If you preserve food at home and use a pressure canner with a dial gauge, it is important to have the gauge tested annually for accuracy before you use it. An accurate gauge helps assure a safely canned product. If a gauge is inaccurate, all of the bacterial spores that emit toxins may not be destroyed during processing.
The Alaska Cooperative Extension Service offers free pressure canner dial gauge testing every weekday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at our office at 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Soldotna. The gauge can be left on the canner lid for the testing. The actual test takes about two minutes. That’s only two minutes of your time for peace of mind that your gauge is accurate. Weighted gauges do not need to be tested.
While you are having your pressure canner dial gauge tested, check out our wide array of food preservation publications. The publications can also be downloaded from our website at www.uaf.edu/ces/pubs.
Submitted by Linda Tannehill, UAF Cooperative Extension Service, Health, Home and Family Development, Kenai Peninsula District.
