Canning and "Rocket Stoves"

[Jeff Gilmore]

I am interested in ways to expand canning activities out of my kitchen, which is small and has a glass-topped induction range not well suited to canning. I picture having the canner outside boiling away while I use the cooktop for blanching and precooking. But what to use for the outside heat source?

This site (http://bioenergylists.org/stoves) lists dozens of innovative stove designs for cooking with wood or other biomass. In particular, the rocket stove seems to generate a lot of interest (http://bioenergylists.org/taxonomy/term/12/all).

My plan is to start researching and building one of these, with the hope of having it ready for late summer canning activities. I could use some input from folks on this list to tell me:

1. The diameters of any of the water-bath and pressure canners you own.

2. Thoughts about features and capabilities that are particularly relevant to canning (for example, the ability to regulate heat to keep in the right pressure/temperature range during processing)

3. If you have any experience with this kind of project and might want to pitch in.

Thanks,

Jeff

[persephone doliner]

Hi Jeff,
My canner has 16" diameter. (This is the big old kind that Judy said is too big. It is indeed unwieldy & does not boil on a single burner, I use two.)
My pressure canner, an old "All-American," is 14".
+++
Great project, looking forward to updates on your progress. The summer heat is so discouraging when you want to can.
Also, can you recommend a design for a solar oven? -Seph

[denise mooney]

hi jeff...

great project to work on!...

i am starting next weekend as an apprentice w the finger lakes permaculture institute in their design program...one of the projects i have been told that the apprentices will be working on is designing an outdoor kitchen...i will pass along progress on this project here if folks r interested and also pass back any interesting or important features ithacanners might think of to the flpci people...

happy day,
denise...

[Jeff Gilmore]

Thanks Denise. I am also looking for someone who has a metalworking shop and some experience to work with me on the construction. I wonder if FLPCI might have such facilities or be able to match me up with someone?

Thanks,

Jeff

[denise mooney]

u r welcome, jeff...

i am going to a flpci workshop next weekend for mushroom inoculation...while i am there, i will ask about the metalworking facilities and metalworking experience of the folks who attend and the flpci teachers, mike, steve and karryn...

[Jeff Gilmore]

For this project, It greatly helps the efficiency if the stove is well matched to the diameter of the pot; the heat from below is channeled along the sides of the pot with a metal skirt.

I was researching pressure and water bath canners hoping to find ones of similar dimensions. I was zeroing-in on the 2.5 quart All-American pressure canner, which is 12.25 inches inside diameter. Unfortunately, most water bath canners I can find are considerably wider.

This got me thinking--couldn't I just use the pressure canner for both pressure and water bath canning? I would cover it with a normal lid borrowed from some other pot when using it for (non-pressurized) water bath canning. Does anyone see a problem with that?

Of course, there is nothing particularly special about a water bath canner anyway, is there? Couldn't I just use a regular large pot of suitable dimensions, with a rack added, instead of buying a special canner pot?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Carlyn Buckler]

Wow, Jeff, this is so cool. Two things came to mind reading this over. 1. I've worked with FLPCI and they are wonderful. I think they like a challenge (I had them fab something for my stove a couple years ago). 2. Yes, you can use a regular pot, but you must have a suitable rack for the inside of the pot to prevent the jars from touching the bottom of the pot (the "bubbles" from boiling water can cause the jars to slam-dance into eachother; the rack dissipates the "bubbles"), and the price of a canning pot with rack is nominal (I think about $20 at Agway?). You'll get your money's worth, I think.

Keep us posted - I'm dying to find out how this all works out! Good Luck!