Presto 01755 Aluminum Pressure Canner and Cooker 16 Qt

Overview

A 16-quart aluminum canner from Presto, built around the USDA-recommended pressure method for canning vegetables, meats, poultry and seafood at home. It also runs as a boiling-water canner for jams, pickles and salsa in half-pint and pint jars, and works on gas, electric or smooth-top ranges.

The deluxe dial gauge is the notable feature: it reads processing pressure directly, which matters most at higher altitudes where pressure has to be adjusted upward. Presto has made this canner for decades, so replacement gaskets and gauges are easy to find years later. It is a specialty tool built around one job rather than an everyday cooking pot.

• 16-quart capacity
• USDA-recommended pressure canning method
• Runs on gas, electric or smooth-top ranges
• Doubles as a water-bath canner

Who it's for

Home canners who process meat, low-acid vegetables or seafood and need the pressure method the USDA recommends, plus gardeners with a seasonal glut of produce to preserve. Not for someone who wants a fast everyday cooker, since the 16-quart size is built around jars, not weeknight meals.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

Pressure builds from stovetop heat and is read off the dial gauge rather than a weighted jiggler, so accuracy depends on watching the dial and adjusting burner heat to hold it steady. Aluminum conducts heat quickly, shortening time to pressure, but that means the burner needs attention to avoid overshooting. The canner also works as a straightforward boiling-water bath for high-acid recipes when pressure processing is not needed.

Specifications