Customer Reviews

All American 921 21-1/2-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner

5 star:		(171)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a very high quality, heavy weight canner. It practically screams, "Industrial strength!" The slide clips and screw-downs securely fasten the lid to the pot. No blow-outs with this baby. The weighted pressure gauge makes operation almost foolproof. And no gasket required! Before purchasing a canner, I did a lot of reading in the rec.food.preserving news group. I saw endless inquiries about sources for gaskets for canners ranging from a few years old to many decades old. It was clear some of these people had spent many, many hours in search of a gasket. Avoiding the need for a gasket became a major criteria for my purchase.

I've had my canner for a couple years and am still impressed with the quality. There are only two negatives I can think of. The heavy weight of the canner is a plus for strength and longevity, but it can work against you. The canner weighs 20 pounds when it's empty. Unless you work out regluarly, you're not going to fill the canner on the counter and then carry it to the stove. The other potential negative is the height. This canner requires at least a 16 inch clearance over your range. If your range has an upper oven the canner might not fit.

I've had my Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry All American pressure canner for a couple of years, and I'm still very happy with the purchase. I can use it to make a humongous batch of chicken stock, then turn around and can that very batch... I agree with the comments made by the first two reviewers concerning its weight, size, etc. This will outlast you and your kids. Very well made, and the company has a full line of replacement parts should they ever be needed.

I give this five stars as a canner, and three as a cooker. The only reason I downrate it slightly as a cooker is that it is so big and unwieldy. If you regularly have to cook huge batches of food, though, this may be just what you need. If you don't ordinarily cook up enough to feed an army, you might be happier with a smaller (say, 6 to 8 quart) pressure cooker (I love my Kuhn Rikon 6 quart stockpot). Also: if you are planning to can a LOT of stuff, you might consider getting the Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry model 930--it can handle 14 quart jars at a time, whereas this one can only handle 7 quart jars.

All in all, a very well made item. Get this and a copy of Lorna Sass's "Cooking Under Pressure", a copy of the Ball Blue Book, and go conquer the (canning) world.

send me the money and I'll throw it away for you. I received my Grandmother's when she passed away and have more that pleased with it. I can't add anything the other reviews other that mine is over 30 year old it is in perfect shape. I've been told that my Grandmother sent 1000's of cans through this in her day and I intend to do the same. The company's web site is very good if you need replacement parts but I doubt you'll ever need them. I had my local Ag extension agent test my gauge (the original) and it is still accurate enough for canning. This is the only part that should ever really need replacing since it does not have a seal. I am fortunate enough to have the old school Instruction and Recipes book (list price ¢60) that has canning recipes that I have not been able to find anywhere else. Buy this and pass it on to your grandchildren!!!

I do lots of cooking and canning - sometimes just for family, sometimes for large gatherings - and this cooker has made that chore much easier. Even when cooking for family, I'll make 2 chickens at a time, that way I won't have to cook another night. While the chickens are cooking, I'll also have stock to make rice or soup with. Forgot about cooking dinner? This baby can take 2 frozen rabbits from the freezer to the dinner table in less than an hour. Its large size makes canning large batches quick work. The only drawback I have is washing it - it is heavy, and if you don't have a big enough sink or a hose to rinse it out, then your in for a workout. I have a double sink and it fits in nicely - a must for anyone with a large family !

I needed to get a pressure canner in order to process foods that aren't suitable for the standard water-bath method. After doing some research online, I found the All American line, which I believe is unequalled in construction and quality. Being involved in manufacturing for many years, I understand and appreciate quality and good engineering -- especially from an American firm. It seems that almost all cookware comes from overseas, and a lot of it is built with price, not performance, as the prime design consideration.

Not so with the All-American. Photos don't do justice to this product. When you open the box and lift it out for the first time, you'll see what I mean. This thing is HEAVY. It looks like something you might see in a laboratory or commercial kitchen, although the manual specifically states it's only for home use. I think it may have something to do with ambulance chasing lawyers and product liability, because this thing has more warning labels than any cookware I've ever seen.

