Planning on getting a new canner. Any advice? gauge over jiggler?

[Lifelong Protester]

I'm going back to canning after a 15 year hiatus. Canning for a two person household, veggies and fruit only.

I had an old Mirro (I think, or Presto) with the round gauge you put over a spout on top, and listened for the jiggle. Seemed to work well.

Brands? Features? Any help would be appreciated.

Also, ideas for buying jars on the cheap?

[NMDemDist2]

1. dunno about the canner, but jars can often be found on Craig's List

or at your local thrift stores

[Lifelong Protester]

2. ok, thanks for that idea! I have never used Craig's list before

[lizziegrace]

4. I didn't find jars listed for sale on CraigsList here

I post a wanted to buy ad and got several replies. :)

[lizziegrace]

3. I started pressure canning last summer

I got jars on CraigsList. I got 3 dozen quart jars for $6. Start stocking up on rings and lids. Wide mouth pint jars are great for pickles. Regular mouth pint jars are fine for relishes and jelly.

I bought this canner:

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-22-Quart-Aluminum-Pressure-Cooker/dp/B00006ISG8/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1298855487&sr=8-11

It's a monster, but I can stack jars in it and get a lot more processed at a time. Follow the instructions carefully and since it has a dial (I need to know exactly what the pressure is - I'm more comfortable with knowing I had the correct pressure the whole time). Before you use it, take the gauge to your local extension office and have it tested. Mine was a little off at the lower pressures. There's usually a fee for the testing and you usually have to make an appointment.

I don't have anyone else in the kitchen when the pressure canner is in use. The interlocks and pressure relief system is great, but it's a very large piece of equipment with water under pressure...

I canned homemade baked beans, corn, tomatoes, split pea soup and will be canning my own chicken noodle soup (without the noodles) later this month.

I love it. I wish I had more time to can and more time to garden.

Oh, and store your final produce without the rings in a cool, dry place. Buy the Ball Book. The Canning for Dummies book had some errors and omissions that were scary...

[Lifelong Protester]

5. Hey, thanks for taking the time to give such a complete answer

I'm an old time canner from way back, stopped a couple of years ago because of time factors and then gave away my canner (!) Truth be told it would be pretty old by now, so would probably been time to replace it.

I got the Mirro biggie with the rocker~it is what I am used to, and if you have to process for more than half an hour, it is good to not have to babysit the canner.

Get this, my dog (dearly departed Leon) CHEWED UP my old Ball Canning book, so I ordered a new one of those too.

Will start looking at garage sales for jars and start in on lids and rings. Have a nice basement pantry system already, needs a little organizing but will be fine.

I would like to do some bean things also, so ready to serve soups are handy. I did some dehydrating last summer and LOVE IT. Did tomatoes, corn, onions, and some apples.

Keep in touch!!

[lizziegrace]

6. There's a rocking weight available for that canner

if you'd rather use that. If you want to stack jars, get a second rack and put it on top of the first layer. It seems to be more stable than trying to stagger jars.

I re-read your post and apologize. I skipped right over the fact that you've canned before.

I hit the library for books and copied recipes I would use. I can send you the baked bean recipe if you're interested.

:hi:

[Lifelong Protester]

7. would love it!! Is it vegetarian or could be made such?

Yep, I got the big one so I could stack inside.

[lizziegrace]

8. It has bacon in it

but that it can be made without. You bake the beans for hours and when they're cooked, you can them. The recipe made at least 12 pints and they're really good. :)

I'll look it up and PM it to you this week.

[Lifelong Protester]

9. Thanks, I would love that! I put a little 'liquid smoke' in recipes

that call for bacon and still get that nice smokey taste.

[Warpy]

11. Mine is the same size but a bit different

http://www.amazon.com/All-American-921-All-American-Pressure/dp/B00004S88Z/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1299117380&sr=1-2

I especially like the press fit seal that requires no gasket that always seems to stick at some point. Mine is 30 years old and I'm delighted they haven't changed the design and I can still recommend it.

[Warpy]

10. Look at capacity, first

If you're getting a pressure canner, will you do quarts or only pints?

Most of the canners capable of doing 6 or more quart jars use gauges, they're much more precise and a little safer. You do have to keep an eye on the bastard, though, so move the laptop into the kitchen for the duration.