Glass top stoves and canning

[pas2]

Has anyone managed to can food on a small scale with a glass top stove? I need to buy a new stove and I am undecided whether to buy an electric coil again or a glass top instead. Does anyone find cooking with large pots difficult on this type of stove? Thanks so much for the help.

 

[piratesmate]

The wife of one of our pastors has a glass top stove and does a lot of canning. Years ago she did her canning the traditional way. Now, however, she uses an alternate method that I wouldn't recommend. She cooks the food/jam on the stove, puts it into jars warmed in the dishwasher, puts the filled jars in the microwave for ?? minutes & THEN puts the lids on them. She says they seal ~99% of the time & she just puts those that don't seal in the refrigerator & uses them right away. I couldn't get hold of her to check, but I think she told me that she does it this way because she can't use her canner on the stove top - however, it could just be that she finds it easier . . . as well as much cooler! Canning in August really stinks!

 

[pas2]

Thanks piratesmate for looking into this for me. I only can about 2dz jars of tomatoes and about the same of jam every other year, just enough for my small family but I do make tons of applesauce and corn that I freeze. That requires large pots (at a minimum 2 dutch ovens going at once). I think I can use a large stock pot with a flat bottom to boil the jars to seal them but I doubt I can fit two dutchovens on top at the same time.

I agree with you, I wouldn,t trust the microwave method. My friend does hers in the oven and I have read that is unreliable also. Lets just say I avoid eating dishes that I know she used her canned products as an ingredient.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Good question, I have to replace my stove and I have been debating on the glass top too. I cook large quanities of food for the freezer and have large pots not to mention I use the canner too. Hadn't thought about the large pots being a problem. I have a friend who has the glass top (no large cooking for her) and loves it. The jury is still out here!

TK

 

[pas2]

I know the canner is out because of the rippled bottom.

 

[piratesmate]

PAS2 - Your canner has a rippled bottom??? I'm using my grandmother's canner (water bath) & the bottom is flat. Is yours a newer one? I've never seen one like that. I assumed, when I first read this post, that it was the diameter of the canner that was causing the problem. Mine is so big that I use both the front & back burner to heat it.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

My canner bottom is flat too! I had to go look! Of course, it is as old as I am so it is considered an old fashioned canner. HA HA!

Melissa

 

[pas2]

My canner is a newer one, blue speckleware rippled. My Mom's is also rippled but hers is very old.

You were not wrong, it is the height of the pans that is the problem (not the bottom). I guess I will have to take the pans to the store with me even if I feel foolish.

 

[piratesmate]

If you feel foolish taking the pot to the store, how about measuring the pan? Then take a tape measure - not the sewing type, but the metal carpentry kind. In my experience, men never seem to feel funny about whipping out one of those to check things. I've seen sales clerks laugh when women pull out a piece of string or even a sewing-type tape measure, but never when those metal gizmos are used.

 

[pas2]

I am one of those people who always carries a tape measure around with me, it's lime green!!! LOL I just have a terrible time visualizing something which is why I am having a terrible time with this kitchen remodel. Look out Sears here I come--pots and all!

 

[LindaBabe]

than the spiral electric grid, but more practical than glass, how about a stove top with hobs? Hobs are solid metal and very even heating.