New Canner?

I was looking at the 2014 Totally Tomatoes catalog this morning and I found a new product that I have not seen before. It is a "Victorio" steam canner. It says it saves time, energy and water. Does any know or have used one of these? It looks like a versatile multi-use pan for other uses besides canning. This is not a pressure canner but a different way to water can.

Is this the one you are talking about?
http://www.amazon.com/Victorio-VKP1054-Aluminum-Steam-Canner/product-reviews/B0058SSUV0

That's the one in the catalog. Have you or anyone used one? It looks much easier than the water bath.

johnp wrote:That's the one in the catalog. Have you or anyone used one? It looks much easier than the water bath.

Ain't nothing easier than boiling water.  

johnp
It is not new! They may have changed the manufacturer or the name of it but a neighbor/friend of mine and myself used 1 about 20 years ago. The one we used was enamelware like some of the water bath canners.
It worked ok and canned good like a water bath canner, but, we boiled it almost dry once. It was a royal pain. With a water bath canner, you can just lift the lid and add some boiling water. With this steamer/canner, when you lift the lid, you expose the jars to the cooler air in the room, causing the jars to seal/ping and if you don't hurry you will have jar breakage.
I personally do not recommend this, but this is just my opinion.
Jo

Just to throw petrol on the fire..

 Please for the health and safety of the people who eat your produce do remember it is only for things that you would jar/ bottle or can in a simple hot water bath  for the temperature never goes above 212 0F ( 100 oC ).

 PS
 I've juts ordered my 21 & 1/2 quart All American pressure canner ......... AT LAST !    ..... it has only taken me three years or so to save up for it.
 ( It might even be here in time to be on   Santa's sleigh ..but I don't think it will fit in my  Christmas stocking somehow,  no matter how magic Santa is.

Thanks for responding. I realize its just for the same things that a water bath canner is used for but it sounded easier. I didn't think of boiling it dry so that is a great point. Asking for a pressure canner would not get past Honey.......

You'll have to sweet, sweet talk her .. far sweeter than honey .......It works ...my canner is already out of the USA   

 A  $ USD multi millionaires I know said to me one day ,"  Davey a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers gets you " Cooperation " in every room of the house for six weeks ...buy them every five "   ... she was and still is right  31 years later  ...

So Buy two sets right away    

That is a great idea David. I've been thinking of going to Patsy's (local candy store) for Christmas anyway. We have been married so long that we both forgot our anniversary last year.  

Hi johnp, sorry about the canner. For about $79 you can buy a presto 21 pressure canner, and can use it as a water bath canner too. I have 1 and can double stack the jars 'using US jars'
Jo

plantoid wrote:... PS
 I've juts ordered my 21 & 1/2 quart All American pressure canner ......... AT LAST !    ..... 

  

 

Thanks littlejo. After David mentioned the All American I looked it up and found the Presto for much less. I read the reviews and most were pleased with the Presto. The All American is much nicer but for me I think the Presto will work just fine. Besides it is in an acceptable price range. The only thing about it that bothers me is the seal ring. I have a pressure cooker with a seal ring and the replacement ring never worked so we don't use it anymore. Also I don't have any aluminum cook ware and some of the reviews mentioned this might be a problem. Your thoughts would help. john

Johnp,  What is the concern with aluminum?

johnp, I guess aluminum may prove to be a problem ? But, the all american may be aluminum too. Even the canning rings may be aluminum? Aluminum has, in some studies, been possibly linked to Alheimers.'Don't have correct spelling and don't have links for some have been on television'
Jo

All, here is a link to Alzeheimers dis.
Jo

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/controversial-claims-risk-factors

johnp wrote: I don't have any aluminum cook ware and some of the reviews mentioned this might be a problem. Your thoughts would help. john

In some of the reviews I have read I think this may be in regard to the gauge of metal that is used for the pot, cheap light aluminium vs. the heftier stainless steel.

I personally would go with the stainless presto. The all american aluminium is a very hefty pot and it's for the very serious of canners like folks canning for large families or lots of pressure canning.

Using a pressure cooker for canning should be completely safe.  First, water added to the canner is neutral, +/- 7.0 pH, so it won't leach metals like an acid food would.  Second, solid glassware, such as canning jars, are impervious so the food inside will not be in contact with the water.  Third, as the jars heat up, there is a positive pressure inside with steam/air escaping out.  As they cool, a negative pressure is created, with the lids sealing tight against the rim, keeping everything out.

I wish I could have found a link that explained or validated the above.  But we all know how steam engines work, how acid or alkali can ruin metals. that drinking water is near neutral or neutral, how the canning lids "pop" as they cool. 

Cook the food in a stainless steel pot, pour into safe glass jars, and process in aluminum pressure cooker.  Neutral foods such as the ingredients for beef stew or chicken and dumplings should be safe to cook.  Mother and her sister had dementia, so I figure I may have a propensity towards it.  I would do any of the above and not fear adding any aluminum to my diet.

Plantoid, congrats on your All American coming.  It is an outstanding product.  I am still saving up for one.  
Johnp, the rubber gasket on the Presto is not a problem.  I lightly coat the gasket with either olive or veg oil after every use and it stays soft and in great shape.  It is just the DW and I so the investment in the Presto is a good deal.
I don't understand the concern about aluminum in this tread.  In a canner, the product never comes in contact with the canner material whether aluminum or stainless.  So, what did I miss that someone should be concerned about?

plantoid wrote:
 I've juts ordered my 21 & 1/2 quart All American pressure canner ......... AT LAST !    ..... it has only taken me three years or so to save up for it.
 ( It might even be here in time to be on   Santa's sleigh ..but I don't think it will fit in my  Christmas stocking somehow,  no matter how magic Santa is.

Congrats! I've wanted one of those for ages, and they're one of the few sold in America that are anywhere near that quality and safety. Pricey as heck though!!!

sanderson wrote:Mother and her sister had dementia, so I figure I may have a propensity towards it.  I would do any of the above and not fear adding any aluminum to my diet.

I may have a propensity for dementia, but what really worries me is that I may have a propensity for dementia.

meatburner wrote:
I don't understand the concern about aluminum in this tread. 

The concern was stated in online reviews of the original pot from the first post. My take on the reviews was that the pot was made of flimsy aluminium. Little jo then posted about a possible link of aluminium to Alzheimer's disease. Nothing more than a slight diversion in the thread from the OP question.

Thanks Camprn as those dots didn't connect on my end.  A slight diversion is being very kind. 

The concern for the aluminum was the gauge of the product. Some of the reviews said the pots could be easily damaged. I agree that the amount of caning that we do is no where near what many of you do so I think the Presto canner would be fine for us.