Mirro Pressure Canner
Choosing a Mirro Pressure Canner
Founded in Wisconsin over one hundred years ago, the Mirro Aluminum Company was once the largest American manufacturer of aluminum kitchen supplies, with eight manufacturing plants in three different states. Today, it is still a leader in the industry. This is evident in their attractive and functional pressure canners. Mirro Pressure Canners come in two varieties. The first of these is the small, 12 quart pressure canner. The second is the much larger 22 quart version. As you would expect, both are made of heavy gauge aluminum and are fully rust proof.
The Mirro 12 quart pressure canner is capable of holding ten half pint jars, eight pint jars, or five quart jars. Since it is relatively small for a pressure canner, it functions well as an everyday pressure cooker. The 12 quart pressure canner is will also fit in many dishwashers and is dishwasher safe. This is an unusual combination in a pressure canner, and it will be an attractive feature for many people. The Mirro 22 quart pressure canner is very similar, but larger. It will hold five quart jars or, with the proper racks, up to 30 half pint jars or 16 pint jars. It comes with a canning rack. Unlike the 12 quart canner, it is recommended that you hand wash the 22 quart pressure canner.
Mirro pressure canners can cook at three pressures that are set via pressure controls in the handle: five, ten, or fifteen pounds per square inch. Instead of a readable pressure gauge, the Mirro pressure canners come with a weighted regulator. This regulator rocks back and forth at a speed determined by the pressure within the canner. As a result, you can monitor the pressure of the canner by ear rather than by reading a gauge. Since you might be using a pressure canner for an extended period of time, this allows you to go and do other things and not be tied to a spot where you can visually monitor the canner. While some people prefer a gauge for accuracy, others find the regulators much more convenient.
Like many contemporary pressure cooking devices, Mirro pressure canners have redundant safety features. The handles on their pressure canners lock into place, and they all have over pressure release valves and pressure gasket release windows.
Both Mirro pressure canners come with a user guide and recipe booklet. The recipes are pressure cooking recipes rather than canning recipes, but there are many other resources for canning information available, including a wide variety of free resources via the Internet. In the United States, many state university extension offices also offer home canning information.
Mirro pressure canners are known for their high quality. They come with a ten year limited manufacturer's warranty.