If you want to try making canned foods, consider investing in a high-quality pressure canner! A pressure canner works by creating a tight seal to trap steam, create pressure, and heat water over its boiling point. The high temperature together with the pressure kills harmful bacteria like botulinum in low-acid foods, making them safe to consume. Choosing a pressure canner is not an easy task, however, since there are many products available online.
In order to help you with your search, we've created a list of the 10 best pressure canners available online. Presto's 23-Quart Pressure Canner was our favorite as it's made of durable aluminum and has a large capacity to hold multiple jars at once. There are nine more options on our list, so do check them out! Take a look at our buying guide as well for some tips in choosing the best pressure canner that fits your needs.
Image | 1 ![]() Presto | 2 ![]() All American | 3 ![]() Nesco | 4 ![]() T-Fal | 5 ![]() Mirro | 6 ![]() Granite Ware | 7 ![]() Instant Pot | 8 ![]() Presto | 9 ![]() Zavor | 10 ![]() XtremepowerUS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker | Canner Pressure Cooker | Carey Smart Pressure Canner & Cooker | Pressure Canner | Pressure Canner | Pressure Canner | Multi-Use Electric Pressure Cooker | Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker | ZPot Pressure Canner | Barton Pressure Canner |
Features | Made of Lightweight and Durable Aluminum | Secure Locking Lid With No Rubber Gasket | Home Canning as Easy as It Gets | Multiple Safety Features for Your Peace of Mind | Large Capacity to Hold Multiple Jars at Once | An Easy-to-Use Canner for Beginners | A Versatile Device You'll Need in Your Kitchen | Great for Small Batches of Canned Goods | Suitable for a Variety of Stovetop Ranges | Dial Pressure Gauge for Accurate Pressure Control |
Price | $124.25 | $379.95 | $109.80 | $129.99 | $73.95 | $253.00 | $149.95 | $99.99 | $109.95 | $99.95 |
Material | Aluminum | Cast aluminum with a satin finish | Stainless steel | Aluminum | Aluminum | Anodized aluminum | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, aluminum | Stainless steel | Aluminum |
Dimensions | 15.4 x 15.1 x 14.8 in. | 16 x 15 x 17 in. | 14 x 15 x 14.5 in. | 19.33 x 15.39 x 16.26 in. | 17 x 14 x 17 in. | 14.5 x 14.25 x 13.38 in. | 12.2 x 12.6 x 13 in. | 17.4 x 11 x 10.5 in. | 17.7 x 10.7 x 10.4 in. | 17.5 x 11 x 8.75 in. |
Weight | 12 lbs. | 17.75 lbs. | 17.6 lbs. | 14.77 lbs. | 15 lbs. | Not provided | 15.7 lbs. | 8.85 lbs. | 7 lbs. | 9.8 lbs. (shipping) |
Mason jar capacity | 24 1/2 pt., 20 pt., 7 qt. | 19 pt., 7 qt. | 5 pt., 4 qt. | 26 1/2 pt., 16 pt., 7 qt. | 26 1/2 pt., 16 pt., 7 qt. | 24 1/2 pt., 8 pt., 7 qt. | Not provided | Not provided | 4 pt., 3 qt. | Not provided |
Liquid capacity | 23 qt. | 21.5 qt. | 9.5 qt. | 22 qt. | 22 qt. | 20 qt. | 6 qt. | 8 qt. | 10 qt. | 22 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15, 20 psi | 5, 10, 15 psi | 10, 15 psi | 5, 10, 15 psi | 5, 10, 15 psi | 5, 10, 15 psi | 15 psi | 15 psi | 15 psi | 13 |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 12-year warranty | Instruction and recipe booklet, 2 racks | Non-stick aluminum inner pot, canning rack, steam rack | Instruction and recipe booklet, 2 racks, 10-year warranty | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 10-year warranty | Rack, steamer trivet | Rack | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 12-year warranty | Instruction and recipe booklet, 10-year warranty | Rack |
Link |
Below are the 10 best pressure canners available online! We've ranked them based on their capacity, material, features, and reviewer satisfaction, so read on to see which one works for you.
*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Jim Quast.
01781
$124.25
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 15.4 x 15.1 x 14.8 in. |
Weight | 12 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 24 1/2 pt., 20 pt., 7 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 23 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15, 20 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 12-year warranty |
921
$379.95
Material | Cast aluminum with a satin finish |
---|---|
Dimensions | 16 x 15 x 17 in. |
Weight | 17.75 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 19 pt., 7 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 21.5 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, 2 racks |
DPC-9SS
$109.80
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Dimensions | 14 x 15 x 14.5 in. |
Weight | 17.6 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 5 pt., 4 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 9.5 qt. |
Pressure settings | 10, 15 psi |
Accessories | Non-stick aluminum inner pot, canning rack, steam rack |
$129.99
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 19.33 x 15.39 x 16.26 in. |
Weight | 14.77 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 26 1/2 pt., 16 pt., 7 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 22 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, 2 racks, 10-year warranty |
7114000221
$73.95
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17 x 14 x 17 in. |
Weight | 15 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 26 1/2 pt., 16 pt., 7 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 22 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 10-year warranty |
F0730-2
$253.00
Material | Anodized aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 14.5 x 14.25 x 13.38 in. |
Weight | Not provided |
Mason jar capacity | 24 1/2 pt., 8 pt., 7 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 20 qt. |
Pressure settings | 5, 10, 15 psi |
Accessories | Rack, steamer trivet |
Max 60
$149.95
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Dimensions | 12.2 x 12.6 x 13 in. |
Weight | 15.7 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | Not provided |
Liquid capacity | 6 qt. |
Pressure settings | 15 psi |
Accessories | Rack |
01370
$99.99
Material | Stainless steel, aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17.4 x 11 x 10.5 in. |
Weight | 8.85 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | Not provided |
Liquid capacity | 8 qt. |
Pressure settings | 15 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, rack, 12-year warranty |
ZCWSP03
$109.95
Material | Stainless steel |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17.7 x 10.7 x 10.4 in. |
Weight | 7 lbs. |
Mason jar capacity | 4 pt., 3 qt. |
Liquid capacity | 10 qt. |
Pressure settings | 15 psi |
Accessories | Instruction and recipe booklet, 10-year warranty |
$99.95
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Dimensions | 17.5 x 11 x 8.75 in. |
Weight | 9.8 lbs. (shipping) |
Mason jar capacity | Not provided |
Liquid capacity | 22 qt. |
Pressure settings | 13 |
Accessories | Rack |
As you go through the pressure canner options available, look into its material, mason jar capacity, liquid capacity, and pressure settings. Many products come with useful accessories to help make home canning easier, too! Keep reading this buying guide to learn more about the factors to look for when purchasing a pressure canner.
Pressure canners can be made from either aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum is lightweight and easy to handle. It's also a good conductor of heat and, compared to stainless steel, heats up and cools down more quickly. However, aluminum isn't as sturdy as stainless steel and can bend and scratch easily.
For more durability, go for a pressure canner made of anodized aluminum. The anodizing process helps create a layer of aluminum oxide to prevent corrosion and scratches. Keep in mind that aluminum pressure canners might scratch smooth ceramic or glass cooktop surfaces and don't work well on induction stovetops.
Stainless steel is tough, sturdy, and has excellent abrasion-resistant properties. However, it's quite heavy and doesn't conduct heat as well as aluminum. Therefore, stainless steel pressure canners take a while to heat up, but they retain heat very well. They work for a wide variety of stovetop ranges, including glass, ceramic, induction, and gas.
Next, to make sure that a pressure canner is easy and safe to use, take a look at its features! In this section, we'll guide you through some of the important features that a good pressure canner should have.
Pressure canners come with either a dial or weighted gauge to help you make adjustments to the pressure level based on your altitude. There are also models that come with both a dial and a weighted gauge for your convenience.
The dial gauge shows you the exact pressure inside the canner and allows you to increase the pressure in small increments of 0.5 or one pound per square inch (psi).
To increase or decrease the pressure, use the burner's knob to adjust the heat. However, some people find it hard to change the pressure this way. Make sure to check the dial gauge for accuracy regularly, too! If the gauge is not accurate, the pressure canner might not be able to reach the desired pressure level.
The weighted gauge, also known as the deadweight gauge, is placed over the vent on top of the lid. Once the desired pressure level is reached, the weighted gauge will jiggle and allow excess steam to release.
One disadvantage of a weighted gauge is that it only allows you to increase the pressure to a specified level such as five, 10, or 15 pounds per square inch. The big increments of five pounds per square inch might ruin the texture or flavor of your food.
Canned veggies like green beans, especially, can get mushy easily. Still, this type of gauge helps keep the pressure accurate and consistent.
Working with a hissing pressure canner seems to be a little bit intimidating, but pressure canners usually come with many safety features to make home canning safe and easy for you! Many products feature a secure lid-locking mechanism that prevents the lid from opening when it's under pressure.
Some lids have a rubber gasket to form an airtight seal, but this gasket will deteriorate over time and will need to be replaced eventually. There are also lids with wingnut clamps that can secure the lid tightly to the canner body without any sealing gasket.
Some pressure canners also have a safety valve that releases redundant pressure in case the canner is overpressured. Another useful feature that many pressure canners have is the spring system that averts the pressurization of the canner before it's closed completely.
To make it easy to move the pressure canner or to lift it off the stovetop, you might want to choose a handle that's covered with rubber. They stay cool to the touch and allow for a non-slip and comfortable grip.
If the handle is made of metal and not covered by an insulating material, it can get very hot during the cooking process. So make sure to use pot-holders to protect your hands from getting burned.
Pressure canners vary in size, from 10 and up to 23 quarts. If you usually make small batches of canned goods, we suggest choosing a model that has a capacity of about 10 to 16 quarts. For large batches, go for a pressure canner that is about 20 quarts in capacity.
Most manufacturers will indicate how many half-pint, pint, and quart jars their products can hold. So take a look at a pressure canner's mason jar capacity to make sure it works for you. Also, some products come with a canning rack to help you stack jars in the pressure canner!
If you're a beginner and the idea of using a pressure canner scares you, consider investing in an electric model. Electric pressure canners usually have pressure or canning settings to help you can your foods without any hassle.
Many models also have a touchscreen that makes programming a breeze. There's no need for you to check the pressure gauge frequently and to regulate the pressure level at all!
Electric pressure canners are pretty versatile and might offer other cooking options like sous vide, slow cook, steaming, roasting, and baking. So if you're looking for an all-in-one device, go for an electric one!
If you're new to home canning, check out our articles to discover the essential tools you'll need to start canning!
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications