Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner 02144 vs MegaChef 12 Quart Digital Pressure Cooker

Buy the Presto 02144 if you want to pressure can low-acid foods or make large batches of stock and stews. It is the only one of the two built and certified for USDA home canning, with a temperature sensor that holds the right processing temperature and no altitude adjustment. The MegaChef is a general-purpose 12-quart electric pressure cooker with 15 presets and a slow-cook mode, but it is not a canner. The Presto scores 4.5 from 538 ratings; the MegaChef scores 3.8 from 20, with owners reporting dents on arrival and a steam valve that spins past the release position.

• Choose the Presto 02144 if you plan to can vegetables, meat, poultry or fish, or want a large electric cooker that holds a set temperature without watching it.
• Choose the MegaChef 12 Quart if you want one pot for weeknight pressure cooking and slow cooking with one-touch presets, and you do not need to can.