canner question

[lenii]

I have a flat ceramic stovetop, and the canner has a concave bottom. It took hours for that big canner full of water to boil. Hardly any of the canner bottom touches the stove. Anyone run into this problem? got any solutions, besides buy a new canner.

[ceresone]

Yup--buy a new stove!! my ceramic top stove says no canning--and your canner sounds as if it would be worse than most to use on a ceramic stove top. I bought a gas stove to use for canning--but some are using camp stoves, turkey fryers, etc. Harbor Freight has a excellent cast iron propane for 60.

[js2743]

those stoves cut on an off is why it takes so long if you will watch the stove eye it will get red then will go offf for a couple seconds.

[suitcase_sally]

This problem has been discussed thoroughtly (many times) over on the "Preserving the Harvest" forum. The consensus is "Flat Tops Suck". Generally the weight of the canner, if it's a big one, will crack the ceramic top. That is the reason the manufacturers say not to can on them.

[ailsaek]

Yup. I do my canning on our gas grill. Never would have bought the flat top if I'd realized what a pain it was.

[lenii]

Oh heavens, guess I haven't read my instructions lately. I won't do that again!!!!

[Shepherd]

Actually I just recently replaced my coil electric stove top with the smooth top made by Whirlpool. The sales representative and I both got Whirlpool on the phone and asked them if I were to purchase this particular model, could I do my canning on it. They replied yes, as long as I used a canner with the smooth bottom. If I were you, I'd call the manufacturer of the brand/style you have and question them. It's a lot cheaper to buy a new canner than a new stove.

Altho I will say I've found it's a lot easier to control the pressure with a gas stove.