Over the last decade, the Ball Canning folks have brought a handful of canning appliances to market. The first was the FreshTECH Jam and Jelly Maker in the summer of 2012. The FreshTECH Automatic Home Canning System was the thing during the 2014 canning season. And now, we have the Ball FreshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner and Multi-Cooker.
This electric canner is exactly what I know a number of you have been hoping for. It’s a giant pot that has an independent element so that you can move your processing pot off your stove top and over to the counter.
It holds 8 quarts, nine pints, or a dozen regular mouth half pints (that means that if you stack them, you can process 24 quarter pint jars at once). It’s particularly great if your stove is slow to boil water or if you’ve been warned off canning on a glass top cooktop. It works like any other boiling water bath canner, so if you live at higher altitudes, you will still need to adjust your processing time upwards.
It has a spout on the left side of the canner, so if your kitchen is arranged in a way where you can set the canner to the right of your stove, you can drain the water directly into the sink. The canner comes with a steaming rack as well as a canning rack, so that you can use it for all your high capacity steaming needs (I could see it being perfect for tamale parties).
It can also be used as a portable cooker, so can work for large amounts of soup, chili, or even something like mulled cider. Nice if you help with community potlucks or church suppers.
I’ve now run a number batches of jars through the canner and I am really happy with it. It’s not going to become my primary boiling water bath because I make a lot of small batches and it doesn’t make sense to heat up this much water for two or three pints, but for larger batches, it’s a boon.
It’s also incredibly useful during tomato season and I’ve started bringing it with me to my classes and workshops where I know we’re making multiple batches and so we’ll need more canner space.
This canner does cost $149.99, which is a pretty penny if you already have a canning set-up you like. If you like the idea of moving your canning pot off your stove top but can’t swing that price point, there is a more affordable way to create something similar.
Get yourself an induction capable stock pot (a classic speckled canner with a flat bottom will work) and the induction burner I have (it’s just $60) and you have a canner you can run anywhere (I highly recommend outdoor canning on really hot days).
My bottom line on the Ball FreshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner is that it’s a great tool for people who do lots of large batch canning. If you have the budget and storage space for it, I highly recommend it.
Disclosure: The folks at Ball Canning sent me a FreshTECH Electric Canner for review and photography purposes at no cost to me. They are also provided a giveaway unit. No additional compensation was provided for this post and all opinions expressed are my own.
I’m in need of a new rig! Would love to learn more on this one!
Thanks!
I have the standard, old fashioned canning equipment, but this is very intriguing. Would love to try it!
I have a water bath canner, but I am not supposed to use it on my glass top stove, so I have to go to my mothers each year to do my canning. Boo! This would be awesome and save soooo much hassle!
A big stock pot.
can salmon…and I use 2 22qt canners
i am using a pot I picked up at a thrift store after all my canning pots disappeared during a move. I am hoping to rebuild my supplies this year.
My canning “system” consists of an ancient lobster pot that I line with an equally ancient beach towel, and then I use BBQ tongs to lower my jars in for processing. It’s pitiful. I am in DESPERATE need here.
Due to the fact that I broke my glass top on my electric stove canning green beans, I definitely will be in need of one if these bad boys. Very expensive lesson for the first time canning.
ive for an old enamel pot I got from a yard sale. Would love to upgrade to a new model
I have been using a Victorio water bath canner for the past three years. I love to can but do not love the way my cabinets are being destroyed by the steam that rises from my stovetop! This would create a new workspace on the island.
i have both 7 and 9 quart speckled water bath canners and a 21 qt. Presto pressure canner. Since I have a glass top range, I use a Camp Chef outdoor stove for my canning. I like the setup I have, but would like to have this one as an addition to that. I’m always up for trying something new 🙂
I use stock pots and a manual home canning kit. No rack,use water bath,basically it’s almost the old fashioned way.
I would love one of these!! Have the standard canning pot, rack, etc. Would be wonderful to have this pot to reduce the heat in the kitchen on jam makin’ days. I make lots for our local farmers market and my friends.
I have the standard enamel wb canner, presto PC, steam canner. This electric one I would like to take rv camping, hook up outside, take advantage of local fruits and veggies during our travels
I’ve got a pot and rack I found a yard sale a few years ago.
This electric pot looks like an interesting upgrade
I use a stock pot with a small trivet at the bottom for year round canning. Summer’s volume requires a larger pot, but I don’t think I am going to be able to use my big speckled pot this summer on the new glass-top electric stove that came with our move. Boo! I was considering an induction top and pot for outside, but still haven’t decided. This giveaway pot would be perfect!
Aneelee, check out Camp Chef outdoor cook stoves. I bought one just for canning, and I really like it. I, too, have a glass top range as a result of a move, and I really missed my big 40″ gas range, but the Camp Chef does a great job and keeps the heat out of the house.
I have the traditional speckled pot and wire rack but may be transitioning to a flat top stove which I’m worried about ruining….this looks like an awesome alternative!
