Cleaning and Storing Your Pressure Canner

Some people use their pressure canner rarely and others are always preserving something. Some are old hands at pressure canning and others are just beginning. No matter where you fall, you need to perform cleaning on your canner and you need to know how to store it properly. If you follow these cleaning and storage tips you will definitely prevent some canning problems in the future.

I use a Mirro pressure canner. It is the vent type. Always read your pressure canner instructions as there are minor differences in canners. The majority of this article will ring true for most.

The Pressure Canner

Wash with soapy water, rinse and dry the canner. You can use a steel wool pad and soap to gently scrub the inside. Or you can put 2 tablespoons of cream of tarter in a quart of water and boil on the stove. DO NOT have the canner cover on when you do this. I have also used baking soda and warm, soapy water to wash mine with. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a towel. Don't forget to wash and rinse the outside of your canner!

The cover and tube vent

Wash the cover with warm soapy water too. First, take the gasket out and put it in the water. Now scrub the cover inside and outside. Rinse well. If you have a tube vent (the pointy thing where steam comes out on the top of the cover) take a piece of wire or a tooth pick and clean the tube. Even if you can see through the tube, you can still get gunk out of it. Make sure the tube is clean by looking through it towards the light. Rinse tube well.

The gasket

The gasket needs a thorough cleaning on both sides and in the little crease that runs around the inside. Rinse and dry the gasket very well. Now check your gasket for wear spots, knicks and cracks. If you find any its time to buy a new gasket. You have to have a good seal on your cover, if your gasket is worn or defected the contents of your canner are in jeopardy.

The handles and lock

The handles of your pressure canner need washing and they need to be inspected before each use. I couldn't get my pressure canner to hold pressure. When I shut it down and started looking, I found that there was a small hard crumb that was keeping the lock from engaging. I always check my handles before each canning now.

Storage

Storage of your pressure canner is pretty easy. After you wash, rinse and dry everything, turn the cover upside down on the canner. DO NOT set it on the canner and lock it. I put my pressure canner on a shelf in the basement and lay a towel over the top of it to keep dust to a minimum.

Do the above cleaning EVERYTIME you use your pressure canner. It will last longer and perform better if its clean. Basically, cleaning and storing your canner is just common sense!

Sources:
My own experience
Mirro directions that came with pressure canner.