Here’s another thing I said I’d never buy . . and I just ordered the Nesco electric canner. While I’m not officially recommending it because I just placed my order, I was watching a Rose Red Homestead video on making nixtamal (hominy) from dried corn and she was using a Nesco and an Instant Pot electric canner. I thought . . if she can do it . . I can do it.
I ordered the canner from Kohl’s (no affiliation). The link is above. The price is $136.79 with the coupon that is shown when you place the item in your cart and free shipping. That’s the lowest price I found. Check to make sure the coupon is still working before placing your order!
Here’s what I do know – it will hold 4 quarts and I’m pretty sure the Rose Red lady (Pam) put 5 pints in her canner. Also, she processed the nixtamal for 60 minutes. It has the start up time so however long it takes to get it up to pressure and however long it takes to cool down is added time. I’m guessing for a 60 minute process, it’s probably a 2 hour jobs.
Why did I do it? First, electricity for me is way less expensive than propane. In fact, most of the year, electricity is free for us because of the solar panels. I know what you’re thinking – why did I get a gas stove? Gas is quicker. It will bring the canner up to pressure quite a bit quicker than will electricity. Second, when I turn the canner off, the heat is gone. With electric coils, they have to cool down which adds to the cooling process. Third and most important, I use the stove for things other than canning and hands down, I prefer cooking with gas.
What I think I’ll like about the electric pressure canner: I can set it up in the sun room, close the door and none of the heat will come into the house. I doubt it generates nearly as much heat as does a stove top canner. Also, it’s pretty set and forget. I will walk away from the All American canners and can trust that they will stay at the same level but I never go far. If they’re going in the downstairs garage, I keep the door open so I can hear the jiggler going from the living room.
Another thing I will love is that often I have just a few things I’d like to can. I have a small All American canner that I think will hold 4 quarts but again, I feel like I’m wasting propane if I don’t have the big canner loaded with 14 quarts of whatever I’m canning. If I go to Aldi and they have chicken on sale (like that’s every going to happen these days), I will get enough chicken to fill four quarts and come home and can it. As I get older, it’s harder to process enough food for 14 quarts to fill the big canner.
The electric canner will never completely replace the stove top canners. It would take way too long to can 4 quarts at a time but when the garden is producing small amounts, this will be so handy.
Sibyl says
Glad to hear you got an electric one. I have the Preston digital canner, in fact I have 2 of them. Since my stove is induction, I can’t use my All American one on there–I can set up the camp stove to can, but haven’t as of yet–hope to this fall when it’s a bit cooler. These canners really do not produce much heat at all. You can touch them and they are warm, but not like using the stove for heating. I have to be careful on how I use them, as they will blow a circuit. I am limited in my kitchen as I can put one on one side and the other on another side of the kitchen. Mine will do 5 quarts which is really nice. So I can do 10 at a time. Yes it was a bit more than the Nesco, but that is ok also. I had purchased these about 18 months ago, but only within the last few months started using them. Can’t wait to see your adventures with these.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Let me know if you ever run into any food safety issues with them. If I decide to get a second one, I’ll look at the Presto. Being able to do 10 quarts, even though it’s in two canners, is pretty amazing.
Tee says
I am on the Facebook group and they only allow safe recipes and canning practices to be discussed. This is what they say about the Nesco canner – “As of yet, NO electric/digital pressure cooker/”canners” have been tested and shown to be safe for home pressure canning. Three have failed independent laboratory testing (Power XL, InstantPot, and Nesco//Carey). The Presto electric unit is still being tested by OSU (Oregon). They estimate testing will be completed by early 2023. Unless and until we hear differently, we do not recommend canning in any electric pressure unit. (Note that the Ball electric water-bath canner is fine.)”. Also, the National Center for Home Preservation do not feel electric canners are safe. “No USDA thermal process work has been done with jars inside an electric pressure cooker, tracking the actual temperatures inside the jars throughout the process. “. I have no idea if politics are involved or competition amongst canning companies, etc. All I know is that if you google electric pressure canner safety, you can look at the data. Of course, I only preserve foods that are safe for water bath canning. I do not pressure can.
Sibyl says
Go to Red Rose Homestead’s youtube site–she has done extensive testing of these electric canners. He has put the temperature to the test to see what is safe. The Presto and the Nesco are both within the safe margin to be good for canning under pressure. I am on quite a a few of the FB canning groups. Some do not approve of the electric, while others do. I feel comfortable using mine.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Pam at Rose Red is a scientist and her husband is some technical person and they’ve done some extensive testing too. Of course, I am not a scientist but it just doesn’t seem like rocket science to get a pressurized pot to 10 psi and keep it there. My feeling is that if the USDA cared, with the popularity of these pots, they would have tested them by now so, just my opinion, but it seems they prefer to keep us thinking they’re not safe.
I have looked at all the data and that’s why I was against using them but after hearing what Pam at Rose Red had to say . . I’m going to give it a try.
Pam Thorne says
I have two Nesco canners and love them! I bought the first one and loved it so much I bought the second one for larger batches after I had to use my stovetop canner one day. I’ve even left home when it was running and it was ready for another load when I returned.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
That’s definitely something we couldn’t/shouldn’t do with stovetop canners. Glad you like yours.
Susan says
Thank you for posting this. I have been waiting for the technology to mature to where it is safe! I just spent 2 hours watching Pam at Rose Red so I appreciate the link to her site as well as you posting what is a really great deal on the Nesco. You made it so easy for me!
Tee says
I pulled the trigger and ordered one this morning. My garden is going crazy (planting 30 tomato plants does that!). I am excited to get going with it! I found it on super-shop for $115.00, plus credit from Rakuten.