In fact, at over 20 lbs. empty, this can be a problem for some people, my wife included. She simply can't safely maneuver this baby around when it's full. Forget about washing it. That's MY job.

I really like the metal seal. Having a rubber seal on a pressure cooker go bad is a real pain, and you almost never seem to have a spare, or if you do, you can't find it, and it's not like you can run down to Wal Mart and pick one up even if you want to. At 15 to 20 bucks each for replacements, plus the hassle of picking them up, this will add up to real savings in cash and headaches over the many years you own this product. I can't imagine anyone being able to wear one out with any reasonable care at all.

The dial gauge is high quality, and I found that it read very accurately in conjunction with the weighted pressure regulator. When the gauge reads 15 lbs., and the weight is set on 15 lbs., it rocks about 5 to 10 times per minute, which tells me that the pressure is very close to what the gauge says.

Using the six screw-down retainers, that lid is going nowhere. Between those and the gauge, the regulator, and the fail-safe pressure relief valve, this thing is about as safe as anybody could expect.

It's a real pleasure to purchase a quality product from an American company. That's exactly what you get from these All American canners. Those who understand manufacturing and what it takes to make a product right will know what I mean. It's not cheap, but when you consider that it will probably outlast multiple cheap pressure cookers, it's a great value. The way I figure, I've never looked back in regret for buying the best, but I almost always regret going cheap.

I can honestly say that this product rates my highest recommendation.

The idea of using a pressure cooker always scared me. "What if it blows up.", "I can be scarred for life.", "What about kids safety.", etc. When I finally started to look at them, I knew this was it.

I work for a machining company and asked a machinest and an engineer how safe it looks. Then I explained how it worked. They both admit they see nothing wrong with it and deem it very safe if used as directed.

I know this thick anodized aluminum will hold the pressure. It has not two, not four, but SIX locking screws. Screw down simultaneously on opposite sides for a level seal. Plus, it has three locking hooks that stops the lid from blowing off when you undo the screws. Not to mention the rubber pressure gasket in the lid that releases steam if the pressure gets too high. Just be sure to replace it once a year, as rubber deteriates over time.

Because it doesn't use a rubber ring gasket and is metal-to-metal sealed, it can last many life times. The steam valve is regulated with a special metal knob you sit on top of it. It can get hot, or even lost. But don't worry, you can buy a new one. The company will even send you new safety labels free of charge to replace the worn ones on your pot.

Naturally, you have to follow the safety rules like:
* ALWAYS handle a hot pot with kitchen mitts.
* Never fill past half way when cooking veggies or rice that expand. Half way includes any water and extras. For other stuff, 2/3 way is good.
* NEVER pour cold water on it when it is hot, or apply cold wet towels.
* ALWAYS let the pressure gage DROP to zero before you open the pot.
* Open the lid AWAY from you, something you should do with any cooking pot.
* NEVER lift the pot by the lid handle, only by the pot handles.
* There are more: READ THE SAFETY GUIDELINES FIRST!

READ AND FOLLOW ALL THE SAFETY RULES and don't try to over pressure cook your food. You will have fast, safe and delicious cooking experiences for decades.

Sure, you could buy cheaper ones, but I wouldn't put my trust in them. Especially if you have children. I'd go to the moon in this thing.

Addendum 5/19/06:
We pressure cooked two 4lb roast beefs for the first time, then cut it into 1/2" slabs. Those slabs made for a juicy and tender sandwich. Was as easy to chew as the thin sliced roast beef! The tenderness is fantastic.

I didn't cap it off until the water was hot, that's when I started counting the cooking time of 50 minutes. This cooked it fully with no pink in the middle. Next time I am guessing 35 minutes to keep it a little pink. Took about 30 minutes to reach 15 lbs of pressure, and the very instant it reached, the pressure regulator started to whistle. Used a mitt to remove the HOT pressure regulator. Took about 7 minutes for the pressure to reach zero. Best part of all, the whole house didn't smell like food!

