Pressure Canners

[Dan]

Forgive me if this is the wrong forum, wasn't quite sure which one to put this under.

I'm curious as to what brand and size pressure canners everyone is using. Definitely need to buy one this year (especially if I am growing those Red Swan Beans!) so we can use it between our 5 family gardens (Jim, Mom, Grandma, Mother-In-Law, and our own).

I see the brand Presto quite a bit, but generally mixed reviews as to the quality of the products.

Any information or reviews you have would be greatly appreciated

-Dan

[plantsnobin]

Glad I saved the box-Presto 18 qt canner is what we have. We bought it maybe 3 or 4 years ago. I canned once. Bought all sorts of goodies for processing all sorts of things. Maybe this year....Do you have Rural King in your area? They have a good selection of all kinds of canning/freezing supplies here.

[mjc]

Here's mine...

www.allamericancanner.com/allamerican915pressurecanner.htm

That thing is built like a tank. I've actually got two of them now (the one my wife and I bought when we got married and my in-law's). Very rugged and more than holds up well to use I usually put it through. And no, back when I bought mine it wasn't nearly $200...but, it is a lifetime purchase.

[Dan]

Hrmm never heard of them before, looking it up, the closest is in the next state over (Indiana). If we head up to the cottage yet this winter, I'll run over (as it will only be 10 miles away then).

Thank you for the information.

[Dan]

thanks mjc! I will definitely check it out. Durability is a must in our house! We love to cook, and as we all know, you get what you pay for when it comes to your kitchen.

[mjc]

In the nearly twenty years of owning one (or two now) the only problem that doesn't qualify as 'regular' maintenance (replacing the pressure plug every so often) has been the need to replace one of the pressure gauges because it had something dropped on to it and broke the glass on the dial.

We did over 100 quarts of beans in the first week of owning the first one...so that should give you an idea of 'typical' usage around here.

[bunkie]

i have used mainly a Presto and it worked great. but a couple years ago ed got me an All American Pressure Canner, and i love it! no rubber seal to replace. took me a bit of getting used to but am very happy with it.

[Dan]

seems like All American is the brand of choice

[canadamike]

Presto is definitely not the one to buy. I have one that I thing is the american one, but I don't know the name for sure, all I know is that it is american and I can,T see tghe company name on it. I had a presto before.

We have in Ottawa an italian hardware store. They have HUGE pressure canners, for 20-40 one quart containers. They go from 300 to 600 dollars, but to me they are the hell of a deal. I could feed my family good organic veggies ina much more efficient way using them.

They have a financing plan for those without the cash, something around 12-15$ a month.

For those striving towards self sufficiency, these are an incredible buy. Anybody with a big garden and lots to save with easily recuperate the cost in one or two years, if they are serious canners.

And anyway, I never look at it this way, while my buddies play golf at 125$ a day, including bar bill,s I grow veggies and eat my hobby, and also feed other people, many of them not so rich, many of them...

I love golf, it makes me look intelligent ;D

For thos

[peapod]

I have an all American and love it! thats my vote.

[Dan]

Everyone is leaning towards All American or better, guess I should start looking!

Thanks everyone!

[grunt]

I have an American, bought in 1980. Never had to fix or replace anything. Some years it hasn't seen much use, some it has had up to 1200 quarts put through it. One of my better buys.

[Jim]

I'll chip in...

[Dan]

I'll go look at them when we go to the cottage in May....there is a store in Freemont that sells them.

[Jim]

rural king in Angola will too.