PRESTO canner meets smoothtop range

[paulg]

Howdy!
We inherited a Presto 21 qt cooker-canner. However our only operational range is a smoothtop.
Do you think it will work? I have heard differing opinions.
Of course I will call both Presto and the range manufacturer but I want to hear YOUR opinions and experiences first.
Thanks!

 

[kb0nes]

Why wouldn't it work? Don't believe all the non-sense you hear on the Interwebs

 

[lowefficiency]

>> Why wouldn't it work? Don't believe all the non-sense you hear on the Interwebs

It's not nonsense.
The Presto is aluminum, and the "smoothtop" range could be an induction cooktop. If so, you're not going to get much canning done with that combination.

 

[paulg]

Excellent point regarding induction cooktops.

Excellent point regarding induction cooktops.
However, our range is a "standard" coil-under-glass. Not induction. I failed to mention this.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Depends on the range.

My first smooth top, from 1997, was a Maytag. They did not suggest a canner if it exceeded the size of the burner over one inch.

When I purchased my current range, a GE, I specifically asked about a canner. This range has a large burner, and both the manual and the salesperson stated that a canner was ok, as long as it did not exceed 100 lbs.

 

[kb0nes]

Indeed Induction would be a reason, but odds are anyone that has an induction cooktop would already know this.

I did do a Googel search and sure-nuff there are scads of reasons it won't work. The only one that really makes sense to me is if the bottom of the pot covers too much area past the edge of the coil, long term use could cause overheating under the glass top.

Everything else I saw didn't make much sense. Total weight will never be over 50 lbs and unlike using a frying pan the temperature will be a reasonable 250F max.

It will certainly work as well or better then using it on a typical residential gas stove. I wouldn't give it a second thought as far as using it on my smooth top range.

 

[paulg]

Thanks much for the rapid data

Big thanks for the great info.
The techie in me will fill the unit with water as instructed and check the weight. I doubt there is a problem but I am quite curious.
The max temp of about 250 never occurred to me.

 

[norgeway]

its works fine

I had a glass top Hotpoint at one time, canned on it withmy ancient Wards Magic Seal which was a presto.

 

[tomturbomatic]

There are limit thermostats under the glass, I think. Bringing that large canner up to 10 lbs. of pressure might trip the thermal safety a time or two, but sooner or later, you should be cooking. It's not like you have a Corning cook top with the thermostatic surface units that only worked well with the special cookware.

 

[rp2813]

Gas is by far my preferred fuel for pressure cooking.  The flame can be perfectly adjusted and responds quickly. 

 

I do have a two-burner smooth top unit as part of my Gagge-nau-bueno "Vario" cooktop, and they cycle on and off rather than stay "lit" (as it were, these days).    I was skeptical about them at first, but they're surprisingly good for adjusting, as they have infinite heat controls.

 

[combo52]

Using A Cast Aluminum Canner On A ST Range

It should work just fine, but be cautious as with all bare aluminum cookware not to drag it around on the glass top when the element is on or you might have aluminum transfer on to the glass top.

 

ST ranges have temperature limiters that limit max glass temps to around 1000F, cast iron electric surface elements limit temps to around 850F and regular coil elements can easily reach 1500F or more.

 

John L.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Hans and I can tell you how easy it is to pressure cook with electric elements, especially with the fixed heat switches even with Frigidaire Radiantubes.

I am happy for everyone who is able to cook with the method of their preference. It's just another of those joys of life.

 

[xraytech]

Grandma Rose used to use her Mirro pressure canner and her sisters Alcamatic all the time on her 70s GE smoothtop