I first became interested in this pressure cooker a few months ago when I started canning tomatoes and had to run several serial runs of pint jars because my old Presto pressure cooker just wasn't big enough.

This one (the 921) is big enough to do 7 quart jars or 19 pint jars at a time. Yowza! Last week I cooked two whole Masala Murgh chickens in it, though it easily could have safely cooked more. I especially love the pressure gauge on it. The cook can easily see when the pressure is getting close to full and adjust the heat accordingly, instead of having to guess based on past experience. It's a little difficult to guess based on past experience when you're new to pressure cooking!

I have noticed some schizophrenic price behavior on this product here at Amazon. I first wanted to buy this pressure cooker in late August, and it was priced at about $147 if I remember correctly. Somehow I didn't make the purchase that day and a few days later the price was $240. I figured that demand had increased due to fall canning season, and decided I would just wait until next year. But within a month the price had fallen to $170. I leapt. Less than a month later (mid October) the price is back up to almost $240 again. What gives?

The only other item of note is that the product is made of aluminum, which would be of concern to those avoiding aluminum cookware. The product is very well constructed in any case and I love it.

If you are like me then chances are you grew up hearing horror stories about exploding pressure cookers. As a child I actually met a neighbor woman who was the victim of severe burns due to a faulty set-up and never forgot how painful it appeared. On the other hand, I'm from a long line of people that created the most delicious homemade preserves, jams, jellies, vegies, stews and other fantastic delights in their own kitchen.

With the cost of groceries growing exponentially and the taste declining nearly as fast, I've been interested in canning and preserving for several years but was always fearful of the pots and disliked having to track down elusive gaskets and seals. This pot came up for sale and I decided to give it a try. Excellent choice!

The is no need for gaskets or seals prone to go bad and cause burns; not to mention the inconvenience of finding them or having to replace a pot because they are no longer made. The lid bolts down tightly on the pot and cannot be released until cooled sufficiently. A large pot, this can hold a substantially amount...any larger and I probably wouldn't be able to lift this when filled. It's a heavy, solid and very well built piece of kitchen equipment.As others have mentioned, it feels "industrial" in quality and is likely to last far longer than other models.

This item cost more than others on the market and with good reason; first, it is built to last. Next, you will spend far less in the long run by not having to find replacement gaskets or be forced to replace this item for years [from the look of it..decades. I wouldn't be surprised if you will be leaving this item to the grandkids as part of their inheritence]. Finally, it feels safe...even for those a little leary of pressure cookers like myself. Excellent quality that will pay for itself many times over.

I purchased this to replace my old water-canner (and to add the ability to can low acid foods). The old water canner didn't fit my burner, and scorched my stove because it actually hung over the edge of the burner. This definitely fits much nicer.

The only thing I am not clear about is WHEN the pot first reaches the appropriate pressure. The directions seem to indicate that it will actually reach the pressure prior to the gauge reaches that number, and you will know by the weight bouncing and sputtering. Mine sputtered, but never bounced. I didn't want to under-process, so I didn't start counting until the gauge reached the correct pressure...but I may have overprocessed (which won't HURT, but I was hoping not to over "cook" the tomatoes). I will continue to experiment!

It seems like a sturdy pot, and I like not having to deal with a rubber gasket. This pot is probably bigger than I will ever need, but I have it just in case.

I bought this HUGE pressure cooker to serve as a pressure canner for salsa and tomatoes. This is a nice piece of equipment, I say equipment because of the size and weight of the thing. It barely fits on my stove! The great news is that I can pressure can 16 wide mouth pint jars at once. If you are new at this as my wife and I are, spend some time researching the techniques and recipes- the book that comes with the cooker has some recipes and timing charts from the USDA and they occasionally are in conflict with one another ( since this technology has evolved over time). A great kitchen tool at a super price.