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Three-pressure Canner Weight Sets

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Tired of babysitting your pressure canner? Buy a three-pressure weight!

Traditional dial-gauge canners require you to baby-sit them and continually adjust the heat to maintain the pressure. You’ll think you have it correct and then it’ll start climbing again! Or worse, it’ll drop and you have to start all over, possibly turning your food to mush. All that fluctuating pressure can lead to your liquid syphoning out of your jars. A three-pressure weight set will help! It’s much easier to listen to the weight jiggle while you are cleaning up the kitchen – or sitting on the couch. With a three-pressure weight set, the the exact heat setting under the canner isn’t quite so critical, so it’s much easier to maintain. A more even pressure keeps the syphoning to a minimum. Did I mention you can sit on the couch?

Mirro

Mirro's version of the 3-pressure weight set.Mirro has shipped with its canners for years a weight that is capable of the three different pressures that the USDA requires for the definition of a canner. Presto and All-American haven’t always done this. I do not have any [easyazon-link asin=”B000RNH7PQ” locale=”us”]Mirro canners[/easyazon-link], but it is my understanding that the newest ones are shipping with three separate weights rather than the [easyazon-link asin=”B000U7QEXK” locale=”us”]“hockey-puck” style[/easyazon-link] shown here. This hockey-puck style weight “jiggles” every few seconds to maintain the proper pressure.

All-American

All-American’s older models shipped without a three-pressure weight. You had to constantly adjust the heat of your burner under your canner to maintain the proper pressure according to the dial-gauge.

Their newer canners ship with a [easyazon-link asin=”B000S8I0YC” locale=”us”]weight that is very similar in design[/easyazon-link] to the old Mirro setup. You can buy the parts to retrofit your older model.

This weight also “jiggles” only every few seconds.

Presto

Presto’s traditional weight is a 15 pound regulator. As with the older All-American canners, you had to constantly adjust the heat under your canner to maintain the proper pressure. (Of course, if you need to can at 15 pounds pressure, you can use this weight as-is.) Presto has a a [easyazon-link asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us”]three-piece weight set[/easyazon-link] available for its canners. This weight set allows you to choose a set pressure of five, ten or fifteen pounds. The Presto weights will rock gently when you’ve reached your set pressure.

Presto’s Traditional 15 Pound Pressure Weight
One version of Presto's traditional 15 pound weight.

Presto’s Three-piece Weight SetPresto's Three-piece Weight Set

The three-piece weight set, set up for 10 pounds pressure.Presto's three-piece weight set, setup for 10 pounds pressure

The three-piece weight set, set up for 15 pounds pressure.Presto's three-piece weight set, setup for 15 pounds pressure

This is the Mirro version of the Presto three-piece weight set. All-American’s weight is very similar to this.Mirro's 3 pressure weight and vent tube.

A brief video of the Presto three-piece weight set in action:

The traditional Presto 15lb weight:[easyazon-image align=”center” asin=”B0014IGAPG” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41kPPh0W2mL._SL160_.jpg” width=”130″]

[easyazon-cta align=”center” asin=”B0014IGAPG” height=”28″ key=”amazon-us-small-orange” locale=”us” width=”120″]
The Presto 3-pressure weight set: [easyazon-image align=”center” asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/3121uUIqs5L._SL160_.jpg” width=”158″]

[easyazon-cta align=”center” asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ height=”28″ key=”amazon-us-small-orange” locale=”us” width=”120″]
The Mirro 3-pressure weight: [easyazon-image align=”center” asin=”B000U7QEXK” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4129R14HtzL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″] [easyazon-cta align=”center” asin=”B000U7QEXK” height=”28″ key=”amazon-us-small-orange” locale=”us” width=”120″] The All-American 3-pressure weight: [easyazon-image align=”center” asin=”B000S8I0YC” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RkoxAYaWL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″] [easyazon-cta align=”center” asin=”B000S8I0YC” height=”28″ key=”amazon-us-small-orange” locale=”us” width=”120″]

Vintage Cookie Plates for the Assistent Mixer

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Need to make some cookies in your Assistent mixer, 1950’s style?

The Assistent mixer has been around for many decades and the model shown on the front of that manual in the picture below appears to be an N4. I believe the N4 dates to the 1950s.

These cookie plates would attach in place of the grinder plate at the end of the meat grinder and you’d feed your cookie dough through – and out would come a strip of formed cookie dough, which you would then cut to whatever size you wanted.

Aren’t they just plain cool?

assistent-mixer-cookie-plates-manual

assistent-mixer-cookie-plates

Canning Ladles

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Where was this ladle when I was looking for one for canning?

RSVP Canning Ladle
RSVP Canning Ladle

A year ago I went on a search for a ladle to use for canning. I wanted something stainless, something with a long handle and something that would hold a lot of product to fill jars quickly. I eventually went with a [easyazon-link asin=”B008K3Z76Q” locale=”us”]commercial food service ladle that held 8 ounces[/easyazon-link].

