[kev]

My wife and I are in the market for a pressure canner. What do you think are some of the better ones on the market?

We have decided to get away from factory made canned foods and start canning our own. By next spring we would like to have everything ready to go to grow and can our own foods.

The one I am looking at is an All American 15 1/2 quart, which cost $174.99 from amazon and holds 10 pint jars or 7 quart jars.

One of the things I like about the All American is that it does not require a gasket. If I can eliminate parts that can wear out, the better off we will be in the long run.

I would like to can beans, peas, okra, corn, chicken meat, maybe some pork, squash, and other veggies we can grow in the garden.

 

[MTShawn]

The All-American is perhaps the best money can buy. Worth every penny.

 

[yelruh]

I've heard repeatedly that one is the most popular. I think it's because it can do a second row of pints. My kids gave me the 930 that can do two stacks of quarts. I love it, it's so impressive to use. I'm keeping my eye open for used smaller ones like the one you are getting. I like to can meat in pints and can you imagine my production with two going?

I got the AA because I wanted to do meat and soup and it's been easy to use. The first two times I had to get my husband to open it because it stuck. It's something that happens when they are new and they even have directions to unstick it. I'm saying this because you'd think something you spent that much on would work properly... well it's cast and the two sides seem to take some getting used to. Now it comes off like it's suppose to.

 

[BCWoods]

That's the one I have Kevin. We love it.

 

[kokosmom2]

I love my AA. No gasket! Made in the USA (in my state). I mostly do pints of anything so the 2 rows of pints I can do is wonderful

Edited to add: mine is the 921

 

[MikeK]

I'll add my vote for the All American too. It's pricey, but you know what they say. Buy once, cry once.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I love my AA 7 quart. I'd like to buy a second so one can cool while the other is working.
Canning directions are rules, No short cuts if you want to live. Food doesn't improve in the can so only put in the best. Make sure the jar seal surface is clean and grease free.

A propane turkey fryer is my heat source used outside. You can dial it down to one rattle every 3 seconds.

About 1.5 pounds of chicken breast per quart.

 

[Old Soldier]

The AA model 930 is a real nice canner but a bit of a beast if you're just getting started canning. We began with a Mirror 21 qt model 20 years ago, we gave it to our kids when we bought the 930 last year. Yes I know the Mirror and the Presto have a gasket that requires replacement every so often but they are WAY less expensive, and if you're doing smaller batches they DO have their advantages.

We currently own three canners, an 8 qt Mirror that holds 7 pints or 4 quarts, a 21 quart Presto that holds 18 pints in a double stack or 7 quarts, and the 930 AA that holds 18 pints or 14 quarts. All get used during the course of a canning season.

 

[70816]

The AA model 921 love it work great.

 

[cranky1950]

I agree with soldier, Mirros and Prestos offer the most bang for the buck. If you take care of the gasket they rarely go bad (Ive never replaced one) I've got 2 spares for each canner and cooker and it looks like those gaskets are gonna outlast me and mine. I've got 2 21 qt prestos a 12 qt mirro and an 8 qt mirro. I couldn't pass up the 12 qt mirro it was $10 at the thrift shop and it had all the parts including the gasket, jiggler and trivet. The 8 qt cost $5 at the thrift shop but I had to buy a couple of $10 dollar gaskets.

The All American is a really nice canner though.

 

[ELBUFO]

KEV...Spend the extra $20 and get the 921.. 19Pt 7Qt...It almost doubles your Pt capacity. Over the years I have canned way more pints...
I have a 930 19/14, but as I said, I do way more Pt's, and If I had a do over I would probably go with the 921. I suspect that you will not be happy with the 915 you are looking at...
Like I said...Spend the extra $20 on the 921. You will be much happier!!!

Some info I dug up on canning fish recommended a larger caner due to heat up and cool off times needing to be longer than just the time at temp/pressure. If my memory serves me correctly the article recommended a 20Qt capacity caner.

Oregon state U has an article about caning fish. 16-22QT.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...lcktoi3ps42-dCw&bvm=bv.51156542,d.cGE&cad=rja

 

[Heartlander]

I purchased the 921 that holds 19 pints, 9 more. I plan on cranking out the pints of meat this winter if the price is right like I am hoping.

