|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
generalsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
pressure cooker question
#18958969 - 10/10/13 11:42 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
So I've been keeping an eye out for pressure cookers at my local thrift store, ebay, and craigslist, but I'm not sure what the ideal volume would be for the stuff id be sterilizing. Whats a good sized recommendation?
|
grymmtymm
lostinthought



Registered: 03/29/08
Posts: 1,137
Loc: inside your head
|
|
totally depends on what/how much you will be doing.
to start I wouldn't get one of the bigger ones because of price/volume.
always take baby steps, especially when you'll be spending money (lots) on it.
to start I would stick with the baseline all american 21 qt. you can do plenty with it, you can always upgrade later but can't downgrade.
on the other hand, look hard and long enough on ebay and you will find a good deal on one of the bigger, better ones.
-------------------- If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got.
|
liamtheloser
Advanced Idiot

Registered: 06/07/06
Posts: 1,453
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: grymmtymm]
#18959438 - 10/10/13 01:37 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I got a 16 qt presto for 20 bucks on Craigslist. It can do 7 quarts at a time, I looked at the 21 qt cookers and they'd be better for doing bags, because you could stack 2 layers of bags, but I'm doing pasteurized straw and sawdust mostly so I didn't need it that much.
Edit: the 21 qt cookers only do 7 quarts upright as well. They're the same size around, just a bit taller.
--------------------
Edited by liamtheloser (10/10/13 01:48 PM)
|
generalsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: grymmtymm]
#18959834 - 10/10/13 02:52 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
grymmtymm said: totally depends on what/how much you will be doing.
to start I wouldn't get one of the bigger ones because of price/volume.
always take baby steps, especially when you'll be spending money (lots) on it.
to start I would stick with the baseline all american 21 qt. you can do plenty with it, you can always upgrade later but can't downgrade.
on the other hand, look hard and long enough on ebay and you will find a good deal on one of the bigger, better ones.
ive seen a lot of 4 quart and 2 liters. So i guess thats waaay to small then?
I did find this nice LARGE pot in the woods that i was thinking of using for boiling substrate material, but i dont know if thats feasible as it doesnt have a lid...
|
liamtheloser
Advanced Idiot

Registered: 06/07/06
Posts: 1,453
|
|
I have a 4 quart, it will do half pints but not much else.
If I had a chance to go back in time, I would not have bought a small one and just went straight for the 16 qt.
They're about the same price on Craigslist anyway. And to filter out every pot store and hydro shop in the world, do a search for "pressure canner" on Craigslist.
--------------------
|
bootster

Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 1,531
|
|
Watch out for the taller ones. They won't fit on a stove with a normal range hood or microwave. The 30 Qt and 41.5 Qt are too tall for mine anyway. My 1925X fits to a "T". My 41.5 Qt needs a propane burner outside
I use the 1915X the most. It has the basket and toggle and still holds 7 Qts. (without the basket).
|
Molimo
Fungal Friend


Registered: 02/04/13
Posts: 46
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: bootster]
#18960796 - 10/10/13 06:31 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Even if you're looking to start small I would say go for something that will hold at least 7 qt jars. I bought a 23 qt Presto this year for about 70$ that can hold 10 qt jars. It's not as high quality as an All American, but I have limited funds to dump into this hobby. I've been happy with it so far. After doing fractional sterilization for a year, having a pressure cooker feels like cheating!
|
generalsherman55
MF BOOGNISH


Registered: 09/05/13
Posts: 1,291
Loc: yay area
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: Molimo]
#18960984 - 10/10/13 07:03 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
can i see how the empty jars fit in the pot?
|
liamtheloser
Advanced Idiot

Registered: 06/07/06
Posts: 1,453
|
|
Looks like a flower, there's one jar in the center and 6 surrounding it. Then in the 21+ qt pressure cookers you can lay 2-3 on their sides on top of the upright ones.
--------------------
|
drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
|
the presto 21 qt's are very nice hobby size, shouldn't need anything else for a while. $80 new.
|
Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: drake89]
#18962805 - 10/11/13 07:09 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
drake89 said: the presto 21 qt's are very nice hobby size, shouldn't need anything else for a while. $80 new.
Yeah, i used 2 of these simultaneously when i was first getting going. Not the best but they work.
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
|
DRCola



Registered: 05/04/11
Posts: 134
Loc: USA
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: Aleon]
#18963582 - 10/11/13 11:44 AM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I use a AA 930 for bags, but I also have a couple Fagor 10 quart PCs. Those are basically for kitchen use, but are also large enough to use for canning. In fact, the second Fagor PC I got also had a set of canning tools included. The Fagor brand is from Spain, and I enjoy using them for cooking and "canning" 4 quarts of rye at a time.
|
liamtheloser
Advanced Idiot

Registered: 06/07/06
Posts: 1,453
|
Re: pressure cooker question [Re: DRCola]
#18965776 - 10/11/13 08:49 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Here's a picture of a 16 qt pressure cooker full of quart jars:

--------------------
|
|