Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

By Presto · Pressure Cookers · Kitchen & Cooking

  • 23 qt (21.8 L) liquid capacity
  • Extra-strong warp-resistant aluminum body
  • Mason jar capacity: 20 pints / 7 quarts
  • Extended 12-year limited warranty

Lowest price seen
$125.00
from $125.00 at eBay · Checked Oct 13, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A stovetop pressure canner for people who put up low-acid foods — vegetables, meats, poultry, fish — and doubles as a boiling-water canner and a big pressure cooker. Check your burners before you buy: the canner needs a household burner of 12,000 BTUs or less, and a fully loaded pot can top 50 lb.

Strengths

  • The only USDA-recommended safe method for low-acid foods: vegetables, meats, poultry, fish and seafood.
  • The 23-quart capacity processes 20 pints or 7 quarts in one batch.
  • Weight regulator, vent pipe and overpressure plug are three independent pressure safeguards.
  • A 12-year limited warranty, with genuine parts sold direct and at hardware stores.
  • Works on gas, electric and smooth-top ranges up to 12,000 BTUs.
  • Doubles as a boiling-water canner for high-acid foods and as a large pressure cooker.

Weaknesses

  • No independent lab has instrumented this canner, and published owner feedback is scarce.
  • The 12,000 BTU burner limit is easy to miss; a bigger burner can warp the bottom.
  • A fully loaded canner can exceed 50 lb — check your smooth-top range’s weight limit.
  • Sealing ring and overpressure plug are wear items, replaced at least every 3 years, and the warranty excludes them.
  • The dial gauge needs an accuracy check before every canning season.
  • Hand wash only; the canner is not dishwasher safe.

Verified specifications

ModelPresto Stock No. 01781, made by National Presto Industries of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Typestovetop pressure canner and cooker; not electric.
Liquid capacity23 quarts (21.8 liters).
Jar capacity under pressure26 half-pints, 20 pints or 7 quarts, regular and wide mouth.
Jar capacity for boiling-water canning13 half-pints (8 wide mouth), 10 pints (8 wide mouth) or 7 quarts.
Materialheavy-gauge aluminum with a polished finish.
Pressure gaugedial gauge, 0-20 psi.
Pressure regulatorweight-style; prevents pressure above 15 psi.
Vent pipeprimary pressure relief valve; releases pressure above 15 psi with the regulator in place.
Overpressure plugsecondary safety device; required for pressure canning, removed for boiling-water canning.
Air vent/cover lockkeeps the cover closed until pressure is safely reduced.
Burner limithousehold burners of 12,000 BTUs or less; gas, electric and smooth-top.
Altitude adjustments12 psi at 2,001-4,000 ft, 13 psi at 4,001-6,000 ft, 14 psi at 6,001-8,000 ft.
Dimensions17.5 × 13.5 × 15.5 in (W × D × H); 10.32 lb empty, over 50 lb fully loaded.
In the boxcooking/canning rack, instruction and recipe book, pressure regulator, dial gauge, sealing ring, overpressure plug.
Not includedcanning jars, lids, bands, jar lifter, bubble remover and funnel, sold separately in the Presto 09995 canning kit.
Warranty12-year limited (US); perishable parts excluded.
Full research notes and sources

Safety features and how they work

The dial gauge is the primary pressure indicator, reading 0-20 psi. The weight-style regulator is the control: it keeps pressure from exceeding 15 psi. The vent pipe acts as the primary relief valve, and the overpressure plug is the secondary safety — it must be in place for pressure canning and cooking, and removed for boiling-water canning. An air vent/cover lock keeps the cover from opening until pressure is safely reduced. These match the design the USDA National Center for Home Food Preservation describes for modern dial-gauge canners.

Capacity, weight and burner fit

The pot holds 23 quarts (21.8 L) of liquid — 26 half-pints, 20 pints or 7 quarts under pressure. Empty it weighs 10.32 lb; fully loaded it may exceed 50 lb. The bottom has an 8-inch contact area, and Presto says to use the element that most closely matches it. Burners must be 12,000 BTUs or less: the limit is printed on the manufacturer page and spec sheet but is easy to miss, and exceeding it can warp the bottom. If you have a smooth-top range, check its weight limit before you commit.

Maintenance, parts and warranty

Hand wash only — no dishwasher. Store dry with the cover inverted. Aluminum discoloration is normal and lifts with a cream of tartar solution; washing, rinsing and drying thoroughly after every use limits pitting, and an annual scour with abrasive cleanser helps. The manual recommends replacing the sealing ring and overpressure plug at least every 3 years, and checking the dial gauge before each canning season — county extension offices can test it, or it can go back to Presto. The National Center for Home Food Preservation says to replace gauges that differ by more than 2 pounds.

The 12-year limited warranty covers defects in material or workmanship. It excludes normal wear and the perishable parts: sealing ring, overpressure plug, pressure regulator, dial gauge, air vent/cover lock gasket. It also applies only to canners bought from Presto or an authorized seller — unauthorized internet sellers void it. Genuine replacement parts are available from Presto and hardware stores; consumer service is 1-800-877-0441, Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm CT. Wirecutter, testing a different Presto pressure cooker, notes the 12-year warranty and replacement-parts availability.

Is it worth it?

Presto’s own store lists the 01781 at $185.99 with free shipping (some exclusions). For that you get the only USDA-recommended safe way to can low-acid foods at home, a 23-quart batch size, and a 12-year warranty with parts still sold decades after the design first appeared. The recurring costs are modest: jars and single-use lids, a sealing ring and overpressure plug every 3 years, and the fuel to run it. If you only can high-acid foods, a boiling-water bath is cheaper; if you can low-acid foods, this is the tool.

Which model this is

This page covers the Presto 01781, the current production version of Presto’s 23-quart stovetop canner line, in continuous production for decades with the same core design. Do not confuse it with the 16-quart 01755, the induction-compatible 01784, or the digital electric canners. The Amazon listing for this model is ASIN B0000BYCFU.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Safety guidance:

Owner reports:

  • No owner discussion was captured for this model.

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