Comparison of Pressure Cooker vs Pressure Canner

Which pressure cooker or pressure canner should I get?
There are several options out there, and each has its pros and cons.
How do you choose between them?

The pressure cooker was originally designed to cook food faster, but today they are also used for other purposes such as canning and preserving foods.
They are also known as Instant Pot because they can be used to prepare recipes from various websites.

Pressure cookers come in two types: electric and stovetop.
Electric models are easier to operate and can heat up food faster than stovetop ones.
Stovetop models are cheaper and require less maintenance

Pressure Cooker vs Pressure Canner

A pressure cooker is a type of pressure cooker that uses steam to cook food quickly. It works by applying pressure to the food being cooked. A pressure cooker is used to cook stews, soups, sauces, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, pasta, beans, lentils, grains, and other foods.
A pressure canner is a pressure cooker that uses steam and pressure to process food safely. It is used to process fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

What is a pressure cooker?

A pressure cooker is a vessel that cooks food under pressure. Food is placed into the pressure cooker and heated until hot. Steam is then released from the top of the pressure cooker and the food cooks. This method of cooking is called “steam cooking.”
How does a pressure cooker work?
Answer: In a pressure cooker, liquid is added to the bottom of the vessel. Then, the lid is sealed tightly onto the pressure cooker. Heat is applied to the pressure cooker, causing the liquid to vaporize. As the liquid vaporizes, it creates a partial vacuum within the pressure cooker. This partial vacuum forces the lid down onto the food contained in the pressure cooker. Because the lid is sealed tightly around the edges of the pressure cooker, no air escapes during the cooking process. Once the pressure cooker reaches the desired pressure, the heat source is turned off and the pressure is allowed to drop naturally. This causes the lid to lift off of the pressure cooker, allowing the steam to escape. The food is now ready to serve.

What is a pressure canner?

A pressure canner is used to sterilize jars and other containers. It works by applying pressure to the container. The pressure builds up until the pressure reaches a certain point where the pressure regulator releases the pressure. The regulator allows the pressure to release slowly, thus preventing the contents from exploding.

The differences between a pressure cooker and a pressure canner

A pressure cooker is designed to cook food quickly while retaining nutrients. A pressure canner is designed to preserve food by killing bacteria and microorganisms.

Can pressure canners and pressure cookers be used interchangeably?

Yes, they can be used interchangeably but not always. For instance, if you are using a pressure cooker to cook beans, you could use a pressure canner to process the beans into dried beans. However, if you are processing tomatoes, you cannot use a pressure cooker to do so because the pressure cooker does not have enough pressure to kill the bacteria.