Sunday, January 4, 2015

Canning on a glass top stove

The stove that came with the house is, I'm guessing, about fifteen years old.  It was an Amana glass top electric model and served us well for normal household use, and I even managed to use it for both water bath and pressure canning of many jars of food.

I know, I know.  Everyone says that you're not supposed to can on the glass cook tops because of the weight of the canner.  But I did it for years with no ill effects, although it could have been because I was just a lucky duck.  Even though I was able to successfully bring the canner up to heat / pressure, it did seem to take an long time.  This could have been because my element was on it's way out, or it could have been because the wattage just wasn't enough to keep up the temperature.

I've also noticed that unlike a gas range, which has the flame constantly going, the electric ranges seem to shut on and off, if even for just a few seconds.  I'm not sure if that's a safety thing or a mechanical thing, but it must effect the amount of heat being transferred to the pot.

That's another thing you must have in order to safely and effectively can; a pot with a flat bottom.  I admit, I still use some of my Grandma's Revereware (with it's very noticeable wobble) for cooking, but not for things that I need to get really hot, like jams or candies or when I need to get something to boil quickly.

One of the major selling points of the new stove was the fact that it had 3,000-watt dual element in addition to the standard 2,400-watt large element.  In theory, if I could bring my old 2,400-watt element to work with the pressure canner, the new dual element would work even faster.....and, in theory, still use the other element for a second canner.  If I didn't end up cracking the glass top with all the weight.  And that is, I believe, the major reason that people are hesitant to can on top of their glass top stove.

Although I didn't get as scientific as Yukon Mike does on some of his posts (I won't say anal, but come on, that's what it is, admit it Mike!) I did do some figuring and came up with the weight of a full canner.

I have a Presto 23-quart aluminum pressure canner / cooker.  It weighs exactly 9 pounds.  Three quarts of water (the recommended minimum amount for pressure canning) weighs 6 pounds.  Seven full quart jars with bands & lids (I just filled them with water) weighs 19.25 pounds.  So a full pressure canner weighs....hold on a second.....
I would think most of my readers (sans Christine)
know what this is.  I'm showing our age, aren't I?
....the canner and contents weighs 34.25 pounds.  So is this an acceptable load for the top of my cook stove.  Would it be safe to put both of my canners on the stove?

According to my Whirlpool Electric Double Oven Range manual the "Recommended Use" for the Dual Elements list 1) Large diameter cookware, 2) Large quantities of food, and most importantly 3) Home canning.  There is even a section titled "Home Canning" which states that the canner should be centered on the largest cooking surface or element, and should not extend more than 1/2" beyond the surface cooking area.  Technically, the large element (in addition to the Dual-Element) meets this criteria.  But even though it seems as if I could use both canners on the stove at the same time, I don't know if the glass top can hold close to seventy pounds.

I've read the entire manual and haven't found any weight restrictions for the cooking surface.  I did, however, find a section called "Sabbath Mode".  Apparently there is a setting which conforms to Star-K Jewish Sabbath requirements for baking.  Hmmm.  Who would'a thunk it.  Anyways.....

I'm going to send an email to Whirlpool and see if I can get any information on the load limit for the stove top.  When and if I get a reply, I'll update this post to include it.  And maybe I'll even bake some bagels and try out that "Sabbath Mode".....it is Sunday, after all.

10 comments:

  1. As I said before, it is not the weight but the heat if the canner is a lot bigger than the burner. Presto canners have a raised section on the bottom that makes it safe for glass tops. Other brands do not have this. I researched this before I started canning this year. Now, a water bath canner is not recommended for a glass top. Says so in the water bath canners owners directions. I just use my pressure canner for water bath, too. I have a 5 gal stock pot that fits perfectly on the largest burner and when that baby is full with bones and water it weighs more than my pressure canner. It is not the weight.....it is excessive heat from too big pots that crack glass tops. Really.

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    1. Presto canners specifically state NOT to use those propane stoves. If you have another brand, don't know about that. The burner turning on and off it how it regulates its temperature to what you set on glass tops. Has nothing to do with safety...it will kick on even when you remove a pot. You can use Power Boost setting for a very short time. I bring my canner up to pressure on halfway on the dial and then 2 or so keeps it at correct pressure. My owners manual specifically states it is OK to use Presto pressure canner. My Presto pressure canner owners manual specifically states it is OK to use on a glass top stove. Water bath canners are too big and their instruction manuals specifically state not to use on a glass top stove. If you do not have your owners manuals, you can download them online.

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  3. I couldn't can either with my electric stove a few years ago. Then a friend told me I need a FLAT bottom canner! I had no idea and then saw her canner. Mine had a ridge like on bottom very common now days. Thought I would let you know.

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  4. Our new glass top stove (2 years old) said the reason not to use for canning was that the glass would crack, because of the constant heat on the glass. Keeping gallons boiling for long periods of time seemed to be the main thing. Our largest burner also wasn't the right size for canning. Next time I'd go for gas myself. I can outside on propane, works great, keeps the house much cooler, even w/AC. I do jams and jellies on it...

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  5. I was admonished that I was not to can on a glass top stove, which is what we have in the house. Husband said I might break the top as I am not very strong, and could drop the lid or the pot itself on the glass... So I wait, and hope to get a "real" stove, some day...

    Cat

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  6. Thanks all for the comments! I think it will help a lot of people out there wondering if they can, or should, or shouldn't do canning on their stoves. Keep 'em coming :)

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  7. I have an old electric range, the ones with the burners. I found that when the elements kept turning on and off that it drove ME crazy. So we ended up getting a turkey fryer at a yard sale for 1 dollar. Now THAT works just like a charm. Plus I now I can outside so that it doesn't warm the house up. After I ended up buying the turkey fryer, I noticed that there were quite a few at yard sales. Check it out! Just a thought.

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  8. I heard the same thing about those flat top stoves which is why my mother-in-law was aghast that I didn't want one. Good job on the research and information. I found I can't can on my hot plate. I thought it would be a good way to can outdoors and keep the heat out of the house. It keeps turning itself off. This is a "safety feature" I suppose because we're all too dumb to know better than to keep an eye on such things. (I have an iron that keeps turning itself off too. Not that I iron much).

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