This is an honest review with demonstration of the Nesco smart canner & cooker. In my opinion, a fantastic idea - but a disappointing execution. It may work great for some - and not at all for others.
Yes, I own a Nesco canner. I also own a Presto Pressure canner, a Harvest WaterBath/Steam Canner, and a big Granite Water Bath Canner. I have been canning 40 years. I have owned the Nesco for over a year and have only gotten out my Presto Pressure canner once this year. I have use the Harvest Water Bath Canner for canning quarts of tomato products. All my other canning has been done with the Nesco. First of all, the front of mine does not bend when pushed, I have only taken my lid off once (I clean the lid and gasket with the lid on the canner every time after I use the canner). I only use my Nesco for canning...the measuring marks inside the canner are for using it as a pressure cooker not for measuring water for canning. For canning, you measure the water out and put it in the canner. For a while I had been filling it to the 8 cup line and nothing out of the ordinary occurred, it canned just fine. I checked how much water mine once when I canned something for 70 minutes and it only used 2 cups of water, I thought that was great. I like the Nesco because I don't have to get my big Presto canner out and the Nesco is easier to clean up after canning. I have used both wide mouth and regular mouth jars in the Nesco with the regular mouth quarts you just have to be aware not to block the vent. I have used an assortment of lids with this canner as well as Harvest Guard Reusable lid (like tattlers) and all the lids have sealed. The E does not stand for error, it stands for exhaust. I think this canner is very useful, helpful, and easy to use.
@@penelopej1996 - thank you for your comments. The front panel denting in is curious, I wonder if you have an older, perhaps more sturdy version? But then, I would not know when my unit was manufactured, I just bought it recently, but that doesn't mean it was a recent unit. I did some more reading around since, and some folk seem to have the same excessive steam escape issue I had (it really pushed out 3 3/4 cups over the 70 mins), but then there are other folk that say what you did - no excessive venting. I find the lid thing suspicious. There, again, people say they use regular mouth and have no issues. But I wonder why a manufacturer would limit itself to only wide mouth if regular really DO work without issues. It's odd? The 8 cup thing though - they dropped the ball, It does not matte if used for pressure canning or pressure cooking. A cup is a cup! :) I know the E doesn't stand for error. But it's pretty close. And reading comments on Amazon, people are freaked out not know why their 'error' is not mentioned in the manual. My husband wasn't kidding when he thought it was an error. :) I'm glad you like yours. I was hoping I would, too. I could have overlooked most of it, but the almost 4 cups of steam for my AC were a no no in Florida. That's a LOT of water. I suppose for anyone with cold, dry winters, it would be a welcome thing.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I think me buying mine a year ago is recently enough to call it a newer model, even so the front of it moving for you didn't affect anything. All pressure canners vent and have to in order to regulate temperature and keep the canner from getting too hot. I had 6 cups of water left in my canner after 75 minutes of canning great northern beans, that is plenty. Canners are fine as long as they don't cook dry. I read the amazon reviews where people "thought" the E 10-E 0 was an error but the manual on how to use it clearly says that that is a function and steps to can...it is an incorrect assumption made that an E code would stand for error. The manual also says for "best" results use wide mouth jars, it does not say "only use wide mouth." I use regular mouth in mine quite a bit, especially pints. I really didn't matter when I filled it to the 8 cup line in the canner, it still worked. The company could change that part in the future, who knows. The electric canner is different than a stove top with digital displays and all but it's great they are moving forward with canning technologies. Canning will be easier in the future.
@@penelopej1996 - see, I find the 'best results' entirely confusing. Canning is black/white, there is no sliding scale. It either is safely canned and sealed or it isn't. How can one be canned better than the other? Also, the venting of the Nesco isn't how it needs to be. Both the IP MAX and the Presto vent much less and still get the job done safely. I'm guessing in another year or two we'll have amazing electric canners on the market. This one just didn't cut it for me. Perhaps it was a lemon, but then mine wasn't the only one. Other people, too, complain about the amount of steam it releases. Surely, they'll make improvements down the road. Getting the cup measurement wrong is embarrassing. Imagine you rely on it as a measure of your recipe. Everything would turn out pretty soupy with 4 extra cups per 8 cup measure. I'm glad yours works better than mine did.
First : regular mouth pints work just fine. Second: when it goes to OFF, you unplug it and wait 1 hour before opening. You didn’t wait for natural release so that is why it dripped so much. Third: the measurement inside is for cooking not canning(water volume). Forth: why does it matter that it lost so much water? You should empty and start fresh each time. Fifth: if you had done as instructed, starting with warm tap water, it would have saved 30-40 minutes from the time to get started to pressure. just saying....
