Christine Patrick, County Extension EFNEP Agent
Many myths exist about safe ways to can foods. The reality is that food must be processed using the right equipment and the right recipes to ensure safety. The type of canner you need depends on the food you want to preserve. A water bath canner is used to preserve acidic foods like fruits and pickled foods. Low-acid foods, like vegetables and meats, must be canned in a pressure canner. Tomatoes can be processed in either type of canner, but always add lemon juice to be sure they are acid enough.
Boiling Water Bath Canner
A boiling water bath canner is simply a big pot with a removable rack to hold the jars and a fitted lid. It must be big enough to cover the jars with 1 to 2 inches of boiling water. If you have an electric stove, be sure that the canner has a flat bottom, and that the canner is no more than 4 inches wider in diameter than the element or burner that you will be using. When the canner is centered on the element, the canner should not extend more than 2 inches on any side. This is important so that all the jars will be processed uniformly.
Pressure Canner—Not Pressure Cooker
Use a pressure canner, not a pressure cooker. A pressure canner must be able to hold at least 4 quart-size jars. Most 16-quart or larger canners are big enough. All pressure canners have a removable rack, an automatic vent/cover lock, a vent port (steam vent), and a safety fuse. Only use canners that show the Underwriters Laboratories approval of the safety symbol (UL). A pressure cooker or pressure saucepan is smaller and is not intended for processing foods in jars. A pressure cooker will heat up and cool down faster than a pressure canner, and the canned foods may not be processed long enough to destroy the microorganisms. Differences in the sizes of the pressure cookers and the thickness of the food being processed make it impossible to adjust the times safely.
Check Your Pressure Canner for Safety
Whether your pressure canner is brand new, a family heirloom, or a yard sale find, be sure all parts are in good condition:
- Rubber gaskets must be flexible and soft, not brittle, sticky, or cracked. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for proper care of your gasket. (Note: Not all pressure canners have gaskets.)
- Vent ports and openings must be clean and not clogged
- The lid must not be warped and must fit properly and lock into place
- Have the dial on your dial-gauge canner tested each year for accuracy
Do a test run on your canner if it is new, or at the beginning of the season:
- Put several inches of water in your canner
- Secure the lid and seal the vent
- Turn on the heat and make sure the canner will get to the needed pressure and maintain it without leaking
- Practice the correct way to depressurize the canner and remove the lid
For more information on canners, see visit Clemson University Cooperative Extension’s Home & Garden Information website and see Fact Sheets #3020- Home Canning Equipment and #3040- Canning Foods at Home.
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