Presto 23 Quart Aluminum Pressure Canner and Cooker

Very light in weight, Easy to understand instructions, and only a couple of parts to install. I should have ordered an extra seal or two knowing that it will wear out in time. My last pressure pot scared the heck out of me but this design is simple and works great so the fear is gone.

I love the size! At first I was worry that it might be too big, but I’m glad that I got 23qt instead of 16qt because it doesn’t pay to can small amount of food. I’m also glad that I went with Presto as a beginner, it’s light weight enough so I don’t need to call for help when i need to dump the water. I love the manual, it’s very informative and easy to follow.

This was my first time pressure canning and I was very nervous because I've heard many horror stories about using pressure canners. But the enclosed directions are very clear and I had no problems at all! The product is very well constructed and I'm sure will last for years to come.

I love the size of the canner. It's big enough to hold 7 qts at one time and even though the length of canning for pts is different you can also add them to another layer. (It's better to over-pressure can than to under pressure can.) The ONLY thing that I would love to see added, if possible, is an alert signal if the pressure has dropped below the proper level. That would save having to keep an almost constant watch on the pressure gauge for either 75 or 90 minutes. Consumer Reports rates this canner very highly. Also, I purchased a replacement seal to have on hand JUST in case the original seal fails. They are generally not available in stores, so an ounce of prevention... The purchase of an additional rack is probably a good idea when you purchase the canner for that additional layer of jars.

EXPECTATIONS: Boiled peanuts foam, and are not recommended to be done in a pressure cooker. Some foods will boil and produce small particles that could stop up the pressure release vents. With this over-sized pot, small to medium size batches will produce 6-12 quarts of foods. This practice is not recommended, and if you have ever seen a gasket blow out, or a rubber safety valve pop you can understand the logic. That being said, you must monitor the cooking process with a sharp eye on the dial gauge, it is indispensable practice for foods that could potentially create a runaway pressure cooker. Have used smaller aluminum and stainless cookers with no dial gauges, there were big messes to clean as very little food is left in the cooker when there is a rapid release of pressure. Keep a constant watch on the pressure dial to avoid a tremendous amount of cleanup if you choose to process foods that will foam!!! This cooker handled multiple batches of 3 gallons of peanuts without a hitch. Foam line on inside of pot indicated ample room for debris to remain away from relief holes. VALUE: Exterior finish cleans and shines well, interior darkened a little. Pot handles could have been somewhat larger and attached with two screws per handle. A vessel this large filled to capacity will be heavy. Over time I expect the handle problem to become an issue, but that's capitalism in action today! NOTE: Put a light film of vegetable oil all around the gasket to prevent the gasket from sticking to the metal. This practice will prolong the life of the gasket, and aid in sealing and removing the lid.