Thanks for your comment. 1) apparently they work, but then why would the manufacturer not say so? Seems odd they limit themselves? 2) I did wait for natural release. Unplug or not makes no difference, really, as it shuts down entirely when the time is up. The water form the lid is condensation. My IP does the same, but it has a 'well' where it drips in. 3) The measurement inside is wrong. Makes no difference if it is for cooking or canning. Imagine using it for rice, gonna be a soggy mess? 4) To me, it matters a whole lot how much water it dissipates in the air, as this is water my A/C has to work hard to remove then. Not to mention the steam assault on the ceiling and potentially kitchen cabinets. 5) Why do you think I didn't start with warm tap water? (Perhaps I should have mentioned it's warm in the vid.) And no, it would not safe 40 mins - try it out. I think the canner is fine for those who don't mind the issues I had with it. According to RoseRedHomeasteading, it performs rather well when it comes to safe internal temp of jar contents. In the end, that's what matters. But had I known what I know now, I wouldn't have bought it. And I did watch a lot of vids on it.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I did potatoes in my Carey version just last week. My book says it takes 30-40 minutes to get up to temperature before the E10 will start. Well I used hot sterilized jars, and put near boiling water on the potatoes, and put as hot of tap water as my sink would put out in the pot. I fully expected to wait 30 minutes. Instead it only took about 10 minutes for it to beep and start counting down. It may have been less than 10 minutes. I was still cleaning up the mess, washing bowls and knives and what not from getting everything ready. I was very surprised.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida well seeing as how serious cooks make rice using ratios instead of measurements, the lines on the pot would work just fine. Also, the amount of steam it releases doesn't really matter, that just comes down to physics. Not sure there is anything the company can do to reduce steam since it's the same amount of energy being uses to get it that psi xD like wtf
@@sircurlyfries1326 yes the amount of steam matters! Our A/C has to work hard to remove all the moisture from the air again. That's money out the window. Let alone it being hard on the kitchen ceiling and cabinets. It's a construction issue, because the other electric pressure canners on the market don't have that flaw. :)
@@homesteadinginnorthfloridaThat venting of steam is technically not a flaw. Its one of the several designer built in safeties to keep the inside pressure stable, so the canner won't blow. It's also to make canning as easy, safe & convenient as possible for the individuals who own it. You can always just use the nesco canner outside of your home ( weather permitting ofcourse) to fix the condensation issue inside.
The USDA does not recommend using electric canners as they cannot reach the desired temperature to kill the spores. However, Pam Cantrell on "RoseRed Homestead," who has a Doctorate in Science has tested all of the electric canners on the market. These include Nesco/Carey, Presto Digital Canner, and so on. She has a data gathering tool which can immediately tell the canner if the desired temperature has been reached. In her videos, Dr. Cantrell shares the data for each electric pressure canner. The Presto Digital did not fare too well with some items that were canned. However, the Nesco performed well. So, I am thinking about investing in a Nesco.
I've seen RoseRed's video. My only o=concern is, that she had only one unit to test. I say this, because I have 2 IPs and they do not perform the same way. When I render lard, for example, one gets warmer than the other. But then, perhaps there are different standards on pressure cookers than canners. Extension offices are still testing the electric ones, but we'll have to wait another while to get their results, as they leave the jars on the shelf for 1 - 2 years to see if the seal holds, I assume. The US seems to be a bit overcautious about this stuff though. Folks would clutch their pearls if they could see how Germany, for example, still cans things. Without an increase in botulism deaths.
I just purchased the Carey so far works great. It was a toss up between Presto and NESCO/ Carey. I went with Carey. But I also know others that bought Presto and have no problem.
I’ve used mine a few times for pressure canning and so far so good. It does produce a lot of steam and I’ll just have to live with that as I can no longer lift the big pressure canners. I heat my water up before putting in the canner and it still takes a while to reach the E10 exhaust time. Wish the US would start making things here again.
This machine can preheat the water needed before PC (I take my quart size mason jar and fill it twice with water and put into machine for easy measuring). Press the brown button, then start and it begins to get the water hot while your prepping what you're going to can. I hope this makes sense.
I'm new at canning and I got this. The Nesco is so easy to use. I love it. I just ordered a 2nd one to save time canning when I'm doing big batches. Love it!
Thank you for this review. I was thinking about purchasing this canner. I'm a newbie and it's nice to see someone do a thorough and honest review. I will probably still buy this canner and give it a try.
I have the Nesco canner and I am very happy with it. Prior to purchasing it, I had purchased a 16qt. Presto. The Presto had far more issues with venting too much steam than the Nesco, so much so that I returned it because it steamed dry several times no matter how well I regulated the pressure. I can in regular mouth jars and have no issues at all. They all seal perfectly. If you place one jar under the vent, when you close the lid it will end up between two jars. No problem. My 😮Nesco canner generally steams during the exhaust/pressure building cycle and again for about the last 30 minutes of the canning cycle. I think the constant steaming some experienced may have something to do with the amount of jars in the canner. I noticed in the comments that people complaining about this were try to can one or two jars. I believe you are supposed to be canning no less than 2 quarts or 4 pints in a batch. Canning less jars can make it difficult for the canner to maintain correct pressure. Also, the canner does not always take the full 10 minutes to reach pressure, especially if it was still hot from a previous batch. This canner is great for me because I could never lift an All American, use it on my 24" glass top stove, or afford to purchase one. I think comparing the Nesco to an All American is a poor comparison. They may both be canning equipment, but they serve different purposes and needs. If you think it might work for you, give it a try. Just because this person wasn't happy with it doesn't mean you won't be.
All good points, it seems some folk love their model, and others don't. The excess steam issue seems to happen for some and not others, which is concerning in itself. The amount of jars in the canner is irrelevant. If it would need to be a full canner, I'm sure this would be mentioned in the instructions? I'm still curious on why one should use wide mouth jars only, even for pints and half pints.
