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.
Just a regular old speckled canning pot. I bought it on amazon and had it delivered to work 7 years ago — EVERYONE wanted to know what was in the giant box when it arrived, they were pretty disappointed.
I’m using my lovely mother-in-law’s canner and it works great but takes up too much room on the stove. my burners are small and I can’t fit it on there very well along with the jelly pot plus the sterilizing pot so I’m fighting a giant mess making a batch, even a small one. Would love to have this so I could spread out a bit!
I see from a scan of recent comments that I am not the only one to be using an old stockpot with a rag in the bottom on the dreaded glass top stove. I still managed to put up a dozen different small batches of jams, jellies, pickles and chutneys last year. Imagine what I could do with an upgrade!
I use a canning pot that came from my mom . Harder to use now with a glass cooktplop. This is a great setup!
I am 70 yrs old and have been canning for 51 yrs and have gone thru several canners over the years. It would be so nice to win this canner as I find it hard to lift my canner off of the stove; I don’t have the strength that I used to have when I was younger! Would love to have this because I could put it right next to my sink. How great is that!
We have in our set up two cheap canning pots and a nice ball canning pot. We have a nice stash of canning racks that we use to load in the jars while we are processing.
i have a relatively cheap canning pot and a bunch of ok accessories I bought a few years ago. My Juneberry (serviceberry) tree is set to produce a record number of berries this year, so it may be time to upgrade this situation!
Bought my set up 2 years ago. Everything was great until I moved to my Farm and, you got it, glass top stove. this would work great for my needs!!!!
I have a canning pot. My son gave me the Ball jam maker and I love it!
Would like to have one of thse electric canners! Have two blue speckled pots and a pressure canner. Two stoves to use during season of preserving garden produce. A busy time but love doing and love having iin the winter months!
i don’t have any equipment at the current time, but my ex-husband has a pressure cooker and a hot water bath canning pot with hundreds of jars. I need to replace. I do have a dozen jars though, green ones!
I am using the small batch silicone set, I can not lift the big water bath canner anymore. I want this new canner to set up by my kitchen sink. I love that it can be drained in the sink.
I have my mothers water bath canner but it is to small for all the things I can. My mother in law just gave me a pressure canner but it scared me. Ha
I have a old water bath canner. I am looking for something like this and would love to give it a try.
I currently don’t have a setup, but am definitely thinking of doing it!! With 4 boys, it seems to be a perfect option!! 🙂
I am new to canning, have only made small amount of pickles & salsa. Have no proper equipment to make more, but would love to.
Using the trusted blue specked canner. Would love one of these, not only to can in but for our church soup and stew meals. These meals are great family fellowship times but also a blessing to our community and people in need of a hardy meal. I’m for any appliance that would make the large amount of food preparation more efficient and easier on the cooks!
Not canning to much unless a friend offers their stove we have a glass top. Would love to setup an outside canning area. Mainly do jams right now. This would be an awesome addition to the kitchen. Fingers crossed
I used two Presto pressure canners – one I purchased myself and one that a family member has let me “borrow” and last year I purchased two water bath canners on clearance. I also use two stoves – one in the kitchen and one in the garage! Last year I canned 197 quarts of green beans, 72 quarts of tomato juice, 42 quarts tomatoes, 49 pints of pickles – and looking forward to it again this year…this electric canner would be a great help in the process!
I have an ancient canning pot and an old wire rack that is rusting. I had to use metal twist and ties to hold the the rack together. It still works but is a pain. My garden this year has grown tremendously in size so I will be very busy canning this summer. We are in the foothills in California and decided to let our lawn go and only water our garden for food due to the drought. This canner looks SO COOL!!!
My WB canner has finally rusted out and would love this one for myself to continue canning like my mom all of the time I was growing up. Now canning for her.
We can with a huge pot and propane round grill outside. We have an odd system but we have to can and time outside in a water bath then bring the jars in on a cookie sheet and let them cool and pop inside on the dining room table. I love this idea!
I use a stockpot with washcloth in the bottom on top of a glass top range. This would help greatly!!!
Currently don’t have a canning setup but buying a house with 2 acres and plan on being in the canning world very soon! Woohoo! Would love a setup like this!
I am using an enamelware water bath canner and have just had my first success with the pressure cooker. Great fun! 🙂
I am, or was using Moms old big black speckled pot on the stove up until last year, had it full on my stove and it actually burnt a hole through the bottom from to much use. An electric one would be awesome!
Would love to have using washing outside open flame this canned would save a lot of time
I currently go old-school water bath, but i have a pressure cooker I use, too. Small stove makes this item seem like a really good idea, albeit a bit pricey.
Have used a stockpot. Have also used my late mother-in-law’s water bath canner and pressure canner. I plan to do more canning this year and could new equipment!
me and my husband uses his old canner pot. we love to can strawberry jam,blackberry jam,blueberry jam,peach jam,sliced peaches,cabbage,tomatoes pickles.this year we did applesauce and apple butter. we are looking for a new one this year since the pot doesn’t sell like it use to.
My 22 year old daughter just got interested in canning so I showed her my old tried and true way of the big stock pot for water bath. Unfortunately, I can’t fit very many jars in the pot. This set up looks awesome!
I have wanted to learn to can for awhile now but all I have is one of the smaller stock pots. I don’t really have money to buy any of the equipment right now. I’d love to win this.
