Pressure canner

[lynnc]

Does anyone have a pressure canner that I can borrow for a few days?  My friend and I want to make pumpkin butter and other delicious pumpkin goodies, but pumpkin has to be canned in a pressure canner (or large pressure cooker).

Lynn Crawford

[tcaarabians]

Lynn, I have a large pressure cooker you can have. I think its a six quart. But, it doesn't have the little goodie on the top that keeps the pressure in. You can easily order that from the company. I've done that before. It's a Presto. cheryl o7o

[lynnc]

Thank you, but I am looking for a 20 qt canner or something in that size range. Pumpkin has to be cooked for 55 minutes a batch! 

[DogWalker]

Lynn, I've been making Pumpkin Butter (and Apple Butter) for years and I've never used a pressure canner. I can it then use the water bath method, (15 minutes), I've never had a problem with it. I do, however, use it within 6 to 8 months. PM me if you need more info. Glad to help...

[lynnc]

The reason for the pressure canner is the hot water bath method does not kill the bacteria that causes botulism.  Actually, the USDA does not even recommend pressure canning.  The pumpkin is too dense and too low in acid.  But we are going to try it anyway!

[lagomorphmom]

I've canned a lot of fruit and made lots of jams and jellies but never anything that needed a canner so interesting topic for me to learn about.

In my surfing here and there, Lynn have you thought about just canning the cubes (the only recommended method) and making the butter, etc. later? Seems to me that would be faster and more versatile for various recipes down the line. Also, btw, quarts are 90minutes.

Here's a couple of links( if you haven't found them already!):
http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkincanning.php
http://nchfp.uga.edu/tips/fall/pumpkins.html

One last thing, canned pumpkin is great in home made doggie biscuits! I think I'd save my home canning for the two legged critters in the home tho'