[Top 3] Best Pressure Canners in 2024

Have you always wanted to get into canning but don’t know how to start?

Canning is an amazing skill to have when preserving all kinds of food, from jellies to pickles.

THT wanted to test and approve the top [3] best pressure canners on the market today, so that’s exactly what we did!

We evaluated each machine based on the following parameters:

• Number of racks
• Pressure regulation
• Safety
• Value for money

Being able to preserve food can be vital when you’re batch cooking or thinking of long-term supplies of foods.

Storing food in cans is also quite an efficient way in terms of storage and rationing.

Shopping for a pressure canner isn’t as simple as picking up a frying pan, though, so check out our full guide below on what to look for.

After extensively testing each pressure canner, we found that these [3] pressure canners made our top list for the best pressure canner options of 2024:

• All-American 921 21.5-Quart Pressure Canner—Best Pressure Canner
• Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner—Top Option for Glass-Tops
• Mirro 92122A 22-Quart Pressure Canner—Top Budget Option 

What to Consider Before Buying

These are the main features to focus on when shopping for pressure canners:

• Cover type
• Pressure gauge
• Overpressure plug
• Size and weight

Cover Type

Two main types of covers are used:

• Lockdown
• Screw-down

Lockdown

The lockdown lid rotates to lock itself into place and uses rubber gaskets.

However, the rubber gaskets require higher maintenance since they can crack or lose their elasticity with time.

They can also make cleaning the lid more tedious since you have to remove it and then place it back.

Screw-Down

A screw-down lid, on the other hand, is simply placed on the main unit and then screwed down tightly using wingnuts.

The seal is formed by direct metal-to-metal contact, so there are no replaceable parts involved, and it should last a long time.

It’s important to note that you should tighten the lid symmetrically, with opposite wingnuts being tightened in sequence.

Pressure Gauge

There are two types of gauges:

• Dial
• Weighted

Dial Gauges

A dial gauge is simply a watch-face instrument with a hand that points to the current temperature inside the pressure canner.

You can use it to keep monitoring the pressure inside at all times.

However, it doesn’t control the internal pressure, so you’ll have to be present to keep adjusting the heat and make sure it’s at the right level.

Weighted Gauges

A weighted gauge works as an automatic regulator, usually with three settings, measured in pressure per square inch, or PSI for short:

• 5 PSI
• 10 PSI
• 15 PSI

The weight acts by jiggling when the pressure becomes high enough, and then it jiggles faster to relieve any excess build-up inside the canner.

This is handy because you don’t have to constantly attend it while it works.

See how a pressure canner jiggles in this video.

Overpressure Plug

This is a valve topped with black rubber that acts as an extra safety mechanism.

In the event of any failure in the pressure canner’s main venting mechanism, this plug kicks in by popping the rubber out and safely relieving the excess pressure inside the canner.

Having this in your pressure canner is a plus.

Extra safety is always better!

Size and Weight

You can figure out the size you need by knowing how often and how much you’ll be preserving food.

Most pressure canners used for preservation have enough capacity to house at least nine 1-pint jars or four 1-quart jars with ease.

As for the weight, these canners are usually heavy because they’re built to withstand pressure.

However, one that’s too heavy can end up being tougher to move around, as well as crack a glass-top stove.

If you own one of those, it’s important to find a pressure canner that’s rated for a glass-top stove.

How Does Pressure Canning Preserve Food?

As the pressure builds up inside the home canner, the temperature also goes up.

When it’s hot enough, all the microorganisms die, and the air is driven out of the jar. 

When you take the jars out and let them cool, a vacuum seal forms, which ensures nothing gets back in.

As such, the food won’t spoil inside the jar unless it’s opened and the seal is broken.

Can You Pressure Can With a Pressure Cooker?

No, you can’t, unless it’s rated as a canner.

The reason for this is that a pressure cooker’s walls are usually thinner and, thus, more likely to rupture at the higher pressure it takes to can the food.

Trust us; you don’t want such a catastrophe happening in your kitchen!

What Factors Drove Our Ratings

These are the main factors we focused on when evaluating the top pressure canners:

• The Number of Racks – It’s important to find a machine with multiple racks so that you can seal multiple jars at once.
• Pressure Regulation – We prefer automated regulation, as it’s easier to keep track of and takes less watching time.
• Safety – The more safety valves, the better. When working with heat and pressure, you want to ensure your safety as best you can.
• Value for Money – Each pressure canner must be worth the price for it to make our list.

User reviews were also a large part of our research, to ensure verified buyers were happy with their purchases, and to compare our findings with the reviews.

Here at The Healthy Treehouse, we value quality over quantity. If we felt that the cost was greater than the value of what the appliance included, that model would be excluded from the list.

Top-Rated Best Pressure Canners—Best Pressure Canner

Presenting our favorite pressure canner of all, the All-American 921 21.5-Quart Pressure Canner.

Made from cast aluminum with extra thickness at the edges, this canner option features a screw-down lid with wingnuts, which makes it easy to maintain.

Also, the bakelite top handle remains cool for safety and user-friendliness.

