A gourmet pressure canner is a great way to preserve your food. There are many different ways to use a pressure canner, but here are some tips on how to get the most out of your pressure canning experience.
When using a pressure canner, it is important to read the instructions that come with your particular model. Each model is slightly different and you want to make sure you are using yours correctly. If you have any questions about how to use your pressure canner, consult the manual or contact the manufacturer.
The first step in using your pressure canner is to prepare your food for canning. This means washing and chopping vegetables, as well as cooking meat or seafood if you are including them in your cans. Once everything is prepped, it's time to start loading up the cans.
Fill each jar with food, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top of each jar. Be sure not to pack the jars too tightly - this will cause problems when trying to seal them later on. Once all the jars are full, it's time to add the lids and rings.
Tighten each lid until it is finger-tight - don't overdo it! Place all of the filled jars into the pressure canner and close the lid according to manufacturer's instructions. Follow directions for how long to process based on what type of food you are preserving and at what altitude you live.