Pacific Northwest PNW 421 Using Manual - Canner Types
Canner types
Home pressure canners have been extensively
redesigned in recent years. Models made before the
1970s were heavy-walled kettles with clamp-on or turn-
on lids. They were fitted with a dial gauge, a vent port in
the form of a petcock or counterweight, and a safety
fuse. Many modern pressure canners are lightweight,
thin-walled kettles; most have turn-on lids. They have a
jar rack, gasket, dial or weighted gauge, automatic
vent/cover lock, vent port (steam vent) to be closed with
a counterweight or weighted gauge, and safety fuse
(fig.1).
Fig.1. Modern pressure canners have a number of safety
features and either dial gauges (rear) or weighted
gauges (front).
The weighted gauge is a small round weight or disk
that is placed on the vent port to control internal pres-
sure. Weighted-gauge pressure canners exhaust tiny
amounts of air and steam each time the gauge rocks or
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