Presto 23 qt Silver Pressure Canner/Cooker

Perfect … nice and big for sterilising 1 litre jars. The trivet is nice and stable. Works great on my electric stove top

円安だし輸入品なので仕方がないですが、もう少し安ければと思いました。
日本では全く普及していないので難題でしょうがね、それでもキャニングしてみたくて憧れだったんです。頑張ります。

This product is a great product for the value. It hold plenty of jars and you are able to stack them if you have a try to place between the layers. The gauge is a little off but I use a rocker weight and it is only about 2 lbs off. The pot is light and durable. The lid turns with ease. Works on all types of stoves including glass top stoves. The only down fall is the port is tall making hard to fit in the sink with ease. But the height allows for additional jars per batch. I have canned tons of food with this product with no issues.
This product is great for beginners

I love canning, but in the past have used Maid of Honor and National-brand canners – sturdy ware produced in the USA. I’m having trouble finding the right seals for these (the Prestos that are supposed to work are an inch too long) and decided to buy a newbie. Even though I can regularly, I was still a little reluctant, because of reviews where the gauge flew off. What I really wanted was an All American, but it just wasn’t financially feasible, so this was the happy compromise.

Before use, I read through the instruction booklet twice before I used it, because this canner is a little different than the ones I’m used to. If you haven’t used this type or brand, definitely read through it carefully and follow the prep instructions before you begin.

Quality

Obviously, this is a newer item and not nearly as heavy as the older canners, or as extra sturdy as the All American. However, it is heavy-duty enough to do its job for more than just a few pressure canning sessions. The lighter version is MUCH easier to carry around than the older versions. This model has plastic handles. My older canners have wood handles – which I LOVE. They are much sturdier than plastic; however, I’m a realist. This is 2010 and you won’t be able to find a new model with wood handles. If you want something super heavy duty, then bypass the cheaper models and get an All American, because you won’t be happy otherwise. If you are on a budget, this is definitely worth a look.

Seal

I LOVE the seal with this canner! It is super heavy duty – much thicker than other seals I’ve used. It is about half an inch wide and fits snugly in the cap. I’m assuming it’s thicker because this canner is tall – holds up to 20 pints – and it needs a heavier seal. Whatever the reason, it is terrific. The thicker size makes it easier to fit into the lid. It is a nightmare to try to fit the thin seals in the thin areas on other canners. I hope this seal is heavy duty enough not to wear out quickly. I will keep you posted on that as I finish up my canning season.

Regulator

I didn’t really care for how the pressure regulator just sat on top of the vent pipe. To me, that is just a little dangerous. However, after using, I can see that it works. It sits loosely on top – easy to pull off and on. However, if you turn it slightly, it somehow catches on the vent pipe. It’s still loose, but slightly more secure. If you watch your pressure, you would have no problems with it coming off. What confused me is that the black knob turns – which is typical for canners that allow you to regulate pressure by releasing steam AND changing the amount of heat used. However, the book says nothing about being able to turn this knob to release steam – and the regulator sits too loosely on the top to be able to turn the knob. It would definitely help regulate the pressure to release steam slowly. I plan to contact Presto to ask them about this – and look through the book one more time to be sure I didn’t miss something.

Ease of Use

Again, I read through the booklet carefully a few times before I used this canner. I use a gas range and found it tough to keep the pressure regulated, even when I turned the heat all the way down. I had to sit with it the whole time – but was prepared for that. When canning, you cannot do much else but watch the pressure gauge. It sealed up quickly and pressurized fast. I love the lines on the inside that show how much water you need. Makes it a no-brainer for those intense canning days. The lid is also easy to put on. I only use these for canning foods in jars. I never use them for pressure cooking food. However, there are instructions for that as well in the book. Please note: It says not to use on gas stoves above 12,000 BTUs. Also, do not use on glass top ranges

Overall Thoughts

For the price, the Presto canner is worth a look. So far, I’m pleased with the purchase and plan to keep you posted on how it works out. You just never know until you get a few years into it.