CARE AND MAINTENANCE   CANNING BASICS

Presto has manufactured pressure canners for over 100 years. Our dedication to quality products and excellent consumer service has made Presto® Pressure Canners a trusted source for the home canner. Properly maintaining your stovetop Presto® Canner will assure years of continued use.

For care and maintenance information for your Presto Precise® Digital Pressure Canner, please see the instruction manual.

• It is normal for the inside of the canner to discolor. This discoloration, which is not harmful, is a result of various minerals in the water and foods interacting with the aluminum. To remove this discoloration, use a solution of 1 tablespoon cream of tartar for every one quart of water. Pour enough solution into the canner to cover the discoloration (do not fill over two-thirds full). Close the cover securely, place the pressure regulator on the vent pipe, and heat until the pressure regulator begins to rock. Remove canner from heat; allow canner to cool for 2 to 3 hours. Remove regulator, open canner, and empty contents. Scour thoroughly with a soap impregnated steel wool cleaning pad; wash, rinse, and completely dry.
   
• Do not strike the rim of the canner body with any metal utensil as this will cause nicks which may damage the rim and allow steam to escape.
   
• Pitting is caused by the interaction of aluminum with other metals in the presence of moisture. To minimize pitting, wash, rinse, and dry the canner body thoroughly after every use. Additionally, at least once a year, scour the inside of the canner body with an abrasive powdered cleaner, such as Bar Keepers Friend* cleanser and polish.
   
• When not in use, store your pressure canner in a dry place away from excessive heat or cold with the cover inverted on the body.
   
• If the canner body or cover handles become loose, tighten them with a screwdriver

*Bar Keepers Friend is a registered trademark of SerVaas Laboratories, Inc. Presto is not affiliated with SerVaas Laboratories, Inc.

1.	Pressure Regulator (1A) or 3-piece Adjustable Pressure Regulator (1B): No special maintenance is required on these pressure regulators. Replace if damaged or lost.
2.	Vent Pipe: Before each use, be sure the vent pipe is clear. This can be done by holding the cover up to a light source and looking through the vent pipe. If the vent pipe is blocked, clean it with a small brush, pipe cleaner, or wire. Do not use a toothpick to clean the vent pipe because the toothpick may break off and become lodged in the vent pipe.
3.	Air Vent/Cover Lock*: Remove the air vent/cover lock for occasional cleaning or for replacing the small gasket. Wash all parts in warm, sudsy water. Use a soft cloth or small nylon brush to clean the cover hole. The small gasket needs to be replaced when it becomes cracked or nicked. *This part is not present on pressure canners that predate 1979.
4.	Sealing Ring and Overpressure Plug: After each use, remove the sealing ring from the lid and allow it to dry. It is not necessary to wash the sealing ring unless it becomes dirty. Replace the sealing ring every two to three years or when the canner is not able to build or maintain pressure. It should also be replaced immediately if the ring has shrunk, become hard, deformed, cracked, worn, or pitted. Replace the overpressure plug every time the sealing ring is replaced or sooner if it becomes hard, deformed, cracked, worn, or pitted. The sealing ring and overpressure plug are conveniently packaged together.
5.	Pressure Dial Gauge: For users of the Presto® Pressure Canner with dial gauge. Prior to the canning season, have the pressure dial gauge checked for accuracy. The dial gauge should also be checked if any of the following conditions exist: cover has been submerged in water or dropped, gauge glass is broken or has fallen out, parts are rusty, pointer is not on “0”, or for any reason you believe the gauge may not be accurate. The gauge can usually be checked at your local county extension office. If you are unable to have your gauge checked locally, carefully remove it, wrap securely, and send to the Presto Consumer Service Department.