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[Leslie <cayadopi AT yahoo.com>]

I've noticed in the desert here that even the new gasket dries out a tad even 
after a month or two of not using the canner.  I used a little bit of 
petroleum jelly, but that didn't help it make the seal on my first load this 
season.  Last year I had to heat it up in hot water for a while first before 
it would be supple enough to seal (and that was a new one,,,, but in 24% 
humidity......)

The thing is that if it doesn't seal the pressure doesn't come up.  That is 
noticeable fairly quickly as steam escapes around the seal.  Once I see 
leaking steam I give it a few minutes to see if it will stop, but if not, I 
turn the heat off, let it cool and then soak the gasket in hot water for a 
while then start over.




________________________________
From: EarthNSky <erthnsky AT gmail.com>
To: Homestead List <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Mon, June 21, 2010 7:31:50 PM
Subject: [Homestead] Canning advice

I haven't used my big pressure canner in several years, maybe as many as 
five years.    Y'all know how I am with pressure cookers/canners. 
I read that you can put a little vegetable oil on the gasket before you 
store it, but I did not do that.  I did replace the gasket the last time 
I used it, so it was new then.  The gasket LOOKS okay-no sign of dry 
rot, but it is not as supple as it could be.  It was stored with the pot 
on a shelf in my hall, normal house temps and humidity. (remember I do 
have a woodstove for heat in the winter which affects heat extremes and 
humidity more than a central heat/air unit)
I intend to use the canner on Friday.  Do you think it would be okay to 
oil up the gasket now?    Wouldn't oil help the seal?
BTW, it is a 22qt Presto, Model 0178005

-- 
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are 
willing to work and give to those who would not.      Thomas Jefferson 

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Subject: Re: [Homestead] Canning advice
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Leslie wrote:
> I've noticed in the desert here that even the new gasket dries out a tad 
> even after a month or two of not using the canner.  I used a little bit of 
> petroleum jelly, but that didn't help it make the seal on my first load 
> this season.  Last year I had to heat it up in hot water for a while first 
> before it would be supple enough to seal (and that was a new one,,,, but in 
> 24% humidity......)
Yeah, it does make me wonder how long one of these gaskets sits on a
shelf these days with fewer and fewer people canning....

--
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are 
willing to work and give to those who would not.      Thomas Jefferson