ISO info on buying pressure cooker/canner

[KathyJ]

My MIL has generously offered to buy me one for Christmas!!!

Anyone have any brands they love? I want one that does both cooking and canning. I'll get a bigger one for exclusive canning when I get more into it.
Or should I just get one now???

Thanks for the help.


These are the ones I'm looking at, but would love any other suggestions.

Cooks Illustrated recommends this brand.
Fagor Duo Cooker/Canner and canning accessories (wish it said how many cans it would hold though....)

http://www.amazon.com/Fagor-10-Quart...=2I4GS0YVEO5Q8

http://www.amazon.com/Fagor-81803042...=2I4GS0YVEO5Q8


and then of course, there's Lehman's.
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/prod...ProductID=3661

 

[mcnerd]

Pressure Canners and Pressure Cookers are not the same thing and should not be confused. You could use a 'canner' for a large cooker, but you cannot use a cooker for a canner because the construction is different even though they may look the same.

I personally do not recommend the Fagor as a Canner....at least the ones I've come across do NOT have the ability to process at 10# pressure (canning), but only at 15# which results in over processing.

For the new or casual home canner I recommend the Presto Canner with a rocker weight that sells at Wal-Mart for under $50 usually. The All American is also a good brand. Stay away from the "dial gauge" canners unless you live above 2,000 feet or live close to a coop or extension that can service you. The gauge must be tested before use and every year. If the gauge is off (common) you have to get a new one. The weight gauge is much simpler.

 

[VegQueen]

You cannot do a lot of cans in the Fagor 10 Quart. I believe that you can only do 4 1 quart jars at a time. You can, though, with the Duo can at either 10 or 15 psi with the flip of the switch.
You can also cook just a cup of rice in the 10 quart but it's not especially efficient.
So, it's good for larger amounts of food or smaller amounts of canning. Good luck deciding. I love my pressure cookers, and do use them for small batch canning.

 

[KathyJ]

ok-
I'm looking at the All-American now. It was also recommended on another forum.

Question:
Now I"m trying to decide between the 10 1/2 and the 15 1/2.
Is a 15 1/2 quart too big to be used as a cooker?

For now, I want one that will do both. I know eventually I will want a larger size strictly for canning, but I highly doubt I will be doing much of that any time soon.

 

[Constance]

I have a Presto 21 quart pressure canner that is 40 years old, and it is the best pot I've ever had. It still looks brand new, and goodness knows how much it would cost now.

My MIL has generously offered to buy me one for Christmas!!!

Anyone have any brands they love? I want one that does both cooking and canning. I'll get a bigger one for exclusive canning when I get more into it.
Or should I just get one now???

Thanks for the help.


These are the ones I'm looking at, but would love any other suggestions.

Cooks Illustrated recommends this brand.
Fagor Duo Cooker/Canner and canning accessories (wish it said how many cans it would hold though....)

http://www.amazon.com/Fagor-10-Quart...=2I4GS0YVEO5Q8

http://www.amazon.com/Fagor-81803042...=2I4GS0YVEO5Q8


and then of course, there's Lehman's.
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/prod...ProductID=3661

 

[oneoffour]

I had a pretso with the rocker weight. It was stainless steel not aluminum. Didn't use it to much so it was always a search to find that rocker weight in the back of the drawer or where ever my ex moved it to. Now have a Tfall with a high low switch not a rocker weight I like that! To my mind it is 8 qt. Use this alot more since I got Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna Sass have her book the Pressured Cook too. I again got the non reactive stainless steel. Have seen a swiss?? set think it was Kohn it had as I could describe a pressure saute pan and the usual pressure pot that seemed really nice but I aready have what I need. I do have a Presto 18Qt. aluminum pressure canner that I have yet to use. Thanks for the heads up about having the pressure gauge checked.