Below is a list of the equipment I use when doing low-acid canning with my pressure canner.
There’s fancier equipment out there, but this is what I have in my kitchen, and they do the job for me.
It may seem like a lot of stuff, but once you’ve gathered it all, the only things that aren’t reusable are the lids for your jars. If you use it regularly, you’ll both eat healthier and save money.
Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner – All-American makes superior pressure canners, but they are expensive and aren’t recommended for a glass-top stove like what I have. They’re heavy and can scratch it. The Presto canner that I have is a dial-gauge canner rather than a weighted-gauge canner.
Having a dial-gauge pressure canner requires me to get the gauge tested each season by my local Extension Office, but it’s free and isn’t a major ordeal. Whether or not you choose a dial-gauge or a weighted gauge is a personal preference. I like to be able to see exactly what’s going on with my canner, and I don’t mind the yearly trips to the extension office.
Spare 11-Inch Pressure Canner Rack – The Presto 23-Quart canner can process as many as 20 regular-mouth pint jars or 16 wide-mouth pint jars, but only if you double-stack them. I use an extra canner rack in between the jars for added stability.
Bubbler Remover and Head Measurer Tool – This is an essential tool when you’re pressure canning. One end can be used to remove air bubbles in the jar, while the other is used for the critical task of ensuring the proper headspace in your jars.
Magnetic Canning Lid Lifter – While it’s a tool you don’t absolutely need, it makes the task of getting jar lids out of boiling water and onto the jars without burning your fingers or contaminating them a snap.
Canning Funnels and Strainer – Having wide-mouth funnels explicitly designed for your jars will help tremendously with the clean-up of your jar rims.
Jar Lifter – A jar lifter is absolutely mandatory for pulling jars in and out of your canner without burning your hands or dropping your jars.
Jars and Lids
Jars can be expensive if you have them shipped to you. If you can find them at a local store, you’ll likely be able to find them cheaper. If you can’t find them locally, Amazon is always an option. Lids are much more reasonable on shipping rates due to being less bulky.
Below are the most common jars and closures that I use. You can check Amazon with the links I’ve provided, but I recommend you do some shopping around on their website before hitting the buy button.
Sometimes there are better deals, especially if you buy larger quantities.
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