I think the number of jars in the canner is relevant and probably isn't mentioned in the instructions because it's the basic requirement for canning according to the USDA guidelines. There are a lot of things not mentioned in the instructions because it's a very basic instruction manual and seems to assume you already know how to can or are learning that somewhere else. The manual is meant to teach you how to use the unit, not teach you how to can food. The manual doesn't tell you how to wash the unit or prepare your jars either, but you know enough to do it. We are all learning different ways of doing things all the time from each other. Some of the best help I've gotten is from people on RU-vid 😊
As for the wide mouth vs regular mouth jars issue, I think it's because the wide mouth jars take up a little more space and you don't end up with as large of a hole in the middle with 5 pint jars, so are less likely to move around in the canner. I haven't found it to be an issue though. With the regular mouth jars, there's almost enough room for 6 pints, but not quite. I don't use many half pints, but my best guess is that it's the same.
@@rb7093 ok, now I'm curious what USDA canning guideline you're referring to that states that a canner has to be filled with jars? I have never heard of this. I'm willing to learn. :)
@@rb7093 we'll have to disagree on that. If jars don't move in a manual pressure canner, why would they move in an electric one. Why would they move at all? It's just steam surrounding them. Waterbath - different story. They can definitely tip if there is too much room.
Thanks for your nice comment. :) Some people seem to really, really love the product. Others have the same problems I had. I can't decide if it's personal perception or if mine came from a bad batch. :) Could you return yours?
Many are using regular mouth jars and not having any problems. As for opening and shut, one can get used to to that easy enough. It would be nice to have a stainless liner for it. Wondering if any other company would have a stainless pot for it?????? Rose Red has tested this canner with her scientific equipment and it came up on top.
I agree with everything. I've seen RoseRed's video and was super impressed. The canning jar mouth size thing still puzzles me. I can't figure out why a company would limit themselves by recommending only wide mouth when people actually do regular just fine. I really wonder what's up with that. My biggest pet peeve was the amount of water released during the process. It's hell for the AC and the wood ceiling.
I use my Nesco canner primarily for beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, etc. It is awesome for that. Some of your criticisms of the canner are minor quibbles, while other things you point out are very helpful tips that other reviewers don't cover, like the steam that comes out and could ruin cupboards if the Nesco exhaust is placed under them. Interestingly, my Nesco canner DOES have a detachable power cord. I got mine in 2020 IIRC. So it sucks that they changed that. Re: Jar size, I simply decided to use wide mouth quart jars for everything, and only buy that size and style. Four of them fit neatly into the Nesco. So I don't even have any "regular mouth" quart jars anymore. When I did have them, I found that only 3 of them would fit in the Nesco canner at a time. I find the Nesco to be incredibly convenient for canning beans. I can them directly from dry, putting 280g of beans per quart jar, and filling to 1/4 inch of the top and processing on high for 90 minutes. Works great, and leaves about an inch of room between beans and jar lid. I guess some would call me a "cowboy canner", but what really matters most is that the canning process kills the botulism toxin.
Hi Jim, thanks for your comment. You're right, I did quibble after I discovered the first major disappointments. I use wide mouth for dry goods only, and fermenting, and such. I have mostly regular mouth with regular mouth Tattler lids. Would ahve cost me a fortune to switch. Canning beans is the best thing ever. We buy them in bulk and I can them up. Big savings and so convenient to open a jar instead of having to cook them first. I do soak mine overnight, something about lectins. I should read up on that again. Canning them without soaking surely IS convenient. :)
I want to thank you for this video. I just used my Nesco for the first time yesterday afternoon and had the same startling experience with the amount of steam being released. By the time the batch was finished, it was too late in the afternoon to get in touch with customer service, and it was a Friday. In my search for possible help on YT, I found your video and all of these comments. Reading about so many people's experience with the Nesco, favorable and unfavorable, has put my mind to rest that I am not going to ruin the canner or the contents of my jars, if I continue to use it. I will definitely be calling on Monday, to see why my effort to use the pressure cook option was an utter failure.
I don't think the amount of liquid being released will contribute to a failure. I do think it's a weird quirk of this particular model. I have a large kitchen and a high ceiling, I can't imagine how humid it would get in a regular kitchen. Especially in an already humid climate.
As for your comment about the Instapot I can with it all the time because all I need is 10 PSI and it produces 11.6 PSI. It doesn’t loose water and makes a very good vacuum. So before you say that you can’t can with it check out the pressure. They put it in some other numbers so I contacted the company and they admitted that it was 11.6 PSI in USA #’s but i never use more than 10 PSI so that is just fine. The canner I talked to them about was the one you showed so it works wonderful to can Pints! They want you to buy the more expensive one and I is more than I need here for the vacuum and to more than reach the kill zone. My first electric canner was a Power XL and that works just fine too. The big problem isn’t the canner it is the jar lids- !!!!! They as of such poor quality that you can open a jar that maybe only a month old and it is starting to RUST on the inside. The rings are pretty poor quality too and can loose their coating in their 1st use then they are rusty the next time you want to use them. Before you take the words printed on the machine check what it really works like and do something like the lady with the data logger so you can see if it really kills the Botulism virus. I am sure that it gets up to temp and stays there because you would not have a good vacuum if it didn’t. The 80 xx = 11.6 PSI so that is plenty good for a 10 PSI canning load so don’t be fooled by what why say get the facts and cut through the baloney. By the way that PSI is put to 2,000 feet altitude and I am below 500 ft. They is also a formula to add time if you are at a higher altitude and only had a 10 lb weight. I is about staying in the kill zone and vacuum sealing the food and the Instapot does just fine! By the way the Instapot is so hands off that it is wonderful and my Power XL is fine too. Have an Electric 12 QT Presto that I should get soon and I think that will be much better than the Carey/ Nesco for QTs.I don’t have to “babysit” my Instapot and that is so much better than any stove top canner!!!!!!
