All American Aluminum Stovetop Pressure Cooker, 21.5-Quart

Last updated: February 17, 2023


This larger-size pressure cooker is ideal for big families or those who can in large quantities. A metal-on-metal seal keeps you safe while a satin finish makes for easy cleanup.

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.

Product Details

In our analysis of 65 expert reviews, the All American Aluminum Stovetop Pressure Cooker, 21.5-Quart placed 11th when we looked at the top 21 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Only the ALL AMERICAN Pressure Canner features an exclusive, precision machined “metal-to-metal” sealing system. These Pressure Canners for canning feature positive action clamping locks that align the cover to the base, forming a steam-tight seal. Since the seal does not use a gasket, the cover can be easily opened and closed. The ALL AMERICAN Canner makes it easy to can fish, meat, vegetables and fruits – it’s the only method the USDA recommends for low-acid foods. All canning pressure cooker models feature a precision machined regulator weight for accurate pressure control and an easy-to-read, 8.5 x 5.5″ Instruction and Recipe Book. Suitable for gas, electric, or flat top stoves. The high heat generated by a pressure cooker can kill more bacteria than a regular hot water bath, making this pressure cooker the ideal tool for canning vegetables and non-acid fruit. The metal-to-metal seal permits venting under unusual pressure conditions, making the seal safer than conventional rubber or composition gasket cookers. Crafted of the finest hand-cast aluminum, this durable cooker/canner features a stay-cool Bakelite top handle, geared steam gauge, automatic overpressure release and pressure regulator weight with settings of 5 PSI, 10 PSI and 15 PSI. The attractive satin finish is smooth and easy to clean. Double thick edges provide added protection at the points of heaviest wear.

Our Expert Consultant

Julie Chernoff
Culinary Expert

Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

In this caner, you can also can fish. This makes this caner entirely versatile and thus it’s preferred by a lot of people.
You can use this cooker/canner for as long as you want without any significant maintenance. This cooker is made of special hand cast aluminum which is considered to be very strong and sturdy. It is also coated with a satin finish to make sure that it looks attractive in your kitchen.
What I particularly love about the All American 921 is its high quality cast aluminium build (though, you should be warned at 20lbs empty, it’s not for everyone). It heats up evenly (and also more quickly than some other larger sizes) and my meals are cooked within an hour.
The All American 921 pressure cooker is one of the easiest canners to work with and very safe also. To have you covered, it is packed with safety features such as the unique metal-to-metal seal and the two back-up safety measures in case the cooker becomes over-pressurized.
One thing that was praised highly was that it is made of thick aluminum walls so it maintains a steady pressure and even with the unit on a high setting, it slowly builds up the pressure which allows for not slaving over the stove to monitor every process, constantly venting off excess pressure.
The All-American Pressure Canner/Cooker’s unique “metal-to-metal” sealing system means not needing to buy replacement O-ring gaskets. This makes it one of the best value for money pressure canners available on the market today.
Has a metal to a metal sealing system that helps in keeping it tightly sealed. It does not allow any steam to escape. It does not have any gasket making the cover very easy to open and close.
Has a safety release when too much pressure builds up. Comes in a variety of sizes. No gaskets. Offers different ranges of psi.

What reviewers didn't like

This caner is also pretty large. This means that you can’t simply use it on all the burners because it may damage the sides of the burner. So, you have to be really careful.
Due to its size and strong design, this pressure cooker/canner can be a bit heavy for certain people.
Once full its really heavy to handle. We needed two of us to actually get it on top of the stove.
It is not recommended for ceramic or glass top ranges usage. May take some time for the pot to heat up or cool down.
The All-American Pressure Canner/Cooker while being sturdily built, has the unfortunate side-effect of being remarkably heavy when it is full. All American do not recommend moving one of their fully laden pressure canners/cookers, which would likely damage the glass jars inside if you are to do so anyway.
Price is not in everyone’s budget.
View our Pressure Cooker buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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