Looking for Used Pressure Canner Buying Guide in 2024?  Scroll down this page and  follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions. There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above.  If you are having a hard time finding canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days.

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Used Pressure Canner Buying Guide

Used Pressure Canner Buying Guide - What you need to know!

If you are planning to buy (or already bought on impulse) an older model pressure canner, here's what you need to know!  If you want to buy a NEW pressure canner, see this page.

Top tips for evaluating a used pressure canner

1. The pot and lid; It is rare for the basic metal canner lid or pot to break, but it is possible if someone let them stay on the stove after the water boiled of to permanently deform, so look for any signs of warping. . But this is rare. It's ok if there are scratches all over the canner. the only surface that really matters is the flat surface between the lid and pot, between which the gasket sits. And even here, minor scratches which will not affect sealing are ok.

2. Brands: All-American brand is among the best, but old Presto and National canners are very good and last generations, too. Old National, National and National Retort are all predecessors to Presto, and parts are usually still available for them, too.  All-American canners do not have a gasket - it is a metal-to-metal seal, so you don't need to consider a replacement gasket, that is an advantage..

3. Capacity: generally speaking, a bigger canner is ALWAYS better.  Did you know, unlike a "water bath canner",  you can stack jars in a pressure canner? Since it takes a while to heat up, vent, pressurize, cook and then cool down a pressure canner, doing more in one batch is a huge time and energy saver. But the canner has to match your stove.  If you largest stove burner is small one, it may not be able to provide enough heat.  Of course, except it bad or cold weather, it IS possible to is an outdoor propane burner, like a turkey fryer base, if you can regulate the heat well, and you have a safe place outside to do it.

4. Consider your stove: Glass stoves usually cannot handle the weight of a full canner and could crack.  Induction stoves need canners with the magnetic steel bottom. See this page for more information.

5. Prices:  Since you can get a new Presto 23 QT pressure canner for around $150 - $175 and a similar ALL American Pressure canner for $, and considering you may need to buy a few replacement parts, like a gasket, deduct the approximate cost of any parts that look like the need to be replaced from the offered price.

6. Replacement parts: In general, an old canner can be refitted inexpensively with simple replacement parts. Some canners, like the All-American company, and Presto, still sell parts that fit all of their canners, even those that are 100 years old. All-American sells a new lid with (or without) all the attachments See these pages for replacement parts:

   • All American Pressure Canner parts
   • Back to Basics Replacement Parts
   • Mirro Pressure canner / Pressure cooker replacement parts
   • Presto Pressure Canner parts
   • West Bend Replacement Parts
      

7. Gaskets: Gasket rings, usually made of silicone, are cheap and easy to replace, and should always be replaced when you buy a used canner.

8. The overpressure plug (the "blowout safety valve) is either made of metal or rubber. Both are (usually) easily replaced and inexpensive.

9. Pressure Gauge: If the canner has a pressure gauge you should replace it. The gauges are inexpensive (around $20). Or, better yet, replace the gauge with a regulator weight. Some, do both, have a gauge and also a weight. In that case, the gauge is less important, as the weight determines the actual pressure and does not change.

10. Instruction manual: If you are looking for manuals for  pressure canner, click here for free downloads of many pressure canner's instruction manuals!

11. See this page for a comparison of pressure canner features and capacities.
    
    

If you have any questions, please write me and I will try to help!

 

 For other supplies:

• Books on canning, freezing, drying, preserving and jam making
• Pectin for making jams, jellies and preserves
• Strainers, pit removers, seed-skin-stem removers, jelly strainers, etc. All types, makes and prices (from $19 to $350)
• Vacuum Foodsealers for freezing, dried foods, and refrigerated foods - the FoodSaver line
• Food dehydrators - easy and fast to dry your own fruits, veggies, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
• Canning accessories: jar tongs, jar lifters, lid lifters, funnels, racks, etc.
• Steam Juicers
• Canning Lids and Rings,
• Canning jars,
• Canning mixes, pectin, etc.
• Pickling supplies, equipment, crocks and additives
• Home Canning Miscellaneous Parts and Supplies -  jar lifters, funnels, jar tongs, replacement parts for canners, canning racks, strawberry hullers, cherry pitters and more? Great prices, wide selection, fast delivery, reliable service
• And just for fun, the history of the canning jar

You can read a discussion about why foods should be processed in a canner on this page" "Why do I need a canner?"

For more information, and NO obligation to buy, just click on the links in the boxes on the left!

 

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ Easy Home Canning Directions] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]