I hear of people using the regular InstantPot for pressure canning. I won't, however. There is no evidence, that the cooking InstantPot HOLDS that pressure consistently, which is what holds the temperature. I don't think RoseRedHomestead tested any non-canning InstantPots?
Thank you for this review. I like you wanted something to can weekly small batches of meat that is on sale. I ended up ordering the 12qt presto digital canner. I hope it turns out good.
I have one and they I guess they want it idiot proof for those who aren’t experienced. I use all sorts of jars in mine. The instructions say 3 quarts water and that’s what I use. I arrange tall jars so the vent is in between just like my all American. I don’t pay attention to their suggestion to pull out after an hour. Just like a regular canner I let it naturally release and let jars sit in canner for 10 minutes after opening the lid. The success of a session depends on no big swings in pressure and temperature. It is convenient, but yes, I seem to have one jar not seal. I think it’s because unlike what I do manually to keep it at a gentle pressure release, they haven’t figured out how to do digitally .
The markings on the inner pot are probably for cooking rice. It looks similar to a rice cooker that I have. The markings for the cups is for the water level for the corresponding cups of rice that you are cooking. Interesting tidbit- according to the manual of my rice cooker the international cup of rice is actually about 3/4 cup American.
That might make sense. but nowhere in the manual did it indicate that. In fact, for cooking rice there is only a very simple table giving measurements like this: "Rice, basmati - 1 1/2 C, 7 to 8 minutes" It doesn't say if the cups are the rice or the water. It's very puzzling. It doesn't have a rice setting. It DOES have a steam setting, but to cook rice with that, it says this: "If steaming rice, put rice in an 8-inch or smaller bowl and place on rack." Which, in itself, is completely confusing.
I have had this about 1 1/2 years. I LOVE it! If you ever own other brands of pressure cooker, you will have petty little differences too. I owned 3 electric pressure cookers, I wore out before stooping to an Instant Pot. I have adjusted to it, but it's not nearly as good as my previous ones. I don't find the things you complained about bothersome. As for the wire, US Govt requires short cords. A non wired cord as in the IP, will wear out much quicker. Hope you findbone you enjoy more, but this is not an actual review of this canner but preferences.
I'll add my two cents in here..lol..i have instant pot max and nesco 9.5 qt...use both and have no complaints..infact am using both as i am writing this... Working great,doing what they are suppose to do...very happy with the choices i made..by the way 50 pounds of meat canned up so far..more to go....gotta get busy...bye also live in northeast florida
That's awesome! For large quantities I use my All American. It can handle 14 quarts at once. I wanted something for small loads. The InstantPot Max seems to be really loved by people. Here's to hoping they'll make one soon that holds quarts.
Thanks for the review. Answered my question that it is cheep and not for me. In FL as well. That is lots of lost water in the air. I think I figured out the lid thing. It is because you are supposed to open it from the back side. Doesn't then it go lefty loose?
Definitely a lot of water for the AC to take out. Sadly. Hopefully in a few years there will be more perfected versions. (It's still lefty loose from behind. I can not figure out why they did that. ;) )
I love my Nesco electric canner. When I use regular mouth pint jars, I can fit six pints in a load. I’ve also used regular mouth quarts. You just need to align them so they don’t interfere with the pressure fitting. I used it last year as a pressure cooker for my turkey carcass, for turkey soup, washed it out, then used it to can the soup. I highly recommend it. People need to read the instructions, then it’s easy to use. To use for water bath pints or quarts, since you can’t cover completely with water, just use the low pressure setting, and use 8 cups of water, as you would for pressure canning.
Thanks, Joy. Yes it is for exhaust. Unfortunately, so counter-intuitive, when an E on every other appliance means Error. Just a quirk, not a deal breaker. 🙂
They recommend widemouth because the wide mouth are shorter and can be double stacked but the regular mouth jars do not allow proper air circulation for canning. It is just the way it is.
That would make a good explanation, yet pints can't be stacked, wide mouth or regular mouth. So at least for pints and half pints and 4oz jars, regular mouth should be ok,. But sadly, it's not. :(
You use tge wide mouth jars because you dont have to worry about the position of tge jars. You can use the regular jars but you have to make sure the jars are positioned correctly... the reason why they say not to use the regular mouthed jars is to keep the calls down for people who cant figure on positioning is critical for the regular mouthed jars...
Me, too, Brenda! I thought something small and electric would be neat for just a couple jars here and there. It's really not worth it, though. I need to find me a smallest Presto at a yard sale somewhere for quick jobs.
I have the Nesco canner and i love it. The cord length is just fine in my kitchen. Im actually using it right now. Its super easy to use. I just finished canning carrots and working on potatoes right now
I definitely agree with the cord too short and the continous venting riding up the wall or cabinet. I also agree that the lid drives me nuts. However, the product does work. I purchased because I have a glass top stove and I was afraid to use my canner that was gifted to me. So, I use that all american at a friends house and this Nesco at home.
