Finding Replacement Parts for Your Pressure Canner in Simple Steps

Find a local pick your own farm here!

Finding Replacement Parts for Your Pressure Canner in Simple Steps

Most pressure canners are made of either stainless steel or aluminum and only have a few parts that can break or wear out.

Here's how to identify the canner and parts and how/where to find replacements:

Pressure Canner Parts List

There are 2 types of pressure canners: gauge type and weight-regulator type, as seen in the image at right.

Instruction Manual

Both types of pressure canners come with the instruction manual, of course. And if you've lost your canner's manual, see this page for free replacement manuals which you can download and print.

But you really don't need the original manual. The process is identical for Also see this page for many recipes and directions to make many foods to pressure can! If you are looking to possibly purchase a pressure canner, see this page for our recommendations, prices and where to buy them.

Which type of pressure canner do you have?

Dial Gauge or Pressure weight regulator? See the photo at right. Dial type pressure canners have a dial gauge on top. Weight gage have either just a simple weight or a 3-piece regulator weight. This page has a Pressure canner buying guide.

If the parts are all present, you might start with a good cleaning and inspection. See this page for how to!

Otherwise see below for

1a. Replacement parts for a dial type pressure canner

Dial type pressure canners are the most common and generally less expensive, but they do have more parts to lose or replace.

Canner lid

Unless it becomes warped, you should never need to replace a lid. If it does become warped, you are better off just replacing the canner.

Gaskets, plugs and sealing rings

Check the gasket (a.k.a., sealing ring), overpressure plug, and the rubber gasket of the air vent/cover lock. Replace these parts when they become hard, deformed, cracked, worn, pitted, or unusually soft. You can usually order these parts online. If you can find an exact replacement, that is best:

See this page for replacement parts.
Inexpensive replacements are available online and at most local hardware stores or household appliance centers. They can also be ordered from the canner manufacturer. See this page for ordering parts.
Some gaskets can be reversed after a period of time to ensure a tighter seal. A gasket that is worn, stretched, or hardened should be replaced with a new one.

Petcock, vents, and weights

First try cleaning, soak these parts in vinegar and then wash and dry them. You can further clean the vent port or petcock opening by drawing a string or narrow strip of cloth through it. Be sure to put all parts back together correctly.
If it is damaged or missing, See this page for replacement parts.

Dial Pressure Gauges

Dial gauages are usually easily found and replaced. See this page for replacement parts.

You may want to test your gauge before replacing, but honestly, the gauges are not expensive. Gauges may be checked at many county extension offices; contact the pressure canner manufacturer for other options. See this page for a list of county extension offices. If you are unable to have your dial gauge checked locally, carefully remove the gauge and call your canner's Consumer Service Department for directions. If you've lost your canner's manual, see this page for free replacement manuals which you can download and print.

Weighted Regulator Pressure Canners

Weighted regulator pressure canners are more expensive, but have fewer parts and problems.

Canner lid

Unless it becomes warped, you should never need to replace a lid. If it does become warped, you are better off just replacing the canner.

Gaskets, plugs and sealing rings

Many weighted gauge pressure canners have no gasket. Particularly the "All-American" brand.

For other brands witha gasket / sealing ring, check the sealing ring, overpressure plug, and the rubber gasket of the air vent/cover lock. Replace these parts when they become hard, deformed, cracked, worn, pitted, or unusually soft. You can usually order these parts online. If you can find an exact replacement, that is best:

See this page for replacement parts.
Inexpensive replacements are available online and at most local hardware stores or household appliance centers. They can also be ordered from the canner manufacturer. See this page for ordering parts.
Some gaskets can be reversed after a period of time to ensure a tighter seal. A gasket that is worn, stretched, or hardened should be replaced with a new one.

Petcock, vents, and weights

First try cleaning, soak these parts in vinegar and then wash and dry them. You can further clean the vent port or petcock opening by drawing a string or narrow strip of cloth through it. Be sure to put all parts back together correctly.
If it is damaged or missing, See this page for replacement parts.

Buying options

All-American 910 pressure canner

All-American 915 pressure canner

All American 921, 21.5qt Pressure Cooker/Canner

All-American 925 pressure canner

All-American 930 Pressure Canner

All-American 941 Pressure Canner

2. If you STILL cannot find a gasket or other part

Gaskets

You can find gasket makers who have gaskets in all sizes and materials. First, measure the dimensions of the existing gasket (outer diameter, inner diameter and thickness) and find a similar replacement here:

Try Amazon one last time:
- Presto: Presto gaskets on Amazon. There may be a gasket of the proper dimensions here. Or
  Try contacting them directly:
  Email Presto by using this form. https://www.gopresto.com/contact-us.php
  Call 1-800-877-0441 weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central Time)
  Chat with Presto, in Wisconsin live during the week by clicking the red Chat button at the bottom of the page.
  
