Using Pressure Canner as BWB

[zxcvbob]

I've done this before and it works swell. I lock down the lid with
the vent open. When the steam *pours* out, I start the timer but I
turn the heat down so it keeps boiling but not so much steam. I
didn't know it was in PFB.
Regards, Bob

Terrel wrote:
>
> I just picked up "Putting Food By". The book notes that you can use
> your Pressure Canner for a Boiling Water Bath.
>
> It says to put enough water to come up to the shoulders of the jars,
> start the water heating, put the jars in, lay the lid on the sealing
> rim of the canner but do NOT lock it, leave the vent open, and after a
> strong flow of escaping steam is established, start timing as
> recommended for the BWB.
>
> Has anyone tried this? Does it work well?
>
> I would be very excited if it does work well. I have an electric
> stove and I'm having a heck of a time finding a large enough pot to do
> quarts in a BWB. Everything that I find has a ridged bottom or a
> bottom with a circular indent, and I need something with a smooth
> bottom for the electric burners.
>
> Also, the book notes, right after the paragraph about using a Pressure
> Canner for a BWB, that if you lock the lid you get 1 to 1 1/2 pounds
> of pressure even with the vent open, and that "... At PFB's altitude
> this is good. We use it only to ensure that our B-W Bath is hot enough
> ...".
>
> I'm not sure if that is just an added informational statement, or if
> it means that instead of leaving the lid unlocked, as noted in the
> previous paragraph of the book, the lid should be locked. Can someone
> help clarify that for me?
>
> Thanks!
> Terrel

[Ellen Wickberg]

We just use ours as a large pot and use another lid ( not the pressure
canner lid) to cover it. Our only problem is that such a thick pot takes a
lot longer to heat up than the thinner BWBs. Ellen
----------

[zxcvbob]

Yes, but you are heating less water. IMHO, that more than makes up for
the extra metal.
Bob

[cr...@home.com]

I too thought Ah-Ha when readingt this in the PFB I borrowed from the
library. I followed the directions and did not lock the lid. I had
steam and water everywhere. Stove cleaned up nice with all that
boiling water. I was doing tomato juice and you all know how that
splatters. Next time tho I will lock the lid and leave the vent open.
PFB is going on my birthday list for this year. I had been
following the Ball Blue Book but PFB runs circles around that.

Happy Canning,
Crystal

[Mooflower]

Terrell -

I haven't tried it yet, but the instructions with my Pressure Canner also says
that you can use it for the BWB method.

It's my first year and I'm a bit nervous to start but I guess my tomatoes
aren't going to wait all winter for me to get going.

If you try it, please let me know how it goes!