I’ve heard of others using their canners on a propane burner outside. We have one and love it! They are not very expensive. We have not used a pressure canner on ours though.
What country is it made in...just curious? I will use my new one in the winter in the house and in the summer outside...Wish I had seen your video prior to my buying this canner. It is like it is assbackwards. I was perusing for how to's when I came across your video. Very thorough. Thank you.
I don’t know this for sure but I am pretty sure the instructions say to put in the jars you want to can before pouring in the water. The measurements might be for that. Just a possibility. I hope this helps.
That's a good point. But I think it would only hold true if one cans with a full canner, because the water level with 1 jar or 4 jars would be different yet again. Even worse, once the jars are in one can't really see the water height marks in the pot. It's all very confusing.
The weight is on all the time, just needs to be switched from 'open' to 'close' at the right time after the canner vented, if I recall correctly. Your manual should say. This said, mine kept spitting steam excessively even after having the weight in charge.
I could be wrong, but I'm thinking the lid turning the oposite of typical use, is a safety mechanism.... just like when threading a propane tank onto a grill, typically they thread in the opposite direction (IDK just a guess) I just ordered my Carey/Nesco yesterday, and am excited to get it. I purchased the 23-quart Presto camera almost two years ago and have only used it once. 1) because I'm brand new to canning I'm intimidated 2) because of the size of the canner I have the option to do big large canning sessions, but I also feel OBLIGATED to do large, all day canning sessions 3) because I'm disabled, I live on a very low monthly income and can't afford to buy groceries with them outrageous prices today, much less being able to afford extra for four large canning sessions... nor do I have the physical stamina to do a large canning session So after seeing a multitude of positive feedback on the Carey/Nesco, along with the thumbs up given by Rose-Red....and found it for only $95 (new) ...I'm looking forward to getting! I can afford to buy an extra pack, or family sized package of meat... without completely breaking the bank. I do appreciate this video so I'm not hit blindsided by one or two of the issues that you pointed out or demonstrated, so Thank You very much for taking your time and effort to make this video
Did you unplug when it said off and let the pressure release completely on its own for at least an hour before opening it like the Manuel says to do?just curious
I really don't know if it would make a difference...I'm new to canning and borrowed my sisters stove top canner...I felt like I had to watch it the whole time to keep the pressure right because I'm using a glass top stove so the nesco just seems much easier for a rookie..I'm sure if I were a longtime canner I might notice more imperfections in the nesco...but for me it's worth the few disadvantages to be able to walk away from it from time to time ;)
@@karenbrumley8095 the 'walking away' is definitely and advantage with all the electric pressure canners. After so many years I have my stove setting down pretty good, but I'm still not walking off. :)
Don't listen to this "KAREN", she's off her rocker! Can't get used to a lid turning the opposite way let alone plastic parts.. She complained about everything on the unit, but doesn't have the knowledge to make something better! That's funny! People know how to complain, but can't make money off their complaints while people are buying the products and they are the ones making money but she sits there and complains instead of coming up with something better... What a "KAREN"!
Just received my Nesco which I ordered from the company . Read the directions about using only wide mouth jars,,,,deal breaker for me. Called the company to ask how to return and they told me in no uncertain terms that they DONT do returns ! BAD customer service in my opinion ! Loved your video, Thank you so much. Not sure what I'm going to do ,
Oh that stinks! i can't believe they don't take returns! I'm so sorry. Did you by chance ask them why only wide mouth? This still makes no sense to me.
I did ask but the gal answering the call wasn’t the most informed employee. So for me not using the regular mouth jars was the main deal breaker. So I just watched Pam (RoseRed) and she was canning carrots in the Nesco using regular mouth jars. I am going to do my green beans tonight using regular mouth pints. Here’s hoping all goes well.
What if you just had a dozen or so shorter wide mouth jars to use in the position right under the valve? (I love tattler lids too❤) It's less convenient to hunt for that 1 jar, but better than losing a canner batch.
Thx for the very informative vid. I wish I would have seen this prior to getting mine as I'm looking at it still in the box it was mailed in. I have very low ceilings so that's probably not good. I guess I'll see. Now that I saw it was made in China, I wonder how accurate each pot is specifically for the kill zone. I don't have the gadget like Rose Red so I hope all of them work equally well for processing. And you made me laugh too.
Ugh. :( Our ceilings are 9ft and the steam reached them. I still want to believe it was a flaw, but Amazon reviews mention this as well. I would hope that it reaches inside temp in all of them. Surely (one hopes) they didn't change anything manufacturing it. Perhaps you could run it on a porch or in a garage?
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida it would have to be outside during either the cold winter or hot humid summer. Do you happen to know if it would work in those extreme weather's? Cuz I could do it on the porch outside. Idk. Maybe I should just return it. Smh.
@@sharonmcdonald1761 I would think it would probably work on the porch. You could use it and see how yours does. Could still return it if it is huffy and puffy like mine was.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida ok thx. I am going to try it and if it does turn my ceiling into a swimming pool I'll probably return it. I hope not though.. I'll update.
