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12:21 pm
November 9, 2010
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I am in the middle of my first adventure into pressure canning. I replaced the old gasket, cleaned everything really well and hot-packed the beets. I waited the 10 minutes of steam before I put on the weight gauge.Now it seems that a lot of steam is escaping under the weight and that it is taking forever for it to start rocking. It will start to spin around then stop. Maybe the piece under the weight is not on tight enough. Any suggestions. Would it be safe for me to turn it off, wait until it cools and then start all over again? I am using my mother's Mirro 22 qt canner if that gives any clues. Help oh sages of canning.
1:46 pm
June 2, 2010
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The weight shouldn't rock continously. Most manuals say 4 times per minutes. Mine rocks, then rest, then rocks, etc. Do you have the manual? What does it say there. If you don't have it you can probably find it on line.
3:22 pm
November 9, 2010
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I don't have the manual and have tried to find on-line quickly. I just remember when my mother used it, it would rock back and forth. Today it just spinned around a little, no rocking. I think I will tighten the nut underneath it and try again. A lot of steam was coming out under the weight and from the safety valve.
9:23 pm
February 22, 2010
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Ruby said
I don't have the manual and have tried to find on-line quickly. I just remember when my mother used it, it would rock back and forth. Today it just spinned around a little, no rocking. I think I will tighten the nut underneath it and try again. A lot of steam was coming out under the weight and from the safety valve.
Well Ruby…were you successful? …or did you blow a hole in your kitchen ceiling? We like to know these things. 
10:40 pm
December 14, 2010
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Next time reduce the heat by small increments until the weight behaves as discribed. If you are venting too much steam the weight will just "float" on the steam and not jiggle at all.
4:55 am
November 9, 2010
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No holes in ceiling, at least not yet. I tightened the nut under the weight and that helped a great deal. Also turned down the heat and it rattled about more. Second batch did not lose hardly any water, unlike the first batch that had about 2/3rds left in jars. Some jars from both batches did not seal, so I guess I will be making borche with them. For my first time overall I think it was a success, but clearly there is a learning curve. I marked the first batch so I know to boil them extra long this winter, just in case. Thank you Oh God/Godess of Canning! I knew you would have the answers.
9:21 am
February 22, 2010
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Sometimes it helps if you put the rubber ring in very hot water before you fit it in the canner. That seems to help it get a tighter fit. Glad there were no explosions. 
2:06 pm
December 14, 2010
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Check the jar rims carefully and check the fit of the rings to be sure that they screw on easily. You may have to crank down on them just a little more when you assemble the lids and rings. Not super tight but more than just snug. I think that I spin the rings on until they stop and then add about a quarter turn.
12:41 pm
August 13, 2009
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Ruby, I also have the 22 pint Mirro. I am using it on a gas stove (propane), and it takes a bit of getting used to. I ordered a new gasket just in case but didn't need it. It does take longer than most to come to 10 minutes of steam, but it is a very large canner. The temperature of the water, contents, even if you have a fan blowing in the room, all will factor into how long that continous 10 minutes of steam takes to acquire. It took me almost 1/2 hr. to adjust to get the 3 to 4 rocks per minute. You bet I marked it when I finally got it. This brand also discolors quite a bit if you don't have perfect water, I don't. I add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water before I put on the lid. Mother, grandmothers, they make things look sooooo easy. It just comes from repetition. You'll master yours in no time.
9:02 am
November 9, 2010
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Second attempt yesterday with more beets and the results were PERFECT. All sealed, no loss of water and darn it, don't they look beautiful. Set the gas to about half way and it seemed to work fine. Not sure exactly how many rocks per minute, but it worked. What to do next?
4:49 pm
December 28, 2008
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Congratulations, Ruby!
The manuals for both my All American and Mirro canners say 1-4 rocks per minute. But, yours might be different. The point seems to be that it rock, no just ride on top of the steam.
If you want to print general instructions, this might help: http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/PNW/PNW0421.pdf
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