Canning with an All American HELP!

Hello beautiful people

I purchased an AA canner and attempted to can up some of my leftover Turkey this past year. It was my first time using this canner. I was hoping to gain some insight. When I went to can, I attempted to regulate the temperature so that it would jiggle appropriately which I think I got pretty close to at 15 pounds of pressure. The altitude was 1010ft so I opted for 15 pounds for good measure. But my gauge never got above 11lbs reading. I was extra careful to make the lid as level as possible as well. Can anyone give insight as to what may have happened? And is the food safe? Any trouble shooting tips would be appreciated as I am fairly new to pressure canning. Thank you!

10 pounds is good ….to a point. What is missing from your information is how long it was at 10 pounds.

We’re you canning pints or quarts?

In general, the altitude should become a concern as 1000 feet is exceeded and 2000 is approached. I don’t see your altitude as a concern.

You may want to have the pressure guage tested.

I have an All American canner and live at 3000 ft.

I have not had any problems with altitude.

Maybe your fire was too low?

My suggestion would be to call All American to ask:

1-800-251-8824

They have always been helpful when I have called.

I follow the instruction that came with my canner for high altitude.

I am at 3000 feet so I add 5 minutes.

For 6000 it is 10 minutes and 6001 - 8000 feet it would be 15 minutes.

Over 8001 would be 20 minutes.

For pressure canner you also need to adjust the weight gauge, see the chart:

https://extension.sdstate.edu/altitude-adjustments-home-canning

https://permies.com/t/173794/kitchen/High-altitude-pressure-canning#1364326

https://permies.com/t/131982/kitchen/Wanting-fire-pressure-canner-time

I was at 1010ft so I used 15lb hole on the weight. And processed for whatever the time was in the ball book. 75 minutes I believe. My concern is that I used the 15lbs but the gauge didn’t get above 11lbs. I have heard that when using weighted gauge pressure canner, the dial doesn’t matter except to ensure your pressure is at zero at the end and for confirmation of targeted pressure. Is this true?

A large part of why I opted for the AA is so that I wouldn’t have to get the dial tested every year since I have the weighted canner.

Do you have the All American Instructions and recipes manual?  If so please read p. 8.

Even though you have set the pressure regulator weight at 10 lbs., the gauge may show a range during the cooking process of 8 to 12 lbs.

At no time should the pressure be allowed to rise above 15 PSI.

The Altitude Tables on p. 23 has above 2000 ft. process with 15 lb. pressure only other wise use the recipe.

If you do not have the manual please call the number that was given in the previous post.

I have three sizes of the All American Pressure Canner. Found out the first year that the gauges can be off quite a bit. It is not uncommon actually for the gauges to have issues even direct from the factory. They get bumped, jostled, jiggles, etc. during shipping and can cause them to not be accurate.

I have done a lot of canning using them. I chose a brand with the weighted gauge for this specific reason. I use the gauge as a reference but use the weight for my timing.

The first time I tried using mine it took forever and never really got a good head of stem going as it should before putting the weight on. Found out my kitchen stove just didn't produce enough heat. Didn't like that stove anyway. Got a different stove and have never looked back.

Just a heads up, most camp style stoves (which it was recommended I try) The burner sit too far below the grate and you lose too much heat before it gets to the canner.

I guess my question is: does the dial gauge matter if the correct weight is used? I have heard that the weight is the most accurate way to measure based on your altitude. If I canned the meat at 15lbs for the allotted time, then the dial would be irrelevant in that case. Could anyone advise on how to do a test run? I cannot can on my glass top but I do have a propane camp chef that I have seen used in videos before. Thank you so much

Heather Reaches wrote:I guess my question is: does the dial gauge matter if the correct weight is used? I have heard that the weight is the most accurate way to measure based on your altitude. If I canned the meat at 15lbs for the allotted time, then the dial would be irrelevant in that case. Could anyone advise on how to do a test run? I cannot can on my glass top but I do have a propane camp chef that I have seen used in videos before. Thank you so much

If the weight is jiggling at least a few times each minute and at used at the right weight for your altitude, You are golden. The dial gauge can be off, Dials are run on a spring or something and it can be damaged by bumping, hitting, falling, etc. the weight cannot be off.

Thanks Vickey! That’s what I thought but of course I would rather be safe than sorry for my growing family. Got to get some of this beef out of the freezer!

Heather Reaches wrote:I was at 1010ft so I used 15lb hole on the weight. And processed for whatever the time was in the ball book. 75 minutes I believe. My concern is that I used the 15lbs but the gauge didn’t get above 11lbs. I have heard that when using weighted gauge pressure canner, the dial doesn’t matter except to ensure your pressure is at zero at the end and for confirmation of targeted pressure. Is this true?

Gauges need to be sent and calibrated. You don’t need to worry about the gauge reading if you are using the giggler.

I use an outdoor jet stove on a very low setting and it works well.

There is a dry test run the manual recommends to sort everything out prior to the first canning.

If you chose 15lbs and the gauge showed 11lbs that is mildly suspect, but it’s likely no issue as the gauges can be off, that much though is questionable.

Weight and time and inverse variables. The lower the weight, longer the processing…

Did you test the other options of the jiggler weight to see if it may have been a rare misprint on the actual metal? I just find it suspicious to be precisely 11lbs.