@@cristinacoble229 I did watch that vid (rose red) and she doesn't have many vids on the nesco which is the one I have so I don't really care about the other ones. I don't think Homestead picked on anything not worth mentioning and she does say that she can handle most of it but thought it was worth mentioning. I found it informative and funny. And she does make some good points. The ones that would bother me are probably going to be the steam release and taking the lid off to wash, but I haven't gotten it out of the box just yet and i plan to very soon and I will see for myself. And if you have a nesco and none of the things she mentioned bothers you then that's great, you have nothing to worry about as the canning works according to her and Rose Red.
I wish I had seen your video earlier! Bought one and had an issue with the lid not locking. Customer service wasn't great but I figured it out eventually. I agree with everything you said about it. Too much steam, the manual being too basic etc. I should've waited for the presto to be in stock. Thank you for your review
I'm sorry to hear that. :( It seems to be so random. Some folk have the same gripe I did, and others love this contraption. Is it too late for you to return it?
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida Unfortunately, I bought it directly from Nesco. They won't do any returns or refunds. I got it working but I'm sure I would have liked the presto better
What if you just had a dozen or so shorter wide mouth jars to use in the position right under the valve? (I love tattler lids too❤) It's less convenient to hunt for that 1 jar, butt better than losing a canner batch.
That would work, except, I would need more than a dozen, since stuff stays on the shelf for a while. I'm not even sure the valve is the problem, since the company doesn't mention anywhere why they recommend only wide mouth. (For all sizes, at that, even pints.) It's a strange mystery. :)
Wouldn't that mean though, that one has to always use the same amount of jars? Of the same size? My pot had a mark saying "8 cups", didn't say it has to have any jars in it to reach those 8 cups.
I think you could find something wrong wit anything. RoseRed channel tested this canner and it passed with flying colors. She even talked on the phone with the man that created this canner.
Please don't let my opinion sway your decision. A lot of folks like this model. A lot don't. Do you like yours? RoseRed speaking with the inventor really doesn't mean anything unless she asked him why one should only use wide mouth jars. And why so much steam is released. RoserRed tested if the unit got the jars to required internal temp, she never mentioned any of other things, which they are not tests, they are observations and opinion. :)
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida yes, because of Pam's comparison, I want a Nesco too. The All American I have is too large for many of my canning batches.
I came to catch up but I see you also haven't been as active either. Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of things so I don't have to back peddle to catch up so much 💛
I don't know what's going on, so much to do, so little time to video. We're entering winter growing season. It's hunting season, so that needs to be tended to and on and on. I'm glad I'm not the only one slacking! :) But then, it's supposed to be fun, not a chore. Life comes first.
I wanted to love mine, too. :( Many people say they use regular mouth jars, but I still wonder why the manufacturer is against them. This canner has been one big mystery to me. :)
Amazing technology, isn't it? I have this freak thing where I don't want to eat anything pressure cooked in a liner where I do not know what chemicals are released. So it just wasn't for me. I wish the pot would have been stainless. :)
Doesn't the manual say to FILL your jars first, then add the water? Filled jars inside would probably bring the water up to the 8 cup mark. God love you for all your efforts. I'm almost 68 yrs old and just started canning last year using the Presto digital canner, 12qt. I, personally, like it much better than this one. I'm having my own issues with this one you are demonstrating. It bothers me that steam continues to escape at such a high rate after it's reached the airtight status. The manual doe NOT give enough information by far. Thanks for all your efforts so the rest of us don't feel so bad about not understanding whoever wrote the manual for this complicated/simple canner.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. The manual is terrible - very simplistic. Not intuitive. It did cross my mind about putting the jars in first and then adding water. But then it would still not be accurate, because I may just can 2 jars. Or 1. Thanks for sharing that yours has excessive steam release as well. I thought perhaps mine was jus a lemon. So many people seem to love it.
The instant pot max is an awesome canner, but only does 4 pints. Check out Rosered Homestead to see all the testing she has done on it. But I may consider this for quarts.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I agree. I don’t know why they didn’t make it big enough for quarts. I would like to be able to can quarts and pints at the same time without closely monitoring the canner like I have to with my Mirro and my regular presto.
@@JaniceCrowell - totally agree. Once the valve of the electric one is turned to pressure it's a walk off affair. With the stove top one I only walk off to where I can still hear the jiggler. I'll sit it out another year. Canning is getting popular again, and I'm hopeful there will be more models coming out. Stainless insert and all.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida A max that does quarts is what I really want! I like that I can monitor the temperature on the max. One time it didn’t seem to be high enough , not far into the canning process. I simply canceled and re-programmed it to can and it started over and did great.
You can't stack pints in this one, it would be too high. If oy stack half pints or the little 1/4 pints, you have to have a trivet in between them, so the top jars don't sit directly on the bottom jars.
It Is because the quart reg mouth jars are taller. There is a youtube that tells you where to place your reg mouth qt jars in the Nesco so you can can with them. It's how you place them in the pot. Would tell you who she is but I have watched so many vids today...sorry. I did buy this canner in the Cary name and am using it as I write this. Canned my leftover chili and am now canning navy beans. Today first time using it and already love it. Sorry you don't.
That was my guess as well. The puzzling thing is though, they recommend pints in wide mouth, too. And even half pints. And neither of those interfere with the vent. No mention of any regular mouth in the instructions - it's a true mystery.