I have used the traditional water bath canner with a wire rack for several years. I I am gearing up for a larger garden this year and the convenience of this canner would certainly make the prep from garden to pantry easier!
we use the traditional stock pot with a homemade wood trivet in the bottom. 🙂
When I water bath can I use my grandmothers canning pot on a gas burner out side. I have a glass top range and I’m terrified WB canning will crack the glass. This canner seems like a perfect solution!
I have the FreshTech Jam/Jelly Maker and the FreshTech Automatic Home Canner. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE both. With these two appliance, I canned approximately 300 jars during the summer of 2014! Anything from jams and jellies to fruit bbq sauces and salsas and of course tomatoes. Would love the FreshTech Electric Water Bath Canner and Multi-cooker!
In an effort to “expand” my canning capabilities, I would love to see Ball/FreshTech come out with an ELECTRIC PRESSURE COOKER! I am totally scared to death of the stovetop pressure cookers.
Good Luck to all who enter!
i use my mom’s, she has a giant stock pot with rack.
I use stock canners, I have 4 oldies and use two in side on electric stove and 2 outside on 2 burner stove I bought just for tuna canning so my house doesn’t stink
I use a stock pot and a metal rack that used to belong in an old pressure cooker. I don’t know what happened to the pressure cooker (it lived in an age before me), but the rack has been useful for many applications. Same with the stock pot.
I’ve used the speckled canning pot for several years. This looks interesting. Thanks
i have a traditional speckled pot and rack that was my dads. He isn’t the one who taught me to can but I have lots of memories of him making apple sauce using the apples from our tree. He also made the best blackberry jam ever!! As much as I love the stuff I have, it would be amazing to have a shiny new fangled rig
I love my canning pot (Victorio) but in the summer when canning tomatoes with their 30 minute processing time, I’ve longed to have a second pot that didn’t take up a 2nd burner. This looks like it would fit the bill perfectly!
I got a pressure canner as a birthday present, and I use it as my water bath canner too. On a slightly battered electric stove.
i have a standard water bath canner from Walmart. This would be a step up for sure!
Currently I do not own any canning equipment. I always go to my grandmother’s and use the same set p that she and her mother have used for countless years. I treasure our time together but I am also starting to can and preserve more so having my own would be a great blessing!!
Have been wanting to get into canning but it seems daunting. This would definitely help me get started. Thanks for the chance to win this!
i still il have a canning setup just like my moms! Speckled water bath canner, with wire rack. Would love to give this new one a shot!
I have two sizes of speckled pots and a medium stockpot, depending on the batch size. I have a glass top stove, which is approved for canning and I’m glad I do: cleanup is a snap with it. Thanks for the review, It’s sounds like a good option for peach and tomato season!
When tomato season is at its peak I use a huge tamale steamer. Only problem is I have to straddle 2 burners to get it to boil. Otherwise I use small or squat jars in a stock pot. I live in NYC and have a teeny kitchen so an electric canner would be fabulous!
I use a large stock pot on my induction stove, but will be unable to use my kitchen this summer, due to a giant DIY project. A canner like this could save the day! 🙂
I currently use the “enamel pot, wire rack” set up. However I just googled the stock pot and silicone trivet method you mentioned and found your post about it. (How’d I miss it?) I’m really excited to try that out now! The enamel pot is a bit too short for quart size jars, but I have a stock pot that’s just right. Woohoo!
Summer in Arizona! Yikes! I would LOVE to have a canner I can use outside and keep my kitchen cool. This is awesome!
I would love to win this. I currently can in one of those speckled pots on my glass top stove which I have heard isn’t the greatest. Not to mention that when canning, I frequently end up with all 4 burners going which just gets ridiculous after a while… Fingers crossed!
I use a standard enamel stockpot with a wire jar rack….this thing looks so cool!
I use a speckle enamel covered canning pot with a wire insert. Just like the one my Nannie in Niva Scotia taught me how to can homemade pickles and chokecherry jelly. I’d love to win this fancy canner!
I don’t currently have a canning setup, which is why I need this. We have converted to 100% whole real food over the last year and this is the first year I’m going to try canning. Can’t wait.
i use a standard enamel 21 quart stock pot with the Ball jar holder. The stock plot was passed down fom my mother in law but she has passed. 2. 1/2 years ago at the age of 83 who knows how old this stock pot really is?
I would love this ! I have a glass top stove and last year I figured out that I could use a stockpot & I put canning rings on the bottom to hold jars up .. This year I would like a different way of canning .
I am using my mom’s hand-me-down canner since she doesn’t do it anymore. I love that I have learned how to can on her canner.
I’m currently stuck at the stage of wanting to can, knowing it’s doable, but never actually getting started. This would get me started! 🙂
This will be my first summer canning, have only frozen! So I do not have anything yet! This would be amazing!
I gave my water bath canner to a friend so now am just using a large stock pot and dishrags. Would love one of these new-fangled canners!
I am currently schlepping across the state when I want to can as I don’t have my own supplies and my mother will not part with hers! This is very intriguing and looks like an amazing tool!!
Have only tried freezing. This will be my first summer canning! So, I don’t have anything yet!
ZOMG, my wife and I want one of these SO BAD.