But the 921 still only holds 7 qts so if you are going to be doing mostly qts you picked a good one. If you are doing lots of pints you might want to check out the 921. I also ordered extra pressure plugs and an extra gauge. Just make sure you have enough room over your stove for the height of the 921 if you decide to go that route, it is $230 free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/All-American-921-2-Quart-Pressure/dp/B00004S88Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377635932&sr=8-1&keywords=all+american+921

And don't forget the Vaseline to form the "seal".

 

[Pangea]

I can buy three Presto canners for the price of a same size All American canner. The AA is very nice and I'd love to own one but I would have to find it at an estate sale or flea market before I'd buy it.

 

[Mortimer]

I say go with Presto for the best bang-for-buck. The All-Americans are great, everyone raves about them, but dang pricey.

I have been using a 16qt Presto for at least 6 years now, still works great. I've heard the gasket needs to be replaced eventually but mine is showing no signs of wear and it has seen plenty of use.

 

[yelruh]

I misspoke earlier. I said the one you were looking at was the most popular. I actually thought you were looking at the one that could do a double layer of pints. I obviously read to quickly.

If you are going for the AA, I would go for the one that can do at least a double layer of pints. The important thing to check is if there is room on your stove for it.

While the Prestos are OK and maybe the best bang for your buck, the AA will last your lifetime and be consistent. They also are very, very easy to use. I can't lift it when it is full. I have the 930 and it's just way, way to heavy and awkward.

There are many people who use Prestos to produce lots of you-tube videos so they are obviously not junk. However, I wanted something that was very safe and was strongly built... and made in the USA.

 

[Runamok]

If you take care of the gasket properly (as per the instructions) it will last a very long time but I bought a backup just in case. I would have to say that a Presto is the best for your money. Now if you want one that is bulletproof the AA's get the nod but they're spendy.

+1 on the double layer of pints model, it's nice to be able to do a bunch at once. If I had access to a turkey frier I would get the double layer quarts one for the capacity (otherwise it would be cumbersome on the stove).

 

[yelruh]

+1 on the double layer of pints model, it's nice to be able to do a bunch at once. If I had access to a turkey frier I would get the double layer quarts one for the capacity (otherwise it would be cumbersome on the stove).

I'm short 5'3" and it really is only a little cumbersome on the stove. I have tried filling/emptying it with a stool, you know the little Rubbermaid ones that are about 8". It's fine, but I have to move it to get it to the best place. Most of the time I just reach in and out with the grabber.

 

[Xanthro]

Just buy the AA. Size depends on whether you do mostly pints or quarts, and how large you are, and the space over your stove.

If there isn't much space over the stove, go with the 15. It's much shorter.
If you do mostly quarts, and they cost about the same as pints, go with the 15.
If you are short, go with the 15.

If you do mostly pints, go with the 21.

The AA is a much better value than the Presto, because there is nothing to wear out. Sure, you can keep an extra seal, but what happens when you can't find the seal, or it's not sealing correctly? You buy another one, and that adds to cost and time.

Plus, the AA cools much more quickly than the Presto. Usually the Presto requires cooling for hours to get the pressure down, the AA is less than an hour.

You don't want to open the canner until the pressure has dropped to normal. So cooling time matters if you want to run another batch. You can run more batches with the AA. Buying two Presto's cuts down on value.

You may end up with more than one AA if you do high volume, but you'd have even more Prestos.

You may find some really good deals at thrift stores on a Presto. It would be hard to beat the value of $10, but I've never seen an AA at a thrift store. That tells you something.

Your grandchildren will be able to use your AA, and their grandchildren as well.

 

[yelruh]

If there isn't much space over the stove, go with the 15. It's much shorter. If you do mostly quarts, and they cost about the same as pints, go with the 15. If you are short, go with the 15.

I'm short and have had no problems with the 930. If you do mostly quarts I'd want to be able to do a double stack of quarts.

The one thing I'm actually starting to look into is if I can do a triple stack of 1/2 pints! I'd like to be able do do meat in about the same amount as a tuna fish can.

 

[clear]

All American all the way. I have used a Presto in the past and yes, they get the job done but the AA has a better gauge, adjustable wieghts for 5, 10 and 20 lbs, no seal, its made in the USA and seems to be much more efficient to use. I can turn my stove down a few notches to maintain the same pressure compared to the Presto. Downside: price. It would've been cheaper for me to buy the AA first though