Before I settled on that one, I had found [easyazon-link asin=”B000063Y7U” locale=”us”]one with a rim around the edge[/easyazon-link] that was supposed to prevent drips. It worked well and was a high quality product, but the handle was too short for a deep stockpot, and it was also heavy.

I’m going to have to try this one because I’ve often wished for pouring spouts! It also holds 8 ounces.

I also noticed [easyazon-link asin=”B007PC4E4Y” locale=”us”]another stainless canning ladle[/easyazon-link] that is a little smaller at only 6 ounces. There are also two plastic ones. While I’m not fond of plastic, the [easyazon-link asin=”B007QT4GNU” locale=”us”]Progressive International Canning Scoop[/easyazon-link] looks interesting because of its shape – it should get into pot corners very well. But it appears to have a very short handle.

If anyone else has this – or if you decide to try it, please leave me comments below. I’ll update this post with my thoughts on it after I get a chance to try it this canning season.

Vintage Bosch Deluxe Stainless Bowl Parts List

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I found the parts list below and thought it would be interesting to archive for posterity. Bosch still makes the big bowl show below. It is the [easyazon-link asin=”B0006DOROQ” locale=”us”]MUZ-6ER1 Stainless Steel Bowl[/easyazon-link]. Unfortunately, the small bowl with double beaters is no longer produced.

See my post for the original Bosch Stainless Bowl.

Bosch Deluxe Stainless Steel Bowl Parts List

Converting or Upgrading an Old Pressure Canner

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Old National Canner in need of Refurbishment

Found an old canner in grandma’s basement? Or maybe you just want to add a new weighted system to your existing canner so that you don’t have to babysit a gauge anymore? Old pressure canners sometimes used funky pressure adjustment and relief systems that no longer work or have parts available. Can you fix this with something new? Maybe . . .

Disclaimer: These modifications do not necessarily correspond to the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s specifications. Any modifications you make are your responsibility. While I’ve made the following modifications to my canners, I cannot, will not, and do not take any responsibility for you or your canners. (In short, know what you are doing so you don’t hurt yourself, your family, your house, your cat or the neighbor who likes to peep out her window to see what you are doing.)

I am going to consider three examples below and tell you what I would do, or in the second two cases, have done, to bring some old technologies into the present.

A Presto Canner lid showing an older vent pipe, weight and empty over-pressure plug hole, from top-to-bottom:

Presto Canner Lid Vent Pipe and Overpressure Plug Hole

 In the picture to the left, you see an older Presto canner lid with an older-model vent tube. While I believe these vent tubes are still available, along with a newer-but-different weight, you might decide that you want to upgrade to a [easyazon-link asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us”]three-piece weight set[/easyazon-link].

I’d swap out that old-style vent tube with a new [easyazon_link identifier=”B015ZNB9Y2″ locale=”US” tag=”cwj-20″]Presto 1058 vent tube[/easyazon_link] and use the [easyazon-link asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us”]three-piece weight set[/easyazon-link].

An All-American Canner Lid showing the Petcock, old over-pressure plug and gauge, from left-to-right:

All-American Canner Lid

 Here’s an older All-American canner with the petcock and the old-style over-pressure plug. That over-pressure plug is no longer made and the new one won’t fit. What do you do? So long as that over-pressure plug is still intact, it should be fine according to All-American, when I emailed them. (I left mine and it seems to have been fine for years now.) If you need to replace the over-pressure plug, the petcock can be used as an over-pressure device. You would then add a new [easyazon_link identifier=”B015ZNB9Y2″ locale=”US” tag=”cwj-20″]vent-tube[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon-link asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us”]weight[/easyazon-link] in place of your blown-out over pressure plug.

A National canner lid showing the over-pressure device, gauge and pressure knob,  from left-to-right:

Natianal Pressure Canner Lid

 This National canner is certainly showing its age. It has an ancient over-pressure device and a pressure adjustment knob, that I’ve read was absolutely horrible to set correctly. Of course, the gauge is also a rusty mess. When I bought my small 12-quart National, it was in about the same shape as the one shown in the picture. I replaced that old over-pressure device with a new All-American petcock. The pressure adjustment knob, I replaced with the [easyazon_link identifier=”B015ZNB9Y2″ locale=”US” tag=”cwj-20″]Presto 1058 vent tube[/easyazon_link] and use the [easyazon-link asin=”B000HMBVQ8″ locale=”us”]50332 weight set[/easyazon-link]. The gauge I replaced with a [easyazon-link asin=”B000GD55LA” locale=”us”]Presto 85771[/easyazon-link]. It’s been working great for a couple years now.

Again, I won’t recommend that you make modifications to any pressure vessel you may own, but this is what I would do, and have done, to mine.

Note: The last time I ordered the Presto 1058 vent tube, I did not receive the same 1058 vent tube I’ve always gotten. Apparently there is a new design, or the suppliers have messed something up. In order to work with the Presto 3-piece weight set, the 1058 vent tube must have a chamfered or beveled outside edge on top. The two that I received were flat-topped and DID NOT WORK with the 3-piece weight set. Please see my post on the refurbishment of my Presto 21-B Canner for a picture that shows the proper 1058 vent tube that Will work with the 3-piece weight set.