A pressure canner is a big pressure cooker built to hold jars and hold an exact pressure long enough to make low-acid foods safe on the shelf. Every pressure canner can cook, but most pressure cookers can't safely can.
| Pressure cooker | Pressure canner | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Cooking meals fast | Canning low-acid foods in jars (can also cook) |
| Size | Usually 4-10 quarts | Usually 12-41 quarts; holds at least 4 quart jars |
| Pressure control | Usually a single 15 psi setting | Dial gauge and/or 5/10/15 psi weighted regulator |
| Safe for canning? | No, if it holds fewer than 4 quart jars | Yes, following a tested recipe |
| Examples | Presto 4, 6 and 8 qt cookers | Presto 16/23 qt, All American, Mirro 22 qt |
Why you can't can in a small pressure cooker
Canning times are worked out for canners that hold at least 4 quart jars. Part of the processing happens while a big canner heats up and cools down. A small cooker does both faster, so the food gets less heat than the recipe counts on. That can leave food under-processed and unsafe. This is why the USDA recommends canners that hold at least 4 quart jars.
Electric pressure cookers and canning
The USDA and the National Center for Home Food Preservation don't recommend electric multi-cookers (the Instant Pot type) for pressure canning. If you want an electric canner, the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner is built and tested by Presto specifically for canning.
Pressure cookers and canners without a rubber gasket
All American canners have a precision-machined metal-to-metal seal, so there's no rubber gasket to wear out or replace. They cost more, but many owners use them for decades. Every other brand uses a gasket; use our gasket finder to find yours.
Which should you buy?
- Canning vegetables, beans, meat or broth: a pressure canner. See our best pressure canner picks.
- Faster weeknight cooking only: a 6 or 8 quart pressure cooker.
- Both: a cooker/canner like the Presto 16 Qt. It holds 7 quarts for canning and works as a big cooker.
- Only fruit, jam, pickles: you don't need pressure. A water bath canner is enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pressure cooker the same as a pressure canner?
No. A pressure canner is larger and holds at least 4 quart jars. It has a gauge or weighted regulator that shows or controls 5, 10 or 15 psi. A pressure cooker is smaller and made for cooking meals. Some large models, like the Presto 16 Qt, are sold as a cooker/canner and can do both.
Can I can in a pressure cooker?
Only if it holds at least 4 quart jars. The USDA does not recommend canning in smaller pressure cookers because they heat up and cool down faster, which can leave food under-processed.
Can I can in an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker?
The USDA and the National Center for Home Food Preservation do not recommend electric multi-cookers for pressure canning. The Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner is an electric unit built and tested by Presto specifically for canning.
Can I cook in a pressure canner?
Yes. A pressure canner can be used as a large pressure cooker for stock, beans, tough cuts of meat and big batches. It is just big for everyday meals.
Is there a pressure cooker without a rubber gasket?
Yes. All American pressure canners seal metal-to-metal, so there is no rubber gasket to replace. The machined edges of the lid and pot seal together.
How long does a pressure cooker gasket last?
It depends on use. Replace the gasket when it gets hard, cracked or stretched, or when steam leaks around the lid. Replace the overpressure plug at the same time.
Updated September 2026. Canning guidance follows the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning and the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
