canning in a pressure cooker

My friend was given a pressure cooker years ago and never used it because "too scared".

Her loss, my gain, as it now lives at my house on permanent loan.

However, the documentation doesn't give me any idea of what pressure it's giving me. So I'm hoping someone can identify this thing. The documentation has no dates. The pictures don't match the exact cooker. I can't find a serial number. I have no way to feel confidence what the pressure is that it gets to.

IF it gets to a minimum of 5 lbs, then I can use it for pressure canning as 500ml jars will fit in it. Since I can use it on my electric stove, if I've got a small quantity of produce that I'd like to preserve, I'm hoping this unit will do the job. Having researched the One Pot - the pressure the one I have does not get to 5 lbs and therefore can't be used for pressure canning. I don't want to give myself a false sense of security.

I found this picture on the web of what this unit looks like - ideas anyone?

Unfortunately, that pot is not a pressure canner - it's only a pressure cooker (kind of like a stove top instant pot). In order to be used as a pressure canner you have to know what the inside pressure is an the only way to know that is with a weighted or dial gauge.

That is a beautiful piece of cookware.

It will cook a variety of lovely foods even though you can't use it for canning.

My favorites are roast with potatoes, carrots and onion, new potatoes and green beans, and all kinds of soups and stews.

I am sure you will have fun learning to cook with it and cooking with it for many years.

Anne Miller wrote:That is a beautiful piece of cookware.

It will cook a variety of lovely foods even though you can't use it for canning.

My favorites are roast with potatoes, carrots and onion, new potatoes and green beans, and all kinds of soups and stews.

I am sure you will have fun learning to cook with it and cooking with it for many years.

Absolutely, Anne! I've used an old cooker for years, but it died of old age - the handles cracked and the screw that held the handle on had fused to the body, and the company was out of business for years also. Hubby bought me an Instant Pot, but it just doesn't work the same way, so when I discovered my friend had a pressure cooker she never used, I offered to store it for her!

Angi Schneider wrote:

In order to be used as a pressure canner you have to know what the inside pressure is an the only way to know that is with a weighted or dial gauge.

Every time you use it? If I found a way to test it under typical conditions, do you think I could assume it would do so on a repeated basis?

Angi Schneider wrote:

In order to be used as a pressure canner you have to know what the inside pressure is an the only way to know that is with a weighted or dial gauge.

Every time you use it? If I found a way to test it under typical conditions, do you think I could assume it would do so on a repeated basis?

According to the USDA, you need to know every time you use it. I would not assume anything with pressure canning, the risk is just too great. When you follow all the rules, there's no risk at all. You can find a simple Presto canner for under $100 which is what I would recommend starting with. Then you'll never have to question the safety of your jars.