Best stovetop pressure canners

Top pick: All American 921 (21.5 qt) — the one to buy if you want to can for decades. It's cast aluminum with a metal-to-metal seal and no rubber gasket to wear out, and it holds 7 quart jars. The trade-off is weight and a higher entry cost.

Who the others suit:

• Presto 23-Quart — the classic starter canner: light, simple, 7 quarts at a time, and the most affordable way in.
• Presto Induction Compatible 23 Qt — pick this if you cook on induction or a glass-top range; most aluminum canners won't work there.
• THE TANKER by Denali — induction-ready with a big following and a sturdy build, a good middle ground.
• All American 915 (15.5 qt) — same bulletproof build in a smaller size for small batches and lighter lifting.
• Presto Precise Digital — for hands-off pressure control; you're paying for electronics that can fail.
• Presto 16 Qt — a compact option for pints and half-pints.

Whichever you choose, get a weighted gauge or have the dial gauge tested yearly, and never can on a burner wider than the canner's base.