On top of these, the geared steam gauge and adjustable pressure regulator are ideal for automatic readings.

Two extra automatic vents come with this canner—a safety control valve and an overpressure plug, which remove excess pressure safely.

We also like the extra rack to stack up the smaller jars and the domed lid for some additional room on top.

The Number of Racks

We loved that this pressure canner came with two racks, with the one on top being slightly smaller for smaller cans.

Pressure Regulation

Pressure is automatically regulated in this All-American pressure canner, which is our preference during the canning process.

Safety

Extra safety is provided by two valves and the bakelite handle stays cool during the pressure canning process. We did not have any issues with heat or burning ourselves when testing this canner.

Value for Money

This canning pressure cooker comes in a few sizes which determine the final price. The larger the model, the more expensive the pressure canner. No matter the size you get, this is the top product for the money.

User Reviews

Elizabeth (verified customer) has this to say about her pressure canner, “This canner is the Cadillac of canners. It will last you for a lifetime and fit everything you’d like to preserve.”

Why Buy This Product

For the best pressure canning experience, buy this product.

This pressure cooker for canning comes in many sizes to fit everyone’s needs, big or small.

Top-Rated Best Pressure Canners—Top Option for Glass-Tops

With this Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner, you don’t just get a pressure canner; you can also use it as a water-bath canner, giving you more preservation options.

It is the best pressure cooker for canning on the market.

This model is dual-use; you can also use it to pressure-cook your meals.

This pressure canner and cooker features a dial pressure gauge and a lockdown lid with two side handles.

The lid also features a special lock-and-vent mechanism, which only allows pressure to build up when the lid is sealed.

Also, it only unlocks the lid when enough pressure has been vented out. 

An overpressure plug provides safety by relieving any excess build-up of pressure.

Additionally, two racks come with the product, which allows for handy jar stacking. 

The Number of Racks

Like the first model, we love that this Presto model also offers two racks for your canning convenience.

Pressure Regulation

The lid only unlocks when enough pressure lets out with a lock and vent mechanism. Check the pressure whenever you want with the dial pressure gauge.

Safety

The overpressure plug relieves any excess pressure, so there were no safety concerns when testing this pressure canner. It is also safe for use on a glass cooktop.

Value for Money

We love the affordable price of his stainless steel pressure canner for the features included.

User Reviews

Gwen (verified customer) had this to say in her review: “I’m a first-time canner. I’ve used this twice with no problems. The directions are clear, and it’s easy to use. All my jars are sealed. There were no explosions, so I’m happy with it.”

Why Buy This Product

Of all the stainless steel pressure canners, this one is the most affordable for the features.

This is the best pressure canner for beginners, as everything is safe and laid out well.

Top-Rated Best Pressure Canners—Top Budget Option

And lastly, our favorite canner for the money.

Made from heavy-gauge aluminum, this Mirro 92122A 22-Quart Pressure Canner features a lockdown lid with two side handles, making the durability and portability excellent.

Also, the adjustable weighted pressure gauge as the vent means can be used for those living at higher altitudes.

The overpressure plug acts to get rid of excess pressure and is reusable.

Moreover, you can use it as a pressure cooker to prepare juicy meals on short notice.

The Number of Racks

Our best budget model only has one rack, which is completely understandable for its very affordable price.

Pressure Regulation

The adjustable weighted pressure gauge is also the vent, so for those of us living in high altitudes, this is awesome.

Safety

This model comes with a reusable overpressure plug as an extra safety measure.

Value for Money

Of all the pressure canners, this is the most affordable without compromising on too many extra features.

User Reviews

Martha (verified customer) wrote this in her review of the product: “I have enjoyed using my canner canning my beans. Thanks for the swift shipping and a great product.”

Why Buy This Product

For those of you who are on a budget but love to can your extra summer produce, this canner is for you.

The price and quality are very reasonable and the appliance is sturdy.

Helpful Related Information

You can never be too safe, so have some heat-proof gloves on hand when you are canning.

Try these SpitJack Heat Resistant Fire Protection Gloves for protection.

Sticking your hand into a hot place may be frightening, so pick up some HIC Canning Jar Lifter Tongs for safe jar handling.

Mason jars with lids are the best for canning, and these Jarden Ball Regular Mouth Mason Jar are amazing to can your food in.

If you decide you only need a pressure cooker, not a canner, check out our list of large pressure cookers of 2024.

Just moved into a new kitchen?

Check out our kitchen essential tools for stocking the perfect healthy kitchen.

For the best quality cookware next to your pressure canner, check out our favorites here.

Can You Can? Yes, You Can!

After testing tons of pressure canners, we learned that anyone can use a pressure canner!

Our best pressure canner of 2024 is the All-American 921 21.5-Quart Pressure Canner. 

It has everything you need in a canner—great durability, reliable sealing, has a high capacity, and is safe and easy to use.

Additionally, it can regulate its internal pressure automatically, providing a hands-free canning experience.

Use up all of your excess produce from now on by making delicious canned goods that will last a long time.