Outdoor Canning...

[Deleted]

I know that this subject has been discussed ad nauseam on other forums, including "the Dark Side", but one of the neat features of a new forum is that you often get to ask the same old, tired, long in the tooth questions.

Here is my dilemma...

I now have a glass top, electric stove.  The manufacturer does not recommend (actually, almost rabidly forbids) the use of pots and pans that are larger than a certain diameter for each heating element.  I understand the reasoning stated by the manufacturer and do not wish to damage the stove.  But a problem arises because most, if not all, canning vessels are somewhat larger than the largest diameter burner on my stove. 

So I have been looking into using a propane or other gas burning device of some type in order to can outside.  I have done a bit of research on this but every time that I think that I have a product identified I find negative comments concerning it or discover a disadvantage that precludes me from using it.  Sometimes when several individuals recommend a particular product there is not enough information available to pinpoint exactly the make, model number, etc. or the product is no longer available and no one has any experience with the "latest and greatest" replacement.

So, my goal is to get recommendations from people that actually can outdoors concerning the type of heating device that they use.  Please, offer both advantages and disadvantages (if there are any) and please be as specific as possible regarding make, model #, ability to adjust the flame level, susceptibility to wind, ability to hold large canners without tipping over, MPG (you know what I mean!) , etc.

Thanks for any and all input...

[farmchix]

Can you put in a used gas stove with propane? My grandma had one out on her canning porch.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2015 14:55:11 GMT farmchix said:

Can you put in a used gas stove with propane? My grandma had one out on her canning porch.

I had given that some thought, but I really do not have the space to do so. I already have two freezers on the screened-in porch and the porch is getting crowded.

At this moment whatever device that I use will have to be portable and easy to store (probably in the shed, but it is a nice shed). 

I would love to have a summer kitchen, or canning porch as you refer to it, but that is not presently in the cards.

[farmchix]

Apr 19, 2015 15:00:46 GMT @trellis said:

Apr 19, 2015 14:55:11 GMT farmchix said:

Can you put in a used gas stove with propane? My grandma had one out on her canning porch.

I had given that some thought, but I really do not have the space to do so. I already have two freezers on the screened-in porch and the porch is getting crowded.

At this moment whatever device that I use will have to be portable and easy to store (probably in the shed, but it is a nice shed). 

I would love to have a summer kitchen, or canning porch as you refer to it, but that is not presently in the cards.

Can you move one of the freezers somewhere else?  I know it was a lifesaver for us.  We even made the soap out there because of the lye fumes.  Hope you find something soon!

[Deleted]

Several years ago I bought a propane turkey fryer on sale at wally world. I never have fried a turkey, but have used the burner to can outdoors.It works really well. Sometime I have to set up a wind screen of sorts, because it can get pretty windy here in the summer. I use one of the bigger rv propane tanks and it last quite a while. Plus canning outdoors keeps from heating your house up in the summer.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2015 15:33:29 GMT dudeatlarge said:

Several years ago I bought a propane turkey fryer on sale at wally world. I never have fried a turkey, but have used the burner to can outdoors.It works really well. Sometime I have to set up a wind screen of sorts, because it can get pretty windy here in the summer. I use one of the bigger rv propane tanks and it last quite a while. Plus canning outdoors keeps from heating your house up in the summer.

My research has led me to believe that not all turkey fryers are created equal. Some are said to have the feature of great adjustment in flame height (and thus BTU output) and others not so much.  The BTU output is critical when trying to can and keep things at a particular pressure.

I live all of a mile or so from the ocean so I know a bit about wind. 

Having a wind screen of some type, either coming with the product or built by me is a forgone conclusion. 

If I do the canning on the porch I have a hundred pound propane tank that is in close proximity that can be used.

Any specifics available on what you purchased from Wally World???

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2015 15:47:11 GMT @trellis said:

Apr 19, 2015 15:33:29 GMT dudeatlarge said:

Several years ago I bought a propane turkey fryer on sale at wally world. I never have fried a turkey, but have used the burner to can outdoors.It works really well. Sometime I have to set up a wind screen of sorts, because it can get pretty windy here in the summer. I use one of the bigger rv propane tanks and it last quite a while. Plus canning outdoors keeps from heating your house up in the summer.

My research has led me to believe that not all turkey fryers are created equal. Some are said to have the feature of great adjustment in flame height (and thus BTU output) and others not so much.  The BTU output is critical when trying to can and keep things at a particular pressure.

I live all of a mile or so from the ocean so I know a bit about wind. 

Having a wind screen of some type, either coming with the product or built by me is a forgone conclusion. 

If I do the canning on the porch I have a hundred pound propane tank that is in close proximity that can be used.

Any specifics available on what you purchased from Wally World???

I'm not sure what it is. The box is long gone and the burner is buried on the back porch somewhere. All I know is that it will BWB and pressure can without any problems. The one I have has a timer on it to make sure that you keep checking your turkey and that it doesn't get to hot and start a fire. I bypassed it as I wouldn't need or want that feature. I will try to find it in the next couple of days and see if it has any info stamped on it other than "made in china".

[wolfmom]

I understand what you are going through. I have a NEW glass top stove sitting in my carport as I changed it out to a gas stove. Thank heavens this house has gas so it was easy to hook up the stove. I really dislike cooking on glass top stoves. Had one for years a long time ago.

Have you thought of looking into a heavy duty 2 burner camp stove that runs on propane? Or a commercial portable one? Look under used commercial kitchen equipment.

[Deleted]

I have a cheapo $20 camp stove I use in the sun room. I just bought the adapter to go from a one lb propane bottle to a larger BBQ type propane tank for it. Been using it for years and when I'm done I just put it with the camping gear for storage.

