Did you know that not all stove tops should be treated equal when it comes to canning? As we are all too aware, pressure canners can get very heavy but did you know that water baths have their own issues when canning too? Learn the nuances of different stove types below to determine if your stove is safe to can on.
Table of Contents:
– Gas Stove –
In general, gas stoves are desired when canning since it is much quicker to bring the water to temp and easier to maintain constant heat.
Pressure Canners: Take note of the BTUs of each individual stove burner – typically there is at least 1 burner that has higher BTUs than the others. Compare these against the manual on your pressure canner. If the BTU is too high, it can warp your canner. This is also true of outdoor camping stoves!
Water Bath: No issues.
– Electric Coil Stove-
Pressure Canners: Verify the weight limit of each coil in the stove manual. To avoid the possibility of the boils breaking, it is often suggested to swap out a coil for a canning coil (such as this Canning Coil on Amazon).
Another option is to purchase a stand alone electric burner plate. As with an electric coil, you must take note of the weight limit of the plate. I personally use this one: Cadco Professional.
Water Bath: As mentioned before, just verify the weight limit of each coil. Typically, the water bath won’t exceed the limit but it is always nice to be aware.
– Glass Top (Smooth) Stove-
Pressure Canners: Verify with the stove manufacturer / manual, the approved canners for the stove. This may not always be explicitly written in the manual and may require calling the manufacturer. It is very common for pressure canners to not be allowed on glass tops since the chance of breaking is so high. For example, only a select few of the All American Pressure Canners are approved for glass top stoves since their stand alone weight is so heavy. I personally suggest the purchase of the stand alone burner plate. When looking for a burner plate, make sure it rated to hold the weight of the full canner (like the Cadco Professional).
Water Bath: The canner must have a smooth bottom. The ridged bottoms trap heat which can ruin both the canner and the stove.
– Glass Top (Induction) Stove-
Pressure Canners: The same issues as a Glass Top (Smooth) apply but now you have the additional problems with an induction top. In order to activate the induction top, you must have a canner that is magnetic. Presto make a pressure canner that is specifically stated for induction stove tops.
Water Bath: Since induction works with the magnetism of the pot, some standard water bath canners may not work. A large smooth bottomed pot would work as long as the jars can be covered with 2″ of water once full.
-General Notes –
Make sure your canners do not hang more than 1″ over the edge of the burner area.
When in doubt, always read through both your canning manual and your stove manual to compare and/or call the stove manufacturer about your specific model.
A few pressure canner manuals can be found linked here: Inspecting & Testing your Pressure Canner under Quick Links.
