Hello all,
I hope someone can help me with this. I am an amateur with canning. I have a pressure/water bath canner. I am having trouble getting my canner to a rolling boil, it just won’t happen. It will boil, but not rolling. I have an electric stove and it is turned up all the way. If it is boiling but not rolling, can I still can and add more time to ensure it is safe? Or any other tips?
by chelseabback
13 Comments
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Fireeeeeee! Seriously though, we had to get a turkey deep fryer burner to get enough heat.
RemindMe! 3 days
electric stovetop like glasstop? those ones usually cycle on and off while you are using it to save energy, so it might not be able to get hot enough. you would probably have to use a separate counter top element. (i think the specifications needed for one that is good to
use for canning might be found in your canning instructions)
It depends on what you’re making regarding if more time will help. Alternately, you can try putting a lid on it so you don’t lose heat.
Throw a sheet of tinfoil over the top. It will trap the heat and get you to a rolling boil. Do the same once your jars are in. Foil traps heat but leaves enough space for steam to get out so it doesn’t boil over.
My old stove had trouble getting my large water bath canner to a full rolling boil. Keeping a lid on it will help keep in the heat, I also helped mine on that final few degrees by using a propane torch around the bottom (I wouldn’t recommend this on aluminum pots or pressure canners but I use a large stainless steel stock pot). I also used a thermometer to make sure the water was 212°F (if you’re at sea level like myself).
Eta: If you did use a torch don’t keep it in one spot, keep it moving around, keep it a couple inches away.
I have a portable induction burner that I pressure can on but it has trouble getting up to a boil for water bath canning. Sometimes what helps is heating up water in my electric kettle and pouring it in the canner when it’s almost to a boil and that sometimes pushes it just over the edge to a good boil, and once it’s boiling it will usually stay boiling.
Put a lid on it.
Even the ones with burners cycle on and off. It’s bull$hit to try to can
If you have an electric stove with the coils (not an induction stove), you can often buy a single heavy duty electric [coil](https://a.co/d/dCiBGw7) burner that can replace one of the standard coils in your stove. They are made specially for canning.
Otherwise, put the lid on top, but don’t lock it tight, just to get it to boiling (for water bath canning, I assume), then put your jars in and place the lid loosely back on top, to help trap the heat in, but allow for steam to escape as needed. That has worked for me in the past… but I rarely do water bath anymore.
You could also consider [steam canning](https://www.healthycanning.com/steam-canning) in place of water bath canning for high acid foods that require no more than 45 minutes of processing time. Good luck and have fun canning safely! 🙏🏻🦋
I have to light 2 burners to get mine to a rolling boil. One gas burner under isn’t enough heat
is your presto canner the version that is compatible with induction stove tops?