[Deleted]

If it was me I'd buy a used propane stove and a big propane cylinder and have DH put up some sort of wind break around the stove or put it in a shed or the garage. Use the type of canner that has the rocker so you don't have to babysit it all day. It wouldn't cost much.

[farmchix]

Apr 19, 2015 18:20:04 GMT @fffarmergirl said:

If it was me I'd buy a used propane stove and a big propane cylinder and have DH put up some sort of wind break around the stove or put it in a shed or the garage. Use the type of canner that has the rocker so you don't have to babysit it all day. It wouldn't cost much.

That would work as well as a Canning Porch.

[claytonpiano]

We have a heavy duty two burner camp type stove that I use on my back deck. You must monitor it closely to be sure that you have the gas and canner at the right temperature. I have been known to have 4 canners going at once this way. We found ours at a yard sale. I have never seen one like it in stores.

[Deleted]

I use an older 3 burner Coleman gasoline camp stove. It's portable, runs on pump gas, easy flame control,wind screens. I can pressure,and hot water bath can with it. I also use it to fry fish and chicken outdoors .

[Deleted]

I used to have a propane grill that had a large side burner on it that I canned for many years on. I prefer to can outside as it doesn't heat up our house. Now, I either use the coleman camp stove, or a propane burner that came with a big pot on it, I think for frying. Both work well. The coleman stove is nice if it's a little windy as it has a back and sides to it. It also has a 2nd burner on it that you can use (if your canning pot is not too large) for preparing the food to can. But I normally use a portable electric eye to prepare the food in.
Dawn

[Deleted]

I don't do a lot canning right now, but I've always wanted something like this to can outside. My grand parents had one like it in their basement.
m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_23798_23798?utm_source=CSE&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=Food%20Processing%20>%20Cooking%20Stoves%20%2B%20Burners&utm_content=330974&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=330974&gclid=Cj0KEQjwpM2pBRChsZCzm_CU0t4BEiQAxDVFmr9rkikUEzTUOTWWBuIWGIl5um-fSQSzUUhozJD76P4aAo2C8P8HAQ

[Deleted]

dudeatlarge,

When you get a chance...  I am not in a huge hurry about this.

wolfmom,

I have given a lot of thought to using many different things.  I have even thought of using one of my larger backpacking stoves.  Don't laugh!  This bugger can throw some serious flame and if it is liquid and burns, this stove can probably use it.  The flame height (BTU's) is highly adjustable and brings a canteen cup of water to a boil in about 3 or so minutes.  It sounds like a fighter jet flying overhead.  Problems that I see trying it out are the largest fuel canister made by the manufacturer is only 30 or so fluid ounces and a possible stability problem resting an American 921 on it (perhaps I can cobble together some type of grate/grill for it).

claytonpiano, @twptom, & @halfpint,

Thank you, but if I could trouble y'all for some additional product information such as manufacturer's name and model number it would be greatly appreciated.

@shotgunluckey,

Thanks for the links, but they just took me to the main page for Northern Tools, so I am still unsure as to exactly what product you are using.

[Deleted]

Sorry....I don't know how to make it take you right to the item, but you can try searching for

Hurricane Products Propane Cast Iron Stove — Double Burner, Model# 63-5200

on the Northern Tool site

[Deleted]

The Coleman stove that I use is a model 426B, I bought it at the flea market for $10, very simple, works like a charm. Coleman has been making gasoline/ propane stoves, for almost 100 years. There are several different models to choose from. Here is one listed on ebay - www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Coleman-3-Burner-Portable-Camping-Stove-/221748096510?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a1376dfe There are several pages of portable stoves listed right now*. The 426B has not been manufactured for many years, but they can still be found used/second hand. I prefer the gasoline models, as opposed to propane, because they are inexpensive to operate( gasoline is cheaper*). Older Coleman gasoline appliances can be fueled with modern unleaded pump gas 87 octane), the fuel of today is much cleaner burning than the older leaded gas. I Hope that You find what You are looking for*.

[Deleted]

They have this one on sale for $99 at our local farm store. www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200317038_200317038

[Deleted]

Apr 21, 2015 16:50:00 GMT dudeatlarge said:

They have this one on sale for $99 at our local farm store. www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200317038_200317038

That looks real good, but I was wondering if you or anyone else has any personal experience using it for canning?

I was just chatting with a rep from the web site and she was pretty much just spouting the company line without ever having used it before nor providing a warm fuzzy feeling about it being able to do the job for canning.

[Bear Foot Farm]

My research has led me to believe that not all turkey fryers are created equal. Some are said to have the feature of great adjustment in flame height (and thus BTU output) and others not so much. The BTU output is critical when trying to can and keep things at a particular pressure.

For usually less than $30 you can buy a hose with all the fittings and a fully adjustable regulator that gives you total control of flame height

I paid $60 years ago for a "fish cooker" at Agri-Supply that had such a setup, and they also sell the regulator assemblies separately 

Here's an entire cooker for only $40

www.agrisupply.com/carolina-cooker-stand-and-burner/p/49469/

www.agrisupply.com/

[dw]

My sister lives in a townhome w/small kitchen w/glass top range but right thru her storage is her garage. She cans in her garage. She used a stove top on saw horses for yrs then...calls me in a panic b/c top is not working. She used a turkey fryer and a one burner hot plate last year. She was amazed how well it worked.

[Deleted]

We tried using a camp stove out of an old camper once. Never could get it hot enough to get the canner up to pressure.

Now, we use a gas stove converted to propane. I love it.