canning with a flat cooktop/glass cooktop

junebride060306

one of my friends and I are going to can some tomatoes! however we got super scared reading info online about not to use a flat cooktop/glass cooktop. it all started when I bought this canning pot - http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=120533&COL=0

which specifically says on it not to use on glass/flat cooktops.

then I read this  http://www.pickyourown.org/cannings4glasstop.htm

I am so confused! and now we don't know what to do. she has a brand new stove and is scared to use it. what if we use our regular stockpots that we always use on our flat tops? will that be ok? we thought we read though something about the glass jars and the flat surface causing an issue.

sorry to be so dense about this!!!!!! would love any advice. TIA!   

JDSRunner

I went to a canning class and they said that you could use the flat cooktop as long as the diameter of the canning pot didn't exceed the diameter of the heating element by more than 4 inches. That looks like a bit more than recommended in the link. If the pot is much larger than the flat top cooking element, the heat spreading beyond the cooking element can cause the the stove top to crack.

For water bath canning you can use a regular big stockpot, but you need to have a rack in it so that water can get underneath the cans.

Good luck!

CutesBoots

Agree that if you have a sufficiently sized stockpot already, you can use that.  You can buy the racks separately online:

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Krafts-Stainless-Steel-Canning/dp/B00024WQKQ/ref=pd_sim_k_3

The problem with the Graniteware pot you posted is that the bottom isn't smooth.  You'll need a pot with a completely smooth bottom, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Jar-1440010740-Collection-Waterbath/dp/B001XW61B6/ref=pd_sbs_k_1

Another consideration with using your stockpot is the lid.  The lids I've seen for canning are glass so that you can see when the water boils, and have a steam vent.  This may not be critical.  I'm not sure.

SuperGreen

We have the Granitewear canner and a glass flat-top stove and have had no problems.  The pot is larger than the heating element, not sure how much though as I'm at work at the moment.  We canned a lot this year but it is our first year.  I don't think having a clear lid is critical, trust me you'll know when the water's boiling, the lid shakes.  You just open the lid away from you (so you don't get a faceful of steam) and take a look.

It's hard to tell if that's just the stove/canner manufacturers being cautious, or if it's a legitimate concern.  You could buy a completely flat canner as CuteBoots suggests, or go with your existing large stockpot and a canning rack.  Our stockpot that does not overlap the burner probably only holds 4 quart jars though, and to me it's not worth the time and effort to can only 4 quarts at a time.  We always fill up the canner, which is 7 quarts. Honestly, we just decided not to worry about the stovetop. If the stove breaks, it breaks.  If the stove's that fragile it wasn't the right fit for our family anyway.

uncannycanuck

If you don't want to buy a canning rack, you can just put a couple tea towels in the bottom of the pot.

That said, a rack makes it much easier to lift the jars out.

treesapplaud

I can on my glasstop stove. I use a big soup pot which is only a little bigger than the biggest ring. It has a completely flat bottom.

junebride060306

just wanted to update! we survived. used our regular flat bottom stock pots and all went well! thanks for all the advice.