Pressure Cooker Gaskets
09-10-2020, 11:39 AM
#1
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,387
Pressure Cooker Gaskets
They do not always seal tightly.
I have learned (again, the hard way) - that I need to do a "test run" and/or soak the gasket in hot water for at least 30 minutes before using my 22-quart pressure cooker.
I should have been "aware" - when steam was pouring out from under the lid - and kept coming out and kept coming out - that it was not sealed properly .
After running two batches of tomatoes - and remembering to soak that gasket - it is now behaving properly. The first batch - I think I took them out too soon. I had run the canner almost dry one year - so did not want to do that again. The second batch - it was behaving better - and after the ten minute exhausting - I carefully turned the timer off and forgot to put the weighted pressure gauge on the lid. When I remembered - who knows how long it had already cooking? The tomatoes are usable - just not as "pretty" as they could be.
I put a note in my cookbook to check first next year before putting jars of tomatoes in the cooker!
The aggravating thing about it - that is a fairly new gasket.
Is anyone else having trouble locating lids? I have some from past years - but a friend told me that she could not find any "anywhere".
I have learned (again, the hard way) - that I need to do a "test run" and/or soak the gasket in hot water for at least 30 minutes before using my 22-quart pressure cooker.
I should have been "aware" - when steam was pouring out from under the lid - and kept coming out and kept coming out - that it was not sealed properly .
After running two batches of tomatoes - and remembering to soak that gasket - it is now behaving properly. The first batch - I think I took them out too soon. I had run the canner almost dry one year - so did not want to do that again. The second batch - it was behaving better - and after the ten minute exhausting - I carefully turned the timer off and forgot to put the weighted pressure gauge on the lid. When I remembered - who knows how long it had already cooking? The tomatoes are usable - just not as "pretty" as they could be.
I put a note in my cookbook to check first next year before putting jars of tomatoes in the cooker!
The aggravating thing about it - that is a fairly new gasket.
Is anyone else having trouble locating lids? I have some from past years - but a friend told me that she could not find any "anywhere".
Last edited by bearisgray; 09-10-2020 at 11:45 AM.
09-10-2020, 04:57 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,223
Originally Posted by bearisgray
They do not always seal tightly.
I have learned (again, the hard way) - that I need to do a "test run" and/or soak the gasket in hot water for at least 30 minutes before using my 22-quart pressure cooker.
I should have been "aware" - when steam was pouring out from under the lid - and kept coming out and kept coming out - that it was not sealed properly .
After running two batches of tomatoes - and remembering to soak that gasket - it is now behaving properly. The first batch - I think I took them out too soon. I had run the canner almost dry one year - so did not want to do that again. The second batch - it was behaving better - and after the ten minute exhausting - I carefully turned the timer off and forgot to put the weighted pressure gauge on the lid. When I remembered - who knows how long it had already cooking? The tomatoes are usable - just not as "pretty" as they could be.
I put a note in my cookbook to check first next year before putting jars of tomatoes in the cooker!
The aggravating thing about it - that is a fairly new gasket.
Is anyone else having trouble locating lids? I have some from past years - but a friend told me that she could not find any "anywhere".
I have learned (again, the hard way) - that I need to do a "test run" and/or soak the gasket in hot water for at least 30 minutes before using my 22-quart pressure cooker.
I should have been "aware" - when steam was pouring out from under the lid - and kept coming out and kept coming out - that it was not sealed properly .
After running two batches of tomatoes - and remembering to soak that gasket - it is now behaving properly. The first batch - I think I took them out too soon. I had run the canner almost dry one year - so did not want to do that again. The second batch - it was behaving better - and after the ten minute exhausting - I carefully turned the timer off and forgot to put the weighted pressure gauge on the lid. When I remembered - who knows how long it had already cooking? The tomatoes are usable - just not as "pretty" as they could be.
I put a note in my cookbook to check first next year before putting jars of tomatoes in the cooker!
The aggravating thing about it - that is a fairly new gasket.
Is anyone else having trouble locating lids? I have some from past years - but a friend told me that she could not find any "anywhere".
