thinking of buying a pressure canner

[naturally]

Hi! everyone I am new to preserving and at the moment everything I make doesn't last long , I have a big extended family
If I buy one of these can I use my Fowler jars as I have not long purchased a new fowler's stainless steel boiler and jars
**what other jars are available to use preferably in both
** finally where should I buy from
thanks for looking hope someone can help

[Shadowgirlau]

Hi Icon,

Yes you can use your Fowlers Vacola jars in the pressure canner, you can use recycled jars such as jam, mayonnaise, leggos type jars etc but i would recommend using new lids for these.

You can also buy your jars and lids in bulk (or they can be bought in smaller lots) from wholesalers. There is a list of wholesalers on the forum so if you haven't done so yet then have a browse around. There are also several places on the net that sell jars and lids etc.

Cheers
Kathleen

[minnie]

Hi Naturally,

Welcome to the forum.

I say the same as Kathleen said about jars.

On the subject of canner, have a good look around for price differences for the same canners (pressure cookers). When I got mine I was lucky the USD was down and we were at $0.90 in the dollar and I bought mine brand new on ebay, the cost AUD ended up about $170.00 cheaper than here... so it's worth having a good hunt around. I do know http://www.redbacktrading.com.au (? listed in our area of where you can buy) get the Presto in cheaper than others but possibly there's a better deal... again worth the hunt.

Let us know how you go.

BTW what's your name, I always feel so silly calling people by their 'screen names'.

[naturally]

I,m sorry it just seems strange that you can,t use your first name Allyse or Ally is what I am usually called

[minnie]

Hi Allyse,

You can use whatever name you feel comfortable with, I guess we're just in the habit of signing on with a name and then getting to know each other by our 'real' names.

I didn't want to make you feel you had to, if so I am very sorry.

I guess I'm just nosy.

Welcome to the forum and I do look forward to getting to know you, there's a wealth of information in our growing community.

Also if you haven't been there have a look in the area 'Best places to buy' on the forum and you'll get some contacts of places we all buy from, it's a growing list and we all try for the best buy and service.

Vicki

[rdtj04]

Yes Ally, I am afraid she is rather nosy..... Love you Vicki.

[Shadowgirlau]

I have to pop in here and add my two cents worth too,

Welcome to the group Allyse, like Vicki I feel like a bit of a "Dill" answering a screen name. Doesn't seem real for me anyway; but rather as if I am sitting here having a conversation with a computer screen (which is of course what I am doing technically) though not what I like to think I am doing so I prefer real names.

Good luck with your preserving adventures, looking forward to hearing all about them so please do feel free to spill the beans.

Kathleen

[minnie]

Now why did I know Damaris would agree...

[naturally]

Well have ordered pressure canner and recipe book and the jar lifters so mum and I will be very busy soon

[minnie]

Great news Allyse,

Looking forward to hearing how you go... it opens up so many possibilities when you can bottle low acid foods. I know I keep talking about doing the meatloaf in a jar, can see this as a great one for an easy meal summer of winter... hopefully will do it soon.

Vicki

[naturally]

What I really need to do is soups and veggies and I would like to try bolognese sauce

[minnie]

Hi Allyse,

I put up a couple of soup recipes on the step by steps http://www.preserving-australia.com.au/ ... erving.php

Darlene gave us a Broccoli and Cheddar Soup and I put up Pumpkin soup. With the pumpkin soup you don't blend it before bottling it's bottled as chunks and then you blend when you use it.

I was sweating on a BIG tomato crop last summer (but we had sooo much rain they all rotted) and just haven't got there this year. I love tomato soup...

Kathleen put a good mushroom soup recipe in the recipes, I've made one lot of mushroom that DH loves, which I've also used as a casserole/stew base.

Hmmm just realised I've bottled, Pumpkin Soup, Mushroom Soup and Pea & Ham Soup - all were really delicious, kept well and was is convenient to grab a jar of soup for a quick lunch or dinner.

Once you have your own jars of soup in the cupboard you certainly never feel like a supermarket tinned soup again.

Vicki

[Shadowgirlau]

Have quite a few soup recipes and as Vicki says - there is nothing like home made soup in a jar. Is so convenient and so much more tasty as well. DD loves the tomato and bean soup, and the French Onion soup is wicked to. I love the french onion soup and it also makes a lovely soup to serve up with a round of toasted and grilled cheese on top as an entree when you have guests. Yum!
I will have to take pictures of this next time I make some which hopefully wont be too long before I do so.

Kathleen

[minnie]

Yes please Kathleen,

Step by step with French Onion soup...

Vicki

[Huxter]

Just a thought -- if you know anyone in the States that could buy a pressure canner for you and Fed-Ex it to you ,you will be miles in front .During the Walmart sales ,Presto canners can be had for as low as US$65 .Check out their website .I asked my sister to get one for me but on her last trip she was too busy .She did buy me vitamin B tablets though at one quarter the price we pay here .In many instances ,US prices are way lower than ours ,notwithstanding the current poor exchange rate .

Just a thought .

Paul


PS --I got an electronic treadmill from the States when my sister came back from living there ,cartage paid by her company ,but it was a third the price of similar models here ! -----and guess what ,its not run-in yet !!!!

[Mojojo]

I've taken the plunge and ordered myself a Presto Canner from Redback trading! Very excited. Probably won't be using it for quite some time, but I figured I'd buy it now while I have the income, because when I have the time to use it I won't have the income to buy it. Seems logical to me if not to anyone else Also got a vinegar crock while I was there... Now just patiently awaiting delivery.
Now if only I'd known I'd wanted one when I was in the US 2 years ago.

On importing things from the US - another friend who is in the market for a new, small tractor, has had quotes to buy a new John Deere over there and ship it back, and saves several thousand in doing so. Seems a bit crazy that it works like that.

[minnie]

Hi Jo,

Did you get the regulator as well, it's certainly worth it.

I was getting a vinegar crock for DH but it slipped through the cracks, now it will have to wait until after our move.

I bought my Presto from ebay (brand new) in the US and it cost more for post than the canner at the time... our dollar and it's fluctuations make it a good deal or bad... I know it wasn't that long back and we were getting under 50c to the US $ so things were double the price, that wasn't good for buying but for selling from Aus it was good... you just can't have it all unfortunately.

BTW I think it's a good idea to buy the important 'tools' while you have the money, otherwise you find you just never get there.

Vicki

[Mojojo]

Yep, got the regulator as well.
I figured to get the vinegar crock at the same time might help keep postage costs down.

Now I am thinking of all the things I can do with it... so much for putting it away and not using it til I had more time!

[Shadowgirlau]

Jo
You wont’ know yourself when you get going with that pressure canner as the possibilities as endless.
I to have the regulator though have not used it as yet.
Vinegar crock is also on my to get list though haven’t bothered at this time due to lack of space to store. As it is I am always going in and out of the shed fetching canners, jars, baking pans and so on. Very frustrating!
Look forward to hearing all about your forays

Kathleen

[Mojojo]

The canner came in the post - after I had flown off to work, fortunately the other half got it for me, so I haven't even seen it yet.
Busy trying to come up with what I want to do with it on my first break (starting Thursday)

However, I also had a vinegar crock sent to a friend in Tasmania for her birthday, as she had a glut of apples on their and wanted to make cider vinegar.
Sadly, despite being apparently well packed and wrapped, Australia Post have managed to smash it to smithereens, 20 broken pieces apparently. Have let redback know today, I am guessing they would replace it? What happens when that happens?