In this article, I provide a detailed guide on how to pressure can in the Nesco Canner. Whether you’re a seasoned canner or a beginner looking to preserve your favorite foods, this guide will help you navigate the process of pressure canning in the Nesco canner with ease and confidence.
What You’ll Need to Pressure Can in Your Nesco Canner
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Before we dive into the steps, make sure you have the following items ready, which are all readily available on Amzon.
- Nesco ( or Carey) Smart Canner (buy whichever one is the best price)
- Canning jars with lids and bands (wide mouth recommended)
- Canning rack (comes with the canner)
- 8 cups of hot tap water
- Proper pressure limiting valve based on your altitude
Step-by-Step Nesco Pressure Canning Instructions
Watch the video above for a demonstration on how to do all of the steps listed below.
Step 1: Place the Canning Rack into the Canner
Place your filled jars onto the canning rack in the inner canning pot. For this demonstration, I’m using jars filled with hot water. Remember to use the canning rack, NOT the steam rack. The canning rack should be placed with the feet down at the bottom of the pot.
Step 2: Add your Filled Jars to the Canner
Next, add your filled jars to the canner.
Step 3: Add Water to the Nesco Canner
Add 8 cups of hot tap water to the canner. This water creates the necessary steam for the pressure canning process.
Step 4: Close the Lid
Close and lock the lid by turning it until it slides into place.
Step 5: Attach the Nesco Canner Pressure Limiting Valve
Depending on your altitude, you will need to attach the appropriate pressure limiting valve. For altitudes of 1,000 feet or lower, use the black valve. For altitudes above 1,000 feet, use the green valve.
To change the valve, simply pull up on the existing valve and press the new one down firmly.
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👉 Check it out on AmazonStep 6: Set the Timer and Pressure
Select the high button on the control panel.
Press the time button to set the canning time required for your recipe.
Set the pressure limiting valve to the exhaust position and press start.
Step 7: Vent and Let Pressure Build
The digital display will rotate, indicating that the correct internal temperature is being reached. This can take up to 30 minutes. Once the pressure is reached, the canner will beep and display “E10”. This means the canner will vent for 10 minutes. The display will then show “E0.” At this time, set the pressure limiting valve to the airtight position.
Step 8: Allow the Entire Pressure Canning Cycle to Run
The canner will automatically start the canning process. You will see the time countdown on the display.
Once the canning process is complete, the canner will beep and display “OFF”.
Unplug the canner and let it sit undisturbed for at least an hour, allowing the pressure to decrease naturally.
My Nesco canner usually takes 90 minutes for the pressure to drop completely, especially when I’m canning quarts.
The bottom line is that you do not want to do anything to hurry up the cool down process. The cool down time is actually an important part of the canning process, and is necessary for safety.
Step 9: Remove the Jars
After the pressure has completely dropped, carefully open the lid and remove your jars. Let them cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours before checking the seals and storing.
Important Nesco Canner Safety Tips
Keep these tips in mind in order to safely pressure can in your Nesco or Carey canner.
First, always follow the instructions in the Nesco manual.
Next, be sure to follow safe canning guidelines, such as what you’ll find on the National Center for Home Food Preservation website. I also recommend that you follow tested recipes.
Pro Tip: Check out my blog post, My 3 Favorite Canning Books for a wide variety of safe canning recipes.
As mentioned earlier, do not attempt to speed up the cooling process by switching the valve to exhaust or removing the lid too early. This can lead to unsafe food and siphoning.
Finally, ensure your canner and jars are clean and in good condition before starting.
Nesco Canner & Cooker Resource Hub
Looking for more guides on using the Nesco Canner & Cooker? Visit my Nesco resource hub for safety information, canning methods, and step-by-step tutorials.
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Conclusion
Pressure canning with the Nesco (Carey) Smart Canner is a reliable way to preserve your favorite foods safely. By following these steps, you can ensure your canned goods are both delicious and safe to eat.
If you found this guide helpful, please like the video, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and leave a comment with any questions or tips you have. Happy canning!
Resources
- The Nesco Smart Canner Manual
- Previous Post: How to Water Bath Can in the Nesco Smart Canner
- Previous Post: How to Heat Jars in the Nesco Canner
💬 I’d love to hear from you!
Have you tried this yourself? Have a question or tip to share? Leave a comment below — your experience or question could help someone else, too!
Love your tips! I borrowed my Sister-in-laws Presto Electric Canner & went out and bought a Nesco after reading your reviews! The Presto was nice, but I feel like the Nesco is easier! I Water Bath can & pressure and this baby does both easily (and at a fraction of the cost!… I got mine at Farm & Fleet for $119 on sale!) I’m now wandering around my house looking for things to can LOL! When fruit is on sale, it becomes jam. I cleaned my basement freezer free of all the garden tomatoes and made sauce! It just feels so good!
Thank you for sharing all of your tips & knowledge. They are greatly appreciated :)
Hi Cindy, thanks so much for your comment! I also appreciate you sharing your experience with your sister-in-law’s Presto canner, because I haven’t actually used one. So my opinion is just based on my use of the Nesco and reading the information on the Presto site as well as hearing what others said. I agree that the cost of the Nesco is just so much lower that I just don’t see any reason to get the Presto. The only reason I’d get the Presto is if I got the large (I think 17 quart) size so that I could WB quarts in it, as well as doublestack pints if I was doing a larger batch. But in my case, I just use more than one canner if I need to do more at a time! Also, if I want to water bath quarts, I just use the low pressure function as directed in the Nesco manual.
Your comment about wandering around the house looking for things to can gave me a good laugh! It is rather addictive, for sure! And it’s such a great way to preserve things without later worrying about electricity.
I hope you have a ton of fun with your Nesco – though it seems pretty safe to assume that you already are! Thanks again for commenting. I’m working on turning comments on each of my posts, so please do comment more when you have a chance. I’ll get them turned on all the posts as soon as possible!