With all the other "shortages" going on, I saw this one coming.
09-10-2020, 05:31 PM
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,899
Hardware stores here stock jars, rings, and lids for canning. I never thought about the sealing lids being hard to find. I canned more this year then in the past few years but I didn't have to buy any jars, rings or lids. I have boxes of them stored away bought on clearance after past canning seasons. I have lots of boxes of the sealing lids and rings. Most marked down to $1. I guess I need to look for some to replace the ones I used.
My pressure canner had a rubber type gasket and the new one I have for it is synthetic. I bought an extra because the canner is old and I thought the gasket would be hard to find later on. The first one is years old and still fine. I guess my DD won't have to buy another one. I have the pressure gauge checked every spring.
My pressure canner had a rubber type gasket and the new one I have for it is synthetic. I bought an extra because the canner is old and I thought the gasket would be hard to find later on. The first one is years old and still fine. I guess my DD won't have to buy another one. I have the pressure gauge checked every spring.
09-10-2020, 07:27 PM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,335
Finding canning jars and supplies has not been an issue here in the San Diego area. My grocery store has them, so does Walmart and Food For Less. But that may be because they are not as big in demand here as in other parts of the state. With so few places to buy locally grown produce this year it's not surprising. Actually it's very sad in my opinion.
09-11-2020, 04:05 AM
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,899
The Farmer's Market was booming this year here. I bought all the vegetables and fruits I wanted to can. DH grew plenty of tomatoes and he started a pumpkin patch but no much luck with the pumpkins. I wasn't planning on canning anything but with the shelf shortage of items I changed my mind.
09-11-2020, 05:26 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,379
I've had my pressure canner for years, many years never using it. Since moving to Iowa I now use it yearly and have never had an issue with my gasket but will check on it now since reading your plight. I keep mine in its original box and for the past couple years its been in the garage for lack of room inside but that will change by the end of this year as I'm removing my back deck and having it built back up as a sunroom connected to my kitchen. Last eyesore will be done on this old house. Thanks for the notice on the gasket.
09-11-2020, 05:29 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,379
Onebygone, I read where its not real safe to can pumpkins. How do you do it as my sister's garden produced 2 pumpkin plants she didn't plant this year. It produced a lot of stuff she didn't plant this year........lol. We've just been baking the pumpkins and then she has me scrape all the guts out and freeze it. She doesn't have a lot of room for freezing either so canning would be a nice way to take care of this problem. I know you can can chunked pumpkin but not pureed pumpkin which is what we'd want to do most likely.
09-11-2020, 05:31 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,379
We can't find the sealing lids or otherwise known as flats around here. I buy the season before when they go on sale so I have them for the next season. One gal had to order her's online and they won't get here till October so gave her half my stash to get her started. Sure hope I don't run out now. Been making lots of tomato soup this year as it comes out so thick my sister uses it for sauce too.
09-11-2020, 09:39 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,488
Any kind of canning equipment is impossible to find in my area of the Twin Cities. We had some things left from last year we used up.
We still use our cabin in the fall/early winter after the water is turned off, and use the large pots to heat water in for cooking and doing dishes, or cleaning up. My son was the last to use them, and thought is would be OK to leave the water in my corn processing pot, and my large canning pot sitting on the stove. Who knew when water froze it would expand, warp the bottom, and cause the enamel to break off the pots in hundreds of pieces, both inside and out!! Our first visit up this spring was quite funny. No big deal, just replace them. Nope...none to be found. Lesson learned.
Made another shopping round yesterday looking for pots, but no such luck!
We still use our cabin in the fall/early winter after the water is turned off, and use the large pots to heat water in for cooking and doing dishes, or cleaning up. My son was the last to use them, and thought is would be OK to leave the water in my corn processing pot, and my large canning pot sitting on the stove. Who knew when water froze it would expand, warp the bottom, and cause the enamel to break off the pots in hundreds of pieces, both inside and out!! Our first visit up this spring was quite funny. No big deal, just replace them. Nope...none to be found. Lesson learned.
Made another shopping round yesterday looking for pots, but no such luck!