I had one but x wife took it along with most of the rest.it would not only be valuable but would be used all the time!
I use my great grandmothers canning tub. Of course its so large u have to build a fire under it. There is no dragging that sucker inside to use on the stove. Considering yhe amount of effort it takes to use and the mess it leaves I would LOVE to try the electric canner.
I just use a large stock pot and my stove for hot water bath canning. I have had to replace 2 eyes on my stove. I give them such a workout every year. I tend to burn those electric eyes out. I would love to have one of these. It’s awesome!
I use a canner that I have had for many years, ready for an upgrade, that does not heat the house up. Good luck to all._
I borrow my aunts canning equipment can’t wait to have my own now that I’m getting older and more into canning
I borrow my aunts canning equipment can’t wait to have my own now that I’m getting older and more into canning
An enamelware water bath canner, that is about 20 years old, is what I use- what a great prize! someone will be very lucky-
I have been wanting a new waterbath canner for some time now. I use an older type canner similar to what my grandmother used. Mine is starting to wear and can see a couple rust spots on the outside of the canner. The one I am using is an enamel wear one with the rack on the inside. It is heavy to move to put water in or take it out as I have problems with my arms and hands, part of my disabitliy. I continue to make the best products I can and use only Ball brand for my jars, lids, etc.
I just started canning a few months ago and love it!
I used to use my grandmother’s pot but it broke and I would love to get back to canning just like she taught me!
I have 3 water bath scanners that I received from friends and hope to get a pressure canner soon!!
We dehydrate and freeze what we have but have not ventured into the world of canning. Canning is our missing piece right now. This would give us a great excuse to start this year!
I use an old water canner, I would love to win the new electric canner so I could free up the stove.
I have an older enamel water bath canner that my Dad brought me when I started canning a few years ago. I have made jams and jellies. And, I have canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, peaches, and pickles. I’ve also canned Brunswick Stew with a pressure canner.
For years, my grandmother has sent canned goods to me. But, she passed earlier this month, so those comfort foods from home are no more.
Santa brought me a new, stainless steel water bath canner from Ohio Amish country after I chipped/burned through? my second enamelware canner. But this canner would be perfect to use for canning demonstrations for my 4-H club!
This would definitely be a great asset during tomato canning season! I def need all the extra space I can get in my tiny kitchen.
Just using Ball’s canner and standard metal rack that’s seen better days. Used to steam up/heat up my entire house for canning, but just last year bought an outside cooktop hooked to LP gas. So much better!
I’ve been canning for over 40 years, using the traditional water bath canner (blue speckled). I can run two at a time on an old stove and have gone through a few canners in my day! This sounds pretty cool and would work well and extend my canning abilities! Thanks so much for all of your good information!
My first canning pot rusted out, so I’m on my second. I can’t say I love it… it takes forever to get the water to boil. I love that this new piece is multi-functional!
We grow vegetables, herbs and fruit . We were hot bathing and freezing . Our freezer went out this winter . I have bought some Ball canning books and supplies . I have a small pressure cooker which only hold a few small jars. I would love a Ball FreshTECH electronic canner . It would be a God sent .
I have only JUST started on my real foods journey, and am learning about different ways to preserve food. I’ve been working on dehydrating and freezing, but I haven’t bought any supplies for canning yet. I know I have a LOT to learn, but this would be great to help me get started!
h4schaffer at gmail dot com
I have been canning with and enamel stovetop canner on my glass top range for twenty years. They say not to do that on a glass top, so I cross my fingers each time. Would love this stand alone style.
Happy canning to all!
I use a stock pot and canning lids as a trivet. I’m a newish canner and this electric canner looks like a dream!
I’m pretty happy with my set up (standard speckled canning pot) but the idea of getting it of the stove is beguiling!
I use a big stainless steel 20-qt stock pot with the blossom silicone trivet in the bottom (thanks for that great tip!). I have an induction stove, so my options are a bit limited. I’d love to be able to have two batches of canned tomatoes going at once!
I use a standard specked canner but this would be great for on-the-go canning. Have Canner Will Travel!
I just raffled off a canning session at my house at a fundraiser – the winner was ecstatic to win the ability to learn how to can!! We’ll be doing it at my house as I have a gas stove, but winning this would allow me to do it at their house – eliminates the need for them to travel back and pick up the jars the next day.
My stove is a glass/ceramic top and I would be so happy to move off of it because of the obvious dangers! My old granite ware canning kettle is from a yard sale!
I used my mothers canning pot but I also have a stock pot with a blossom trivet for smaller batches – which I do a lot. But must admit your small batch Roasted Corn Salsa recipe often become a large batch!
I love your idea of setting up a canning operation outside. Right now, we just use one of those big old granite wear canning pots. It works fine, but the idea of not being chained to “the stove” on a hot summer day and steaming up the house is very appealing!
I currently use the water bath method on a glass top stove! It scares me to death that I’m going to break my stove! I am definitely looking to update my setup. I have a lot of friends who are now starting to can. So being younger not many people I know my age can or know anything about it. So I also do alot of showing!.
I have been using an old big graniteware pot. Have canned a lot of tomatoes and pickles.
Currently have moved to Michigan (cherry haven) and this summer want to take advantage of the fresh fruits here especially the abundance of cherries