As food preservation becomes more popular, especially during the summer when many people are harvesting fruits and vegetables, many of you might be getting ready to use your pressure canners to preserve foods like veggies, meats, and soups. However, before you start sealing those jars, there's one important step that many people forget: testing your dial pressure canner gauge.

The agent in Henderson County shared with other FCS agents across the state that she checks about 30 pressure canner gauges each year and found that almost half of them were not accurate! Most recently, two people brought in brand-new gauges that were supposed to be Presto-compatible and had been purchased from Amazon. Both gauges tested more than five pounds off - right out of the box. This has happened before, even though these gauges seemed to be from a reliable source. Even if a gauge is new, it might not be accurate. When a gauge is off by more than two pounds, whether too high or too low, it's best to replace it. An inaccurate gauge can result in underprocessing food, which increases the risk of harmful foodborne illnesses, like botulism.

So, what's the takeaway? Just because a gauge is new doesn't mean it's trustworthy. Problems in manufacturing or the supply chain, especially with third-party sellers online, can affect the quality. This is why it's crucial to test your gauge every year, even if it is brand new.

• Buy from trusted sources: Get gauges directly from the manufacturer (like Presto’s official website) or from reliable canning supply shops or hardware stores. Be careful when buying from third-party sellers online.

• Choose known brands: Some off-brand gauges might work, but they may not meet safety standards. For something as important as a pressure gauge, it's safer to go with well-known brands that are known for quality.

• Test your equipment every year: You can bring your gauge to our office for free testing. Just bring the lid with the gauge so we can check the seal and any other parts that may be damaged or worn out. This small step can help assure your food is safely preserved.
• Refresh your knowledge: Check our website for upcoming classes! If you’re afraid to use a pressure canner or if you recently inherited one and don’t have a clue what to do with it, you’re in luck - we have a hands-on pressure canning class coming up at the end of the month. Call the office to register or visit go.ncsu.edu/pressure.