Hi I recently bought one of these, and have canned standard-mouth quart jars no problem. Perhaps Nesco means it will do 'up to' wide-mouth jars? Agree, it IS noisy and (unlike an InstaPot) releases steam CONSTANTLY under pressure, just like an old-fashioned pressure cooker -- so I run mine out on the patio. Sure wish Instapot made an 8-quart Instapot Max that handled canning four 1 qt jars, I woulda bought that instead Agree, I would NEVER cook anything in this -- that's what the InstaPot is for! 😃
You are comparing apples to oranges. I love my Nesco canner and happy that there is something convenient to use that has been proven to work. Since you prefer your Instant pot, you should look into getting the IP MAX. It’s the only IP that pressure cans. Or just get a Presto that is light weight.
May I ask if you have used the pressure cook feature on your Nesco? I tried it yesterday afternoon, a Friday, and it never built up to pressure. The dial continued in the chase mode so long I finally turned it off. Sure enough the food was WAY overcooked. I have gone over and over the list of directions in the manual and can't find anything I did wrong. I have not found anyone on YT who uses their Nesco as a pressure cooker. Since their customer service closed before I finished my first canning session, I am looking for answers from others regarding my problems with the canning and then the pressure cooking. Thanks
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I had the vent on airtight.l, but there was a lot of steam escaping. The timer never started. And I have made two more attempts to can since I messaged you. Both failed. The first attempt gave me an EEE message after the E10 countdown (first time I've seen that.) The second time it beeped after the E10 countdown, I set the time moved the weight to airtight but it never started the timer countdown. I really hope this is an easily remedied problem caused by a newbie and not something that requires sending back the canner. Thanks for your replies by the way. I appreciate it a lot.
That was a fantastic review. I was about to buy the Nesco , mainly due to the price, but now I’m leaning towards the Instant Pot Max. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with the Nesco.
I was so excited when I got it. It's a peculiar item, though. The lid closure, the wrong cup measurements ..... If it had not been for the many cups of water it releases during a session, I MIGHT have kept it. Or perhaps If I were to live in a drier climate. The price is definitely right. I would have paid more if it had a stainless insert. It did work. I still haven't figured out why regular mouth jars aren't recommended. Does the Instant Pot Max take quarts or just pints? I love my InstantPots. Sadly, I can't can with them.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I believe the Instant Pot max only holds 4 pint jars. That’s fine for me as I’m full timing in an RV. The amount of steam released by the Nesco was the deal breaker for me.
@@saxet9049 - Oh yes, I don't think the steam would be good for an RV. I can waterbath for 3 hrs at a rolling boil with a good fitting lid and not even release a percentage of the NESCO steam. Most of my jars are pints and half pints, despite us being 3 people. Perhaps I need to look into the MAX. : )
@@saxet9049 - full time RVing sounds so amazingly adventurous to me! Perhaps when the kid is all grown, I can go that route. There is a lot of peace in surrounding oneself with minimal possessions.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I ended up getting the Instant Pot Max and it is incredible. It is so simple to use; push a few buttons and it does the rest. It’s really incredible. The automated steam vent is regulated by an electro-magnet (either that or magic) which is super cool in my opinion. I have zero canning experience and no need to do large batches so it was a perfect fit for me. I can now pressure cook the super cheap 10# bags of chicken quarters, make bone broth afterwards and then can everything separately with this one awesome appliance. I’m very happy with my purchase.
I don't think I understand, so they are saying you HA\/E to have the canner full if you want to run it? That's even worse than I thought. The advantage of an electric smaller canner is teh flexibility. Suppose not. :(
I’m sorry the Nesco pc doesn’t work for you. I guess you get what you pay for. As a complete beginner and only hobby use without any regular canner experience use ever, I really like the canner and it does what I wanted. Just my opinion for beginners I like it. Maybe if I get into it more I will graduate someday but for now it’s a great beginner experience.
I'm happy it works for you! The size is perfect, I was really hoping it would be ok. The amount of water exhausted really wasn't working in our environment. And I still don't understand why they recommend wide mouth jars only. I'll have to keep dragging around my big contraption for another while. Happy Thanksgiving. :)
My Nesco expels steam from the exhaust continually while canning even in the auto lock position. I called the Nesco customer number after troubleshooting and finding no defect . I was told by the representative that that is normal and that if the pressure cooker didnt reach the proper pressure level it will turn off automatically and the screen will show error . Dose anyone have this same problem?
That's one of the biggest gripes I had about this unit. Go to the 18min 22 sec mark in this vid. Does it look like your problem? Some people say theirs doesn't do it. I find that hard to believe if customer service told you it's normal. I live in a hot and humid climate and have no need for so much water to be released in the kitchen for every canning session. Especially when canning regularly. Does a number on the cabinets, ceiling and air conditioner. It's disappointing, isn't it?
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida I live by the ocean ,it is very close . Though it is not hot here the air is very moist ,so I dont think we have the exact weather conditions . But for shure it's very concerning becuse now I'm hesitant to pressure can meat . I dont understand why some Nesco's expell so much steam and outhers don't . And yes its disappointing becuse the only 2 times iv canned I must constantly wipe down the canner .
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida Mine does not steam as high as yours WOW ! That's a lot of steam . It dose look like yours when you put it on auto pilot .It hisses and releases steam constantly . I was however able to can salsa and potatoes . But I dont think I'm trusting meat no matter what Customer service said .
