What to Look For When Buying a Used Pressure Canner

OSU Extension Food Specialist, Barbara Brown, has advice for buying a used pressure canner.
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Airdate (09/12/20) #4711
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[@Jim-tz9lj]

The old National pressure cooker does have a pressure relief valve. Its the part she said you use to screw in to begin to build pressure. Whether it works is another issue. Theoretically, it opens at 22psi, but its controlled by a spring and a ball. After about 90 years, who knows its condition. The other thing she identified as a missing weight is the petcock. That's what you screw in to begin to build steam. The screw-in part is missing. It can be replace with a new vent tube and weight from Mirro or Presto. And Presto was later name of the National company. There wasn't a merger, the Presto Cooker was the big selling product from National, so they changed the name. And that screw down style is still being produced today as the All American. It is quite expensive and its the top of the line for home canners today.

[@bje11675]

100% correct sir

[@kfl611]

The oldest canner is not going to magically unlock itself. The big roundish thing on the right is your pressure relief valve. On the left hand side you could replace the stem for a 5, 10, 15 weight if you wanted to. Usually it would have a knurled screw to screw down and stop the steam from venting - say after the pressure canner heated up and vented for 10 minutes, you crew down the nut, and let the pressure build up. She made good points, but you don't necessarily have to rule out an old canner, just because it is old. I'm sure there are many people canning on 40, 50, 60 or more year old All American canners with no issues.

[@JohnnyUmphress]

I bought a used Mirro 22-quart canner and it is in excellent condition and looks brand new. Although the gasket is no longer available. The canner is still made by Mirro but they changed the size of the gasket. But the model number is still the same. I'm sure Mirro did this to make people buy a new canner when their seal gets old. So just because it is a current model number doesn't mean you can still get parts.

[@gigglepantsiii9350]

A wonderful video! I was fortunate enough to buy a used pressure canner a few years ago, but have been a little shy about trying to use it because I've only done water bath canning in the past

[@patmcbride9853]

There has been little change in the "science" of canning. Raise the pressure, and temperature, while containing everything safely. That's it!

[@TheSunRiseKid]

Great video!

[@SierraAspenAutumn]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@Slipping_thru_the_Seams]

thank you!!

[@wemcal]

Great video and information.... good news is with the electric pressure cookers on the market, stovetop pressure cookers are plentiful

[@Mygraciously]

My Mirro 22 quart lid is stuck. Pressure released and still stuck. Waited 1 hour; still stuck. Any tip to open. Pot is warm to touch. Not hot. Please help

[@asc3998]

We don't have extension offices here in Canada. Any idea who would have the equipment to test a gauge?

[@stephanblack4558]

Nice.

[@cefarther3945]

How to measure an old pressure cooker for a new gasket:?