It’s been a few years. I replaced my old dial and got a new pressure regulator for my presto. My question is the regulator gives the consistent jiggle at about 16 PSI even though it’s supposed to be 15. Would this be acceptable to proceed? If I recall NCFHP states no more than 2 PSI off is acceptable. For further reference I’m below 1,000 so I’ll be using 10PSI when operating. This was just a test/sanitize since it’s been sitting for a few years. Also replaced the sealing ring. Thanks
by djgibblets
7 Comments
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I would highly recommend purchasing the 5-10-15 lb. adjustable pressure regulator from Presto (replaces the weight that came with the canner). It’s liberating not to worry about the dial gauge being perfect.
I would take it to a local extension office and have them test it. Dial gauges are not super accurate to begin with they can check it. Trust the weighted gauge.
Processing pressures and times are the safe minimums, there isn’t any harm in going over from a food safety perspective. However it can reduce the quality of your final product due to overcooking.
I would trust the weight and not worry too much about the gauge as long as it says you are in the correct neighborhood. Some weighted canners don’t even have gauge but they still can just fine.
The gauge was only required to be accurate on the older canners that had a gauge and a petcock. On those you had to adjust the stove up and down to try and maintain the correct pressure based on the gauge.
Just put a piece of duct tape over the gauge, it serves no purpose with a weighted gauge canner.
The 15 lb weight will have a slight margin of safety (I had once [calculated](https://www.reddit.com/r/Canning/comments/1akwlqb/accuracy_of_my_new_dial_gauge/) from the weight it would jiggle at 15.4 psi), but also your gauge is likely reading too high. That might be a safety issue if you use it for canning since it would read “10 psi” when the canner is actually at 9 psi (too low).
That’s probably why the dial gauge instructions have you keep things > 11 psi, but I would either have the gauge checked or switch to the 10 lb weighted regulator.
O M G, How have I never heard that I can replace the dead weight on my dial gauge pressure canner with the weighted one? Is this true?