Pressure cookers are so much better today than they used to be. I remember growing up and canning season you were cautioned before coming into the kitchen that if you aren't careful it would explode. My first one over 20yrs ago had the guage you had to set, it was a pain. I now have two of different sizes and love them, so very easy to use. The electric ones are down to around 100 now so I think that'll be my gift to myself this yr. It makes getting a normally long cooking dinner so easy to get done in such a short time. You'll use it so much more than just for canning.