Did You Know You Can Use a Pressure Cooker for Canning? All American 921 Pressure Cooker / Canner Review

All American 921 pressure cooker - built to last - click on the image to see it on Amazon

First of all, it doesn’t have a gasket. The “metal-to-metal” sealing system provides a steam-tight seal. No parts will ever wear, no matter how much you use the cooker. Rubber gaskets are inevitably worn out after a few years. Finding replacement gaskets that fit can be a real challenge, especially for older models of pressure cookers. And even the newest cookers of today will eventually turn into tomorrow’s old cookware.

It is made from durable, hand-cast aluminum. This makes it much lighter than a stainless steel one. Even so, it still weighs 20 pounds. It’s solid and durable. I was impressed with one of the user reviews on Amazon. That lady said she had a 30 year old All American canner, still in perfect shape:

I can’t add anything the other reviews other that mine is over 30 year old it is in perfect shape. I’ve been told that my Grandmother sent 1000′s of cans through this in her day and I intend to do the same. The company’s web site is very good if you need replacement parts but I doubt you’ll ever need them.

The screws that seal the lid to the pot look sturdy. I’d feel safe around this cooker running at full pressure. I happen to know the victim of a terrible kitchen accident in which the lid went off an improvised pressure pot. The recovery was absolutely awful, the poor guy went through skin transplants, several reconstructive surgeries and a lot of pain. I’d never buy a cheap pressure cooker. Steam can cause horrible burns, therefore safety is a priority when shopping for such cookware.

The All American 921 pressure cooker and canner is made from durable aluminum and it has no plastic or rubber gaskets. The pressure gauge is fixed on the lid and it's very easy to read. There are three pressure value settings. Click on the pot to see more on Amazon.

It is BIG. This would make my life so much easier around holidays, when the family gets together. To give you only one example, there’s a delicious traditional Romanian dish called Salata de Boeuf, which calls for boiling big chunks of meat and lots of potatoes, carrots, parsnip and celery root. The traditional dish is made with beef. I don’t know how it comes, but cows here seem to be about Methuselah’s age by the time they get slaughtered, this is how tough the meat is. Boiling it in a normal pot would take you 4-5 hours minimum. Use a pressure cooker and you can have it done in 45 minutes to one hour. A big pressure cooker offers enough room to boil meat and vegetables together. In 10-15 minutes the veggies would be done. Just take the cooker off the stovetop, let it cool a little until all pressure is released, take the vegetables out, then return it on the heat and cook until the meat is done as well. This is good if you’re in a hurry. I’ll explain you in another post, dedicated to Salata de Boeuf. For now, let’s stick to pressure cookers.

They say on Amazon that this cooker can accommodate 19 pint jars or 7 quart jars. If I buy it, I intend to use it for canning foods. I’m pleased with this size. If I make two batches I’ll have canned foods throughout the whole winter. I used to sterilize the jars in hot water bath. Most of the times I did a good job. However, I read that pressure cookers are highly recommended for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. The reason is that high heat generated in these cookers kills more bacteria. I can’t wait to turn myself into a serial bacteria killer! I just need to get the big weapon.

The pressure regulator features three presets. The pressure gauge gives a clear reading, so you have the canning process totally under control.