Over time, the dial gauge on a pressure canner can become inaccurate by showing either too high or too low.
If the dial shows lower than the actual pressure, that means you will be running the pressure too high and over-processing your food, affecting food quality.
If the dial shows higher than the actual pressure, that means there are safety issues and you aren’t achieving the pressure or temperature that you think you are, which is required for safe processing.
Elizabeth Andress from the University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension department says this about dial gauge errors: "1 pound error in a 20-minute process causes over 10% decrease in sterilizing value. 2 pound error a 30% decrease."
If gauges are more than 2 pounds higher or lower than recommended, the gauge will need to be replaced.
Thursday, July 21st, swing by the office between 10:30am and 4pm to get your gauges checked before peak canning season. No appointments are necessary, and the process only takes a few minutes. If you plan to come by, you only need to bring your lid with the gauge attached. *if you are unable to make it on the 21st, feel free to drop by the office any time to have your gauge checked.*
Call Niki with any questions or concerns | 828.682.6186
