Hey, food can be expensive. But buying food in peak season when it’s of top quality and reasonably priced, and then safely canning it for future use can be one of the best saving tips ever. Today, canning is seeing its resurgence of popularity for its safe, effective, inexpensive, and relatively simple process.
Looking to take your home cooking to the next level? A pressure canner may be just what you need. Pressure canners allow for food preservation since they can produce shelf-stable foods if used in the right way. Stuffing your favorite staples in your freezer is another great alternative, but if you don't have a
ton of freezer space, a pressure canner can do the trick for you.
When shopping for the best pressure canners, there are several things you need to take into consideration. Firstly, you need to consider the capacity of your unit as it dictates how much you can process per canning session.
Secondly, you need to check the level of performance delivered by the appliance. A majority of modern pressure canners also serve as
pressure cookers, which means they can be used for both cooking and canning. Thus, getting pressure canners with both functionalities can make it so much easier for you to whip up a meal in a fraction of the time taken using a regular cooker, or
oven.
The next thing you need to confirm is that your unit incorporates important safety features such as a safety fuse, safety plug, safety release plug, and metal rack for the best results. If used properly, these features ensure that you have a seamless canning process.
If you’re out on the prowl for the best pressure canner on the market, here’s a guide that outlines your options and helps you narrow down the selection a little.
Price
Apparently, the price factor may be one of the first things to consider while buying the best pressure canner out there, for the simple reason that price directly influences the quality and performance of your unit. That being said, you can get a good unit for a price ranging from $50 to $300.
Why the huge difference in pricing? Premium models tend to cost a lot more as they offer the best safety features and, sometimes, the highest capacities. They’re also designed using cutting-edge technology and have exceptionally strong builds.
However, if your canning needs are minimal, you might consider getting a cheap pressure canner, which has a lower capacity but considerably good performance – just without all the additional features that pricier options come with. If you’re new to canning but anticipate making large batches of delicious treats, investing in a mid-range model can offer a smart and economic compromise of both worlds.
As one of many potential buyers, always consider your canning needs and budget to help you get the best appliance without breaking the bank.
Features
With a plethora of different options available in the market, you need to consider several factors before buying to help you make an informed decision. Here we have some of the important factors that you need to take into consideration:
- Type of Material - The most common materials used include heavy gauge aluminum and stainless steel.
- Capacity - Choose the ideal capacity depending on your food preservation needs.
- Safety Features - This may include a locking lid, relief valve, or pressure gauge
- Warranty - Consider a canner that’s backed by a good warranty. The warranty may come in handy in covering any material defects or poor craftsmanship.
Let’s discuss more on how the above-listed features influence the construction and overall performance of pressure canners.
Construction and Design
The type of material used for construction will greatly dictate the quality and level of performance of your pressure canner. Canners can be found with either stainless steel or heavy gauge aluminum builds. The majority of home cooks prefer stainless steel for its durable nature and top performance. On the other hand, heavy-duty aluminum proves hard to beat for its durability, light weight, quick heating, and even heat distribution.
The capacity of a pressure canner determines the number of cans that can be stored. The ideal capacity for you will greatly be based on your canning needs. If you want to utilize the unit for big canning jobs, you may opt for a large capacity. For home use only, canners with a capacity of about 16 to 23 quarts will serve you perfectly.
Pressure canners designed with safety features in mind enable you to focus on the canning process rather than worrying about potential problems, which means better results.
Performance and Ease of Use
As stated earlier, some pressure canners can also be used for cooking jobs, which eliminates the need for buying another unit dedicated for your home cooking. Some canners even come with a variety of different pressure settings that allow you to adjust the pressure levels depending on the type of foods you’re canning.
The temperature gauges and pressure regulators on canners are easy to read; thus, you can check to confirm you have the right pressure settings for safe canning. Canner models designed with automatic pressure release features give you peace of mind during the canning process, as you don’t have to worry about your unit getting damaged by high interior pressure levels.
Unlike conventional cookware, pressure canners’ remarkable durability, enormous capacity, and easy operation make them a must-have kitchen appliance. Not only will these units bring out the best in all your canning tasks, but they’ll also offer the best value for your buck.
When it comes to food canning, failure is not an option. For that reason, the best pressure canner should strike a good balance between performance, safety, and capacity. And above all, it should suit your budget. Well, let’s have a closer look at these outstanding canners.
Hopefully, our guide helped you make the right call. Still not decided? Check out other options that our reviewed brands have in store for you. Select one based on your personal canning needs, but, no matter the type you choose, ensure it offers you a fun and superb way to fill your pantry with cans of delicious meals.
