You can also stack pint-sized and smaller jars when pressure canning, churning through up to 7 quart-sized jars, 20 pint-sized jars, and 16 half-pints in one batch. The canner comes with one rack that needs to stay between its base and the jars.
Presto’s three models of pressure canners
As of 2020 Presto currently has in production three models of pressure canners: a 16 US quart (litre) and two that are 23 US quart (litre).
All are dial-gauge , and both are made of aluminum. The lids, handles, gauges, weights, shape of the bottom, stove surface contact area, and diameters of the three are identical; it’s the bottoms that are different.
All are certified by Presto as being safe for glass top stoves.
The price difference between the three is very little, only around 10 to 20 dollars depending upon where you buy it, showing it appears that most of the value is in the lid and accessories, rather than the simple “chassis” of the actual pot.
All require their bottom rack to be in place for the jars to sit properly in the pot (besides also being required to keep jar bottoms safely away from the direct source of heat.)
Triple-decking in the 23-quart Presto
Unofficially for the 23 quart if you have three stacking racks (the obligatory one for the bottom of the pot, and two for the layers), some users report that they sometimes triple stack in the following configurations for pressure canning:
- 3 layers of the flat, wide-mouth 250 ml salmon jars(8 jars per layer) 24 jars in total;
- 2 layers of the flat, wide-mouth 250 ml salmon jars (16 jars) plus 1 layer of 250 ml tall regular-mouth jelly jars (13 jars). 29 jars in total;
- 2 layers of 250 ml tall regular-mouth jelly jars (26 jars) plus 1 layer of flat, wide-mouth 250 ml salmon jars (8 jars). 34 jars in total.
Note: while the USDA has tested double-decking for water bathing and pressure canning, they have not tested triple decking. The concern, apparently is not one of heat distribution, but rather a mechanical one: would a third layer put too much weight on the bottom layer, pressing the canning rings down and preventing proper venting during processing, [and thus preventing a vacuum seal.] It would certainly be mildly annoying to have a whole layer of jars that did not seal.
It would take research-based study by the National Center or a reputable private-sector partner such as Ball, Bernardin or Presto to make a recommendation one way or the other on triple decking.
Until that happens, those who are doing it informally will want to make absolutely certain they are staggering the jars as much as possible to distribute the weight.
How to use a Presto 23-quart pressure canner
FAQ
How many quart jars can a 23 quart pressure canner hold?
Can you double stack quart jars in a 23 quart pressure canner?
How many quart jars fit in a 22 quart pressure canner?
How many jars does the Presto digital canner hold?
How many pints can a presto pressure canner process?
A 16-quart capacity Presto pressure canner will process 10 pint jars or 7 quart jars. A 22- or 23-quart capacity canner will process 20 pints or 7 quart jars. This one is tall and will allow you to stack your pints. Dial Gauge or Weighted Gauge Pressure Canner? The Presto pressure canner out of the box is designed to be used as a dial gauge canner.
How many jars can a presto pressure canner hold?
You can also stack pint-sized and smaller jars when pressure canning, churning through up to 7 quart-sized jars, 20 pint-sized jars, and 16 half-pints in one batch. The canner comes with one rack that needs to stay between its base and the jars. Presto recommends double decking by staggering the upper layer of jars on the lower ones.
Are presto pressure canners any good?
The Prestos are quick and plenty durable. Our local hardware store carries parts, but we’ve only replaced the seal gasket, rubber safety plug, and gauge grommet. The canners still look great and if we ever had to buy again, we would absolutely buy the same ones again.” 16-Quart Presto Pressure Canner – holds up to 10 pint jars or 7 quart jars.
What is the difference between a 23 quart and a quart Canner?
The big difference is height: The 23-quart canner stands taller than its smaller quart sibling, letting you process quarts under pressure and in a boiling water bath. You can also stack pint-sized and smaller jars when pressure canning, churning through up to 7 quart-sized jars, 20 pint-sized jars, and 16 half-pints in one batch.