  Write to Presto, at:
  
  National Presto Industries, Inc.
  Consumer Service Department
  3925 North Hastings Way
  Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703 If not, try these:
- Mirro: Mirro gaskets on Amazon
- Old National, Vintage, etc: try eBay.
Goodmans
Rubber Experts

Other Parts

Always try eBay and Amazon first. These other vbendors are usualy much more expensive.

Common Pressure Canning Problems and Solutions

Altitudes above sea level - Recipes normally include directions for the proper pressure and processing time if you are more than 1,000 ft above sea level.
Failure to vent trapped air - When you seal the canner, it has water, jars and air (O2, N2, CO2, etc.) in it. The air trapped in a Pressure Canner has different thermodynamic properties than steam (H2O) and lowers the temperature, which results in under processing. For this reason, we vent pressure canners for 10 minutes before the weights are put on and they are pressurized.
Dial gauge malfunctions - Dial gauges should be checked for accuracy each year before use. If the gauge reads high or low by more than one pound at 5, 10 or 15 pounds pressure, replace it. Weighted gauges are always accurate. If your canner has both gauge and weight, also go by the weight using the gauge as a guide only.
Canning jars, lids and rings - While there are many styles and shapes of glass jars on the market, only canning jars are recommended for home canning. canning jars are available in 1/2 pint, pint, and quart capacities with threads on which a cap may be screwed. See the chart below for the jar capacity of your canner. Additional information may be obtained from the manufacturers of canning jars. CLOSURES FOR canning jars: The two-piece vacuum cap consists of a flat metal lid held in place with a screw band. A rubber compound on the underside of the lid forms a seal during processing. Follow the closure manufacturer's directions for using the two-piece cap and for testing for a proper seal. If the closure has not sealed, completely reprocess or use the food immediately. Refer to the closure manufacturer's directions for additional information.

See below for prices, descriptions and ordering options for pressure canners. For water bath canners and other supplies, see this page! If you have a glass top radiant stove, see Canners for glass top stoves?

For other supplies:

You can also find free information from the USDA in this PDF file (it will take a while to load!) about selecting and using canners here!

For more information, and NO obligation to buy, just click on the links in the boxes on the left!

Pressure canners!

If you want to can low-acid foods such as red meats, sea food, poultry, milk, and all fresh vegetables with the exception of most tomatoes, you will need a Pressure Canners. These foods fit into the low acid group since they have an acidity, or pH level, of 4.6 or greater. The temperature which must be reached and maintained (for a specified amount of time) to kill the bacteria is 240 F. Pressure canning is the only canning method recommended safe by the U.S.D.A. for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, and fish. Ordinary water bath canners can only reach 212 F and cannot to kill the types of bacteria that will grow in low acid foods. This temperature can be reached only by creating steam under pressure as achieved in quality pressure canners.

There are several manufacturers of pressure canners. The two leading ones are Presto and All American (Wisconsin Aluminum). They are more expensive than water bath canners, but extremely well built - I bought mine in 1988 and it still looks and works like new!

Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner

This is usually one of the best-priced pressure canners. They are reliable and inexpensive. I've had mine for 40 years. There is also a 16 quart version for even less. Click on the links at left or above for more info and current pricing.

See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews!

All-American 941 Pressure Canner All-American 930 Pressure Canner

Pressure canner: All American 921, 21.5qt Pressure Cooker/Canner, never needs gaskets, Great for Gas, Electric or Flat Top Stoves - Made in the USA

All American Pressure Canner and Cookers - In 3 Sizes

See the seller's website for more information, features, pricing and user reviews!

Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.

Need lids, rings and replacement jars? Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes? Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store!

Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	All American Pressure Canner and Cooker #921 See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews!
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

Canning all sorts of fruit and vegetables, even meat with a Pressure Canner it's easy. And although a Pressure Canner costs $100 to $200 (see this page for pressure canners models, makes and prices), they last a lifetime, and your children and grandchildren may be using it. You can also find free information from the USDA in this PDF file (it will take a while to load!) about selecting and using canners here!