@@rosaliamartinez8956 - I don't think it makes canning unsafe, it's just bad design. This said, none of the electric pressure canners have been found safe so far by independent testing, as far as I can tell. In a way, we're all just experimenting, trusting the manufacturers. None of this should be so frustrating, though, I hope some extension office will have results some day soon.
i just got the nesco today. i have gotten 3 canning 3EEE errors in 3 canning events in a row… 1 event was with plain water in a quart jar… im at the point of returning it. any ideas what i can do? i’ve checked everything i can think of
@@771blahblah ugh! I no longer have the manual, does it even say in there what this means? I found the manual to be lacking of any common sense instructions.
@@homesteadinginnorthflorida the manual is definitely lacking! all it says about EEE is an error has occurred. reprocess the foods or discard…ugh. i may call the company tuesday and hope they can actually help me…. thanks for your input. i appreciate it!
@@771blahblah please report back if they have anything helpful to say. It may help someone else. The manual is a joke. I really hope it works out for you. And good think you canned water first.
I'm confused when you say that you can leftovers. I learned that you're only supposed to can tested recipes. You'll know if the jars sealed, but how would you know that the contents of the jar reached the kill zone for the proper amount of time? Also, I agree that the confusing "8 cups of water" measurement marked on the liner could be a concern. The testing for killing botulism is based on the internal temperature of the jars for a specific amount of time. Like you said, canning is an exact science. The volume of water in the liner is a variable that could change the amount of time that the jars are in the kill zone.
All good points. By leftovers I don't stray from approved recipes much, if at all. For example, if I have more broth we can eat, it would be nice to small batch can what's left. If I make chili, I could as well make more and can up a couple quarts or pints. I never do that with my big canner as it would so not be economical. So, leftovers in my case would not be a bowl of pasta with sauce, etc. Just thing within the parameters. RoseRedHomestead on yt tested internal temp with the Nesco and it did really well. With approved recipes, of course. I still don't understand why it is only recommended for wide mouth jars, the mouth size should have no influence on temp safety.
@@friendlymomma definitely. And explanation of their reasoning would be enlightening. I did regular mouth jars in it, they sealed, but if something WOULD go wrong, I have no one to blame but myself for not following the manual.
Actually it is the steam that kills the bacteria. Steam is much hotter than water. You just have to have enough water in the canner to make that steam but not dry up before the process is done. I haven't checked yet because I am canning with the Cary right now but if I put the 8 cups of HOT water in the pot and measured it from the bottom that there would be 2 to 3 inches of water in the pot, which is what most ppl place in the regular nonelectric canners.
@@sweett4rt - yes, due to the pressure the boiling point of substances increases. Hence the steam in a pressure cooker is hotter than steam coming off a boiling pot. The cup measurement embossing in the pot is entirely useless, as one is supposed to add 8 cups after the jars are in. If you use the cup measure on the pot for cooking, it won't work either, as it's actually 12 cups. At least mine was. ;) Adding HOT water is fine, unless one does a cold pack.
It really does look cheaply made. I was ready to purchase this until I saw your review. I think I will wait for a better option in an electric canner. At least I can do pints in my instant pot max canner.
Lady I really don't care about your all-American.. I couldn't use one if I wanted to I am handicapped and can't pick up the lid!! I love My nesco canner!
Oh no, that's heart breaking and infuriating at the same time. :( Did this just happen? Can you et the meat out of the jars and freeze so you won't lose it?
Since Steam bath and Water Bath use the same Recipe/cooking times, you can do Quarts (Larger Jars). And why on Earth they did not make this thing 1/2 inch taller for Regular Jars??? If only Instant Pot would make a SUPER MAX for Qt. Jars. My Emeril Lagasse Canner (like the Max does 4 quarts only) has the same markings inside the inner pot. If you want to Slow Cook Bone broth for 12 hours I would use the LOW setting. I think the Presto that costs Twice as much is even more Strange. I think the short cord is more about safety, you would not want your kids to trip on a long cord and dump boiling water all over the place. The Nesco is so Ugly and it looks like it is 100 years old right out of the box. LOL And I believe it was designed by someone who had never canned any thing Ever. But I still want one so I don't have to worry when I fall asleep in my Rocking Chair. Thanks for the video.
A super Max for quarts would be fantastic. I could fit regular jars in the NESCO, it's just entirely against their directions. Says wide mouth only. Even for pints and half pints. Makes no sense. Why is a half pint or pint wide mouth ok but not a regular mouth.
I just bought mine after watching rose homestead and it works wonderful. This person likes to complain about insignificant stuff. If she doesn’t like it send it back
That's odd. Mine was definitely hard wired. They may have changed that at some point? I have 2 InstantPots, the older one is hard wired, the newer one has the disconnect.
I'm glad you like it. A lot of people feel the way you do. It really didn't work for me, though. I might have overlooked all issues minus the excessive steam escape. That's a no-no in a Florida kitchen. :)
I already disliked this after seeing how long it takes to open. That's way too long to leave jars unless you want everything to be pudding. Then I saw all the rest here about the hard wiring and the height. Easy decision to pass on this. Still looking for a dual pressure cooker-canner that isn't so wide that I can leave on the stove top and use daily for cooking.
