**walshevak** 5/23/2012, 4:36 pm

Check the enamal pot carefully. The only ones I've seen say NOT FOR USE WITH GLASS TOP STOVES.

However, when I made jelly last year, I used the side burner on the gas grill and a stock pot

Kay

acara 5/23/2012, 4:40 pm

Yeah, pretty sure enamel pot + glasstop = bad mojo

... but I'll double check

SwampCatNana 5/23/2012, 4:57 pm

dianamarie03 wrote:I started canning about 3 years ago and just used my largest stockpot. I could can 8 oz jars in it covered with 2-3 inches of water. That works fine. That being said, I purchased the Presto pressure canner with christmas money and look forward to the versatility of being able to pressure can. You can also waterbath can in it, so if you're willing to put up some money, I'd go with the Presto. If you get the Presto, you'll still need some simple tools. You need a jar lifter, funnel, and(lid) lifter. Those are cheap and easy to come by.

Walmart has a packaged kit with all the extras. I bought one.
Lee

**walshevak** 5/23/2012, 5:05 pm

Well, after reading the descriptions more carefully, I vote for the pressure canner as being more versital. Just saying.

Kay

vee 5/23/2012, 5:38 pm

I've been canning for some odd 40 years and been through lots of classes. If you are only getting one I'd have to say get a pressure canner and get the biggest one you can afford. You will probably only have to buy one in a lifetime. The parts are replaceable. I have a glass top stove and mine works. I was some worried when I changed to that stove top.

acara 5/23/2012, 6:40 pm

acara wrote:Yeah, pretty sure enamel pot + glasstop = bad mojo

... but I'll double check

No dice ..... not for use with glass top

**camprn** 5/23/2012, 6:45 pm

There are a few previous threads in the canning forum about using glass and ceramic top stoves for canning. If I remember, one of the members actually did some good research on the subject and came up with some good answers.

tomperrin 5/23/2012, 8:31 pm

All of the enamel stock pots have a concave bottom, making them unusable on a glass top/ceramic stove top. What you want is a 20-21 qt stainless steel stock pot with an encapsulated flat aluminum bottom. I purchased mine at Target for less than $50.

Tom

littlejo 5/23/2012, 10:21 pm

I've done water bath canning for yrs. but decided to try to put up more kinds of things that require a pressure canner. I bought the presto 23 qt. which doubles as a water bath canner and can be used to pressure cook food too($78). I also bought the back to basic canning kit($13) Free shipping-Walmart.com

This holds twice as many jars than the water bath canner so, is cheaper in the long run.

Jo

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Presto-23-Qt-Pressure-Canner/2625289

**rowena___.** 5/24/2012, 12:32 pm

you can use the pressure canner to do water bath canning, you simply don't bring it up to pressure.

i have a glass stove top and do all my canning on it, although truthfully i dream of an outdoor kitchen so i can do my canning out there and not heat/steam up my kitchen (no AC in here).

this is an old blog post, it is some canning hacks i use at home for water bath canning:
http://www.romesticity.com/2010/06/canning-hacks.html

and here is my post about how to turbo-charge your canning process to get the most food from your efforts:
http://www.romesticity.com/2011/08/home-canning-1.html

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