Canning can be a very long and tiresome process. Especially if you’re using an open water method of placing jars in a pot filled with boiling water and timing them. This can lead to water all over your kitchen, burnt fingers and a restriction on your ability to can low acid foods for a fear of botulism. Pressure canners are a very simple solution to all of those problems. It is still a pot that you put on your stove top, but it is sealed with a pressure gauge and helps reach higher temperatures to sterilize your jars more thoroughly. Here are some good reasons to invest:
Safer and more sterile:
Since the boiling water is more contained it’s safer to use and reaches a higher temperature than open water canning. The racks that you place your jars in ensure that the vapor reaches all sides of your jars. This means that the chances of unwanted bacteria decrease considerably and you don’t have to worry about botulism.
Canning low acid foods:
With higher temperatures and thorough heat distribution, there is the possibility of taking up canning those high risk foods such as meat, sea food and low acid vegetables. This means that the combination of things you can preserve goes through the roof, and you can surprise your family with exciting combinations of food.
Easy to Use:
The pot comes with an internal rack, so you are able to can more at once, where as with an open water pot, you can’t stack your jars vertically.
Organized canning:
With the racks it’s easy to stack jars and can more. It also helps you to take out the cans and not have to worry about burning your hands in hot water. You just leave them in the rack until their cooled and ready to store.
Thorough heat distribution:
The racks keep the jars suspended and so the vapor that is produced reaches all sides evenly.
Cost efficient:
You will only need to buy it once. These aren’t complicated machines and for sixty dollars, you will be able to can well into your golden years with ease. For the amount of food that you can preserve, it’s well worth the investment.
Traditional methods of open water canning can take a long time and can be irritating. With pressure canners, you know that there is less to fear from unwanted bacteria and that hot water and vapor is contained. With the racks that are easy to pull out, there is no more fear of burning your hands or spilling hot water on yourself. It is making a simple tradition into a more efficient method.
Many people choose a pressure canner from Presto since it is popular brand, but there are several other options. Navigate to pressurecanners.org