What are you canning now?

[3goodeggs]

Move been water bath canning for a few years but I've never pressure canned and want to start. So I bought a used All American and I finally got up enough nerve to put just water in it and try to get it up to pressure. Well the first time I got it up just past 5 lbs and it started leaking a little steam out the side under the lid. Then I put a little olive oil where the lid comes into contact with the pot. Still started to leak at 5 lbs. let it go up to 10 lbs and it was still leaking. Questions are does a little bit of steam coming out the side matter? What are normal sounds for the canner? It was obviously hissing but also making a metal pinging sound every once in a while. Normal? Thanks from a pressure newbie!

That happened to me! Unnerved me enough to turn it off and let it cool down.I could not get the pressure to stabilize. Mine (Presto) has a rubber or silicone seal. It was off set and has not done it since.
I do not think the All Americans have a seal do they? You may want to feel the rims of the pot and lid and see if there are any dips or dings.

I would call All American and get their advice.
It might be an easy fix.

 

[GJ_Kate]

Thanks ladies. It is an older model All American so no gasket and no weight. Just the gauge (which is new) and a "petcock" which can stand straight up and let steam out or be flipped to the side to build the pressure. I will try again and oil the edges a little more and not get so nervous about the metal pinging.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks ladies. It is an older model All American so no gasket and no weight. Just the gauge (which is new) and a "petcock" which can stand straight up and let steam out or be flipped to the side to build the pressure. I will try again and oil the edges a little more and not get so nervous about the metal pinging.

Do you have pictures?

My old one had a rubber seal. I do know they sell replacements. I gave mine away and now may need to get a new one.

Do they have smaller pressure canner to do just pints?

Though I will confess to eating a pint of last years applesauce in two servings.

I like it warmed up. It was batch 3 but I have no idea what spices I used in it. It might have been the one with Maples syrup in it. Wish I knew.

 

[GJ_Kate]

Rancher hicks,
Here are some pics of it. I bought it off of eBay last year. It's an All American 15.5 qt.

 

[GJ_Kate]

I actually just got it up to 15 psi without it leaking. I wish I wasn't so nervous with it! I just never have even been around one before. I remember my mom using a pressure cooker occasionally when I was a kid and always telling us to stay out of the kitchen when it was on. Scarred as a child, I guess! I guess now I need to put my money where my mouth is and actually can something easy. Would broth be the easiest thing to start with? I make that almost each month but I have to store it in the freezer.

 

[rancher hicks]

Rancher hicks,
Here are some pics of it. I bought it off of eBay last year. It's an All American 15.5 qt.

Perhaps you need a new "gasket"? Looks like it has one in the lid.

 

[iawoodchip]

Looks like a rubber seal gasket in the lid. Most canners would have one. They tend to dry out & shrink a little. Might be worth your time to find a new gasket

 

[Raech]

My Grandma's pressure canner had a rubber seal that was so old and hard it was more plastic looking than rubber, and my Grandpa had "fixed it" by putting more rubber melted on it somehow. If you type the brand and make number in a search bar it should pop up. I got so scared with my new pressure canner, I had gotten used, I had a friend test it outside of his house, so if it blew up we did it at his house.

 

[jerryse]

Rancher hicks,
Here are some pics of it. I bought it off of eBay last year. It's an All American 15.5 qt.

had one of these they do not use a gasket . some steam leakage is normal

 

[WthrLady]

I love pressure canning!

Chicken soup, beef, stews, veg soups, meat, veggies!

I have the large all american. No gaskets, which crack and rot.

I just my sister into pressure canning. Skip the books....your instruction manual and the internet and your local extension Service are all you really need. I like simplycanning.com

Be careful buying second hand pressure canners. If they are mishandled, they can can develop micro fractures, not what you want under pressure.

i just ordered my spring garden seeds from rareseeds.com too !