Water-bath canners are available on the market. Any big metal container
may be used as a boiling-water-bath canner if it is deep enough so that
the water is well over tops of jars and has space to boil freely. Allow
2 to 4 inches above jar tops for brisk boiling (see sketch). The canner
must have a tight-fitting cover and a wire or wooden rack. If the rack
has dividers, jars will not touch each other or fall against the sides
of the canner during processing.
If a steam-pressure canner is deep enough, you can use it for a water
bath. Cover, but do not fasten. Leave petcock wide open, so that steam
escapes and pressure does not build up inside the canner.
[Illustration: 76892B]
Space for brisk boiling—1″ or 2″
Space for brisk boiling—1″ or 2″
Space for 1″ to 2″ of water above jar
Space for 1″ to 2″ of water above jar
height of jar
height of jar
rack space
rack space