The Best Pressure Canners – Our Favorite Manufacturers & Models for 2021

Before you buy a new canner, check out our reviews of the most popular pressure canners to make sure you get one that will work at your altitude and for canning the range of foods that you want.

Pressure Canners vs. Pressure Cookers

Gardens are a lot of work, and the payoff can be canned to enjoy all year long. A good pressure canner will not only serve you well, but it can also be passed down through the generations. 

A pressure canner is basically a pot that will lock and create pressure within to speed up the cooking process. The main difference between a pressure canner and a pressure cooker is that the canner can maintain the required pressure for much longer than the cooker can.

Shown above is the All American Line of Pressure Canners

A large number of people purchase a pressure cooker that is marketed as a canner, too. Caution is advised here because most pressure cookers cannot maintain the pressure long enough to can anything but the highest acid content foods.

First a preview of our recommendations, then we’ll dive into the detailed reviews of each one.

#	Our Rating	Manufacturer & Model
1	Best Larger Capacity	Presto 01781 – 23 Quart
2	Best Budget Buy	Presto 01755 – 16 Quart
3	Heirloom Quality Canner	All American 921 21.5 Quart
4	Best Smaller Size	All American 915 15.5 Quart
5	Best Combo Cooker/Canner	Granite Wear  0730-20 Quart

Disclosure: Our writers research and recommend the best products for your kitchen. Links to these products are included where you can learn more or buy each product. We may receive commissions on purchases made through these links.

Presto Pressure Canners

The Presto Company has been around since 1905 when it was called the Northwestern Steel and Iron Works. It got its start building commercial canners for industries in the range of 50-gallon capacities. From there, they started making 30 gallon-sized canners for the hotel industry and then 10-gallon ones for homes.

The Presto 01781 23 Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

Right now, the Presto 01781 23-quart pressure canner and cooker is one of the most popular large capacity models on the market.

Features:

This large canner is made of heavy-gauge aluminum and will work well on regular stoves as well as those with smooth tops. It heats evenly and comes with a 12-year limited warranty.

This is an extra-large canner designed for heavy-duty canning. It comes complete with the canning rack and an instruction/recipe book. The handles are designed to stay cool, and the locking lid will not come off until pressure is released.

The Presto 01781 has a rubber gasket, a pop-up pressure indicator, and an overpressure plug for safety. It has a pressure dial gauge so that you can supervise the internal pressure even at high altitudes. The air vent tube is removable for easy cleaning.

Customer Reviews for the Presto 01781 Canner

Reviews of the Presto 01781 are almost universally excellent. This was one of the most popular canners last year and will likely continue to be a favorite in 2021.

The Presto 01781 works at high altitudes and can be used on gas stoves, electric stoves, and glass cooktops – very versatile and adaptable. The price is on the lower end of the spectrum, so good for budget-conscious cooks.

Customers who bought the Presto 01781 are pleased with the weight, saying it is not too heavy yet sturdy. The handles make it easy to handle.

There are a few things customer commented on. The lid to this canner cannot be immersed, and some people don’t like that. One reviewer who used her canner at school said that the rubber gasket and overpressure plug needed to be replaced periodically. She prefers non-gasket canners for that reason.

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The Presto 1755 

The Presto 1755 16-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker/Canner is slightly smaller than the 01781 model and a nice affordable appliance. This is a popular model for people wanting to can smaller amounts at a time.

Features:

The Presto 1755 is made of heavy-duty aluminum. It has a dial pressure gauge and comes with a canning rack. It also has stay-cool handles and comes with a 12-year warranty. 

The Presto 1755 has a rubber gasket, a pop-up pressure indicator, and an overpressure plug for safety. It has a pressure dial gauge so that you can supervise the internal pressure even at high altitudes. The air vent tube is removable for easy cleaning.

The lid locks down, sealing with a rubber gasket. The over-pressure plug vents excess steam, and the canning rack keeps jars off the bottom of the pan so that water circulation is unimpeded. 

It has a flat bottom, making it suitable for electric and glass top ranges.

Customer Reviews for the Presto 1755 Canner

Reviews of the Presto 1755 are also very favorable. Most customers found the instructions easy to follow. Others found the smaller size to be perfect for their needs, as they did not intend to can dozens of jars at a time. Customers said that the canner fits their stoves very well and worked on both glass top and electric ranges. 

There were just a few less favorable comments. One customer found the Presto 1755 to be complicated to operate. One customer also suggested that the 3 piece weighted rocker set should be included with the purchase.

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All American Pressure Canners

The Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry was founded in 1909. Since the 1930s, they have produced the All American brand of pressure canners. All American Pressure Canners are unique in that they do not use a rubber gasket but feature their “Metal to Metal” seal. This brand features a readable pressure gauge and knob-operated clamps.

The All American 921 21-1/2-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner

Note: This item was back-ordered at the time of publication – 3/5/2021. According to the manufacturer, it may not be available again until September of 2021. But it’s still one of our favorites and deserves a spot on our list. We will update the article as soon as we see it is available again.

The All American 921 is a large pressure canner designed for heavy use. It will can up to 7-quart jars at a time. The All American 921 has an automatic overpressure release and geared steam gauge. 

Features:

This is a heavy-duty pressure canner. It can be used for cooking, as well. It is made of cast aluminum and uses screw-closure. There are no rubber gaskets, and it comes with the pressure regulator valve. 

Customer Reviews for the All American 921 Pressure Canner

Most reviews of the All American 921 are very positive. People who purchased it were almost universally happy with it.

Features They Love

Customers who bought the All American 921 do a lot of canning and love this canner. It is large and capable of canning a lot of jars in a short period of time. It also works at high altitudes.

What They Didn’t Like

It is not intended for use on a glass cooktop. This is a big canner, and the weight, when fully loaded, can break the glass. Some customers complained that it was too heavy.

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All American 915 Canner Pressure Cooker, 15.5 quart

One size down from the 21-quart size, the All American 15-1/2 quart pressure canner has some of the same great features. This model weighs in at 15 pounds and will hold 10 standard size jars or 8 wide mouth jars.

Features

Made from heavy-duty cast aluminum to ensure quick, even processing, the All American 915 is another quality canner. The edges are extra thick to ensure they will last a long time.

The safety features include a handle designed to stay cool when in use and two venting valves – including an overpressure plug. The 915 also has a geared steam gauge and 3 pressure regulator settings of five, ten, and fifteen PSI.

Customer Reviews for the All American 15.5 Quart Pressure Canner

Long-time canners rave about the quality of the All American line of canners and consider it something that will be passed down to future generations.

It has become such a staple in their kitchen for canning the season’s harvest, their only complaint is they wish they bought the larger size!

One customer remarked on the overall sturdiness and construction of the canner. It’s just not something we see in many of today’s cooktop appliances. Another customer remarked on how pleased she was with the thickness of the bottom that prevented burning that occurred in another less expensive model.

Another commented on how they loved the domed lid and stay-cool handle. Several customers were pleased with how easy it is to use and recommended if you need any help to check out the YouTube videos put out by the company.

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Graniteware

Graniteware, or Granite Ware, is manufactured by Columbian Home Products. The company goes back to 1871 and became known for its enameled cookware. 

Granite Ware 0730-2 Pressure Canner/Cooker/Steamer, 20-Quart

The Granite Ware 0730 serves three purposes: a pressure canner, a pressure cooker, and a steamer. It comes with a rack for canning and a basket for steaming. 

Features:

The Granite Ware 0730 holds 7-quart jars and comes with the 3 piece weighted regulator system. This is a large canner, but not as heavy as some. It uses a rubber gasket and cannot be opened when there is the least amount of pressure inside. It has a vent pipe for safety.

Customer Reviews for the Granite Ware 0730

This is not one of the more commonly purchased items reviewed. While it wasn’t quite as popular as the All American and Preso brands, most reviews were still very positive.

Several reviews were from first-time canners, who liked the Granite Ware 0730. They said it worked well, and they were able to cook food quickly, as well as can.

One reviewer noted that her Granite Ware 0730 warped. Others were unhappy that it could not be used on a glass cooktop. Another said that the instructions were not adequate.

Recommendations for the Best Pressure Canner

Going by these pressure cooker canner reviews, the best choice for the average homemaker and part-time canner would be the Presto 1755. It is smaller, lighter, and works at high altitudes.

If you want a medium-sized canner that will last a long time, you might prefer the All American 915.

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How To Choose A Pressure Canner

The best pressure canner will be one that works well at your altitude and is easy to operate. Here are a few of the important features to consider.

Pressure Cooker vs. Pressure Canner

We are often asked if a pressure cooker can be used for canning. The answer is yes if certain features are present.

First of all, you can use a canner for pressure cooking meals. The pressure from cookers and canners shortens the cooking time significantly. However, there are two drawbacks to using a pressure cooker as a canner: the absence of a pressure gauge and size.

Most pressure cookers are relatively small, while a pressure canner is much bigger, with the ability to hold several quart-sized canning jars at a time.

The USDA recommends that a canner be large enough to hold at least 4 quart jars to be considered a pressure canner for the USDA published processes.

The National Center for Home Food Preservation

The other drawback is if the cooker does not have a pressure gauge. When you are canning, you have to maintain a certain pressure to ensure no oxygen or enzymes are left in the food being preserved. 

The pressure doesn’t cook the food so much as keep it pure as microorganisms boil out. This is especially critical when canning low-acid foods, such as meat, fish, and some vegetables.

Features of Pressure Canners and Pressure Cookers

The best pressure cooker for canning will have certain features. You will need to decide which features will be best for the type of canning you plan to do. 

For example, all of them will lock and seal, but not all will have gaskets. All will have a vent, but not all will have a pressure gauge.

Features on pressure canners include:

• Pressure gauge
• Pressure regulator
• Overpressure plug
• Vent pipe, or steam vent, with a nut and washer
• Canning rack
• Gasket
• Latching mechanism
• Handle for the pot
• Handle for the lid
• Lid
• Cook pot

The pressure gauge will tell you the pressure that is generated within the canner. In canning, it is crucial to maintain a specific pressure, especially for low-acid foods. 

With some canners, you regulate the pressure yourself with heat. Others have a pressure regulator. A weighted regulator will screw on top of the stem, and you can set the pressure to five, ten, or fifteen pounds.

The overpressure plug will be on the lid of the canner. It pops out to let steam out in case the vent pipe gets clogged.

The vent pipe is a release valve that vents excess pressure. It usually has a pressure regulator weight that sits loosely on the top.

Most pressure canners come with a canning rack. The rack should have a handle on it that enables you to lift hot jars out of the canner once it is opened. 

Even without a handle, the canning rack will keep the glass jars off of the bottom of the canner and away from the heat source – an important function.

Some canners have rubber gaskets that need to be maintained. Typically, these models have self-locking lids that are engaged by turning the lid a few inches clockwise. 

Other models are metal-on-metal, meaning that they do not use a gasket. These are the pressure canners that have the turn-screws on the top that clamp the lid on tightly.

Handles vary according to model. Choose a canner that you think you can lift comfortably, even when the pot is full. Short or long handles are your choice – it’s all up to what you want.

The lid and cookpot are made of metal. Some people prefer heavier stainless steel pressure canners because they feel more sturdy. However, even the lightweight aluminum models are designed to provide safe pressurized cooking. This is a matter of preference (and weight.)

Electric Pressure Canners

Some cooks think that the best pressure cooker canner is one of the electric models on the market. However, many pressure cookers are not designed to maintain the required pressure, even though they claim to be canners. 

Some of these models will state that they are safe for canning vegetables and fruit, but not meat. Right now, the only electric pressure canner approved by the American National Center for Home Food Preservation is the Ball brand.

People who own glass cooktops often prefer electric pressure canners. If you have an electric stove or glass cooktop, make sure your canner has a flat bottom that will remain in contact with the heat source at all times.

Pricing

Pressure canners range from $70 to $300. Electric models are typically more expensive but may not work at high altitudes and should be reviewed thoroughly before used for canning.

Accessories Needed

If you have all of the parts of your canner, the only other accessories you need will be jar tongs to lift hot jars out of the water. You will also need a funnel and a bubble releaser. The bubble releaser looks like a hollow stick that you poke down into the canned produce. Air bubbles travel up the hollow core, allowing for better canning.