Review: Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

This Presto brand 23-quart pressure canner doubles as a pressure cooker too.  It is the only method that is recommended as being safe for canning vegetables, meats, poultry, and seafood by the Department of Agriculture.  This device also serves as a boiling-water canner that is great for preserving fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, and even salsa.  It is a large capacity pressure cooker for it is very convenient.

The unit is warp resistant because it is made from heavy-gauge aluminum and, therefore, works great for fast and even heating.  It not only works on regular stove tops but on smooth-top ranges as well.  It carries an extended 12-year limited warranty.

One of the main features of this canner is that it has a convenient and helpful deluxe pressure dial gauge that enables it to register the complete range of processing pressures, which is extremely important because precise measurement is vital, especially important at higher altitudes.  The air vent and cover lock is a feature that allows for the built up steam pressure to escape so the sturdy lid does not explode off.  It only allows pressure to build when the cover is properly closed which is a huge safety feature.

This deluxe, extra-large size is fantastic for large canning jobs.  It has a liquid capacity of 23 quarts.  The unit comes with a canning/cooking rack and complete 76-page detailed instruction and recipe book with over 50 recipes for soups stocks, stews, pot roasts and even brown bread.   The pressure cooker measures 14 inches in diameter (the handles are 3 inches, making it 17 inches total in diameter) and 15-1/2 inches tall.

It is recommended that on non-abrasive cleaners and cleaning materials be used.  Metal polish can be used on the exterior if desired.  The lid of this device is not immiscible.  It is, however, very easy to clean.

The reviews on this unit were quite good.  Some mentioned that the canner performed quite well.  Many of them also loved the reliability of the device.  The fact that it has safety precautions is a big plus.  The fact that it can be used on a flat stovetop was a big positive point that was mentioned more than once.  The consistency of the pressure canner was given good grades as well.

It was mentioned, on the downside), that the instructions recommend that the pressure gauge should be double-checked through the local state’s extension office.  The reviewer had attempted, but the office did not know how to check it which may have been the fault of the office.  The reviewer then said she called the company and got assistance in checking it herself.

One other drawback mentioned was the fact that the replacement parts could possibly be hard to come by.  The review’s local hardware store only had some of the parts and the others were $50 and upwards-in price.

The reviews for the most part praised this model and some said it was the best they had ever owned.