Canner Question RE: Gas vs. Electric Stoves and BTUs

[Keeperoflock]

I have recently switched to a gas range from a glass top electric. I do a lot of canning. The canner I was using says to not exceed 12,000 BTUs. The burners on my gas range are all 15,000 to 18,000 BTUs. My husband says that turning down the burners will change the BTUs. I say it won't work like that because you have to have enough heat to get the canner to work correctly. I think I should get another canner. What do you think?

 

[cavemanrich]

When you refer to canner, you mean the stock pot, or pressure cooker to seal closed your jars???
In my opinion I would side with your husband, and just try a batch with the heat turned down. Smaller, flame=less BTU's
Your burners are rated at whatever BTU, fully opened. Just estimate the size of flame that you would desire.
Your canner says not to exceed 12,000 BTU, but probably does not say you should run at full 12,000.
I think you will achieve good results with just a little experimentation.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[April’s Zoo]

When you refer to canner, you mean the stock pot, or pressure cooker to seal closed your jars???
In my opinion I would side with your husband, and just try a batch with the heat turned down. Smaller, flame=less BTU's
Your burners are rated at whatever BTU, fully opened. Just estimate the size of flame that you would desire.
Your canner says not to exceed 12,000 BTU, but probably does not say you should run at full 12,000.
I think you will achieve good results with just a little experimentation.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

Agreed. That’s one of the greatest things about a gas range... you can much more precisely control the energy (heat) output of the burners. Another great feature is that when you turn down the flame, there’s an immediate reduction in the heat, unlike electric where the radiant heat lingers for a minute or two.... I have a pressure canner and I use it on my gas stove. On your 18,000 btu burner just set the flame to 2/3 the maximum.... and on the 15,000 btu burner you can set it for 3/4 of the max.

 

[snow5164]

If the stove says 15,000-18,000 doesn’t it mean the starting heat is 15,000? That’s the lowest it goes?

I wouldn’t take a chance and be the next news story......I respect the heat of gas it’s no joke

 

[April’s Zoo]

No, my understanding (and that of my engineer dh) is that the btu’s are rated at the highest output— at least on our stove.
However, since OP’s is a new stove, it’s easy enough to check the manual and be sure.

 

[cavemanrich]

Old school gas stoves used to come with 4 burners ALL the same size. My new/modern gas stove comes with 4 burners. 2 are probably the 15,000 BTU ,,,, 1 is larger, probably 18,000 BTU, and there is 1 smaller burner that is maybe about 7,000 BTU. Good to simmer little pots. We use the largest one mostly since it will bring whatever to a boil fastest. Then turn down the flame to whatever is ideal cooking.
The OP stove burners is not 15,000 to 18,000 range, but there are smaller and larger burners. Some burners are 15,000 and other burners are 18,000. Does not take much to determine which are bigger, and which are smaller.
Reducing the flame size reduces the BTU output. On ALL STOVES.

 

[Keeperoflock]

Old school gas stoves used to come with 4 burners ALL the same size. My new/modern gas stove comes with 4 burners. 2 are probably the 15,000 BTU ,,,, 1 is larger, probably 18,000 BTU, and there is 1 smaller burner that is maybe about 7,000 BTU. Good to simmer little pots. We use the largest one mostly since it will bring whatever to a boil fastest. Then turn down the flame to whatever is ideal cooking.
The OP stove burners is not 15,000 to 18,000 range, but there are smaller and larger burners. Some burners are 15,000 and other burners are 18,000. Does not take much to determine which are bigger, and which are smaller.
Reducing the flame size reduces the BTU output. On ALL STOVES.

Thank you for replying!

So what I'm gathering is if I put my aluminum pressure canner on the biggest burner, the 18,000 BTU's and not use it up on the highest setting and as long as it's reaching the correct temperature for proper canning then it won't cause damage to my canner and put me at risk of injury?

My range has 5 burners (a big oval one in the middle), and sounds identical to yours with the smaller burner on the back, the 2 in front are 15,000 and 18,000 BTU's.

 

[cavemanrich]

You are correct in your thinking of using a burner, not at FULL THROTTLE, but at ideal setting to achieve your correct temperature for proper canning.
It is always good to take a safer/slower approach when doing things initially. Once you have things MASTERED, then you know what are the limitations.
I have not done canning for some time, but when I did, it was in a regular open stock pot. Key to safety is to let complete pot cool before taking any jars out. (that is how I did it).
The pressure cookers speed up the process VS open stock pot method. Just follow recommended instructions on using such.
Maybe someone using the pressure cookers can chime in with their IDEAS, and suggestions.
I personally, if using a pressure cooker, would also let it cool down before removing jars. You are doing small time volume in your kitchen rather than production based volume in a processing plant. Why hurry.