All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner
Last updated date: November 18, 2019
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We looked at the top Pressure Cookers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Pressure Cooker you should buy.
Overall Take
You can preserve up to 19 standard pint jars with the All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner, which is built specifically for food preserving. The simple on-off cover makes this pressure cooker canner easy and safe to use. The lid has clamping wing nuts that hold the cover in place when needed, but make it easy to remove once canning is finished. In our analysis of 1 expert reviews, the All American All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner placed 1st when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
Editor's Note June 2, 2020:
Checkout The Best Pressure Cooker for a detailed review of all the top pressure cookers.
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From The Manufacturer
An Overview On Pressure Cookers
Pressure cookers have come a long way in recent years. Although pressure cooking is certainly nothing new, traditional cookware could be dangerous. Today’s pressure cookers use a sealing system that keeps contents safely inside, then release steam gradually. They’re so easy to operate, even a novice can handle them safely.
There are two major types of pressure cookers, though. The electric pressure cookers designed for making meals have become the most popular type. These units operate as slow cookers, pressure cookers and rice cookers in one handy device. You can even make yogurt and cheesecake in this type of cooker.
Another type of pressure cooking is geared specifically toward canning. Although you can cook meals in these units, they aren’t quite as user-friendly as all-in-one units. They also tend to have a much higher capacity, as they’re designed to hold multiple jars of foods.
If you participate in canning, a pressure cooker is the best way to go. The USDA says pressure canning is the only safe method for canning meat, fish, poultry and all vegetables. Traditional water bath canners can only reach temperatures of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which isn’t hot enough to kill off bacteria that grows in foods with low acid levels. Pressure canning takes care of that, keeping you and your loved ones safe.
When your goal is cooking meals, though, you have a different set of considerations. Capacity is an important factor, but most popular pressure cookers can make meals for up to six people. Smaller households may still need that kind of capacity, though, since large items like whole chickens demand plenty of space. You may also like the fact that you can cook for groups on the rare occasions you have visitors to feed. If you plan to make items like cheesecakes in your pressure cooker, you’ll also need a special type of pan, so purchase that along with your pressure cooker.
DWYM Fun Fact
People have been preserving food for more than two centuries. A Frenchman named Nicholas Appert invented the practice in 1809, finding that when he sealed glass jars, he could save various food items for later consumption. In 1926, Hormel used the technology to create the first canned ham, and pressure-sealed food continues to occupy space in grocery stores today. Even soft drinks retain their fizzy taste through the use of pressure-seal technology. But the use of cans instead of glass for pressure sealing can also be traced back to Appert, who patented using coated cans for preserving food. Still, many consumers use glass for at-home food canning.
The Pressure Cooker Buying Guide
- Your first decision when shopping for a pressure cooker is whether you’ll be using it for canning or meal cooking. If it’s canning, the two best options are the All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner and the Presto 23 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner. The Presto 23 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner will squeeze in the most mason jars, with the ability to hold 24 half pints, 20 pints or 7 quarts. With the All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner, you’ll be able to can 19 standard regular mouth pint jars or 7 standard regular mouth quart jars.
- The Presto 23 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner goes beyond canning to let you also use it as a meal cooker when you want. It comes with a recipe booklet with more than 50 recipes to help you find the perfect meals to make.
- For cooking meals for your family, the Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker and Cuisinart CPC 600 Electric Pressure Cooker are both 6 quarts. Depending on what you’re making, this size can serve up to six people. If you plan to cook large meats like whole chickens or ribs, even a smaller household will find this size comes in handy.
- There’s a learning curve with any pressure cooker, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it’s easy. The All American 21.5 Qt. Pressure Cooker Canner has a simple on-off cover thanks to clamping wingnuts that hold the lid in place without making it too tough to remove. If you’re left-handed, you’ll love that the Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker comes with lid holders for both right- and left-handed chefs. The Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker and Cuisinart CPC 600 Electric Pressure Cooker come with intuitive push-button controls and an easy-to-read digital display.
- The Instant Pot DUO Pressure Cooker has a 24-hour delay option on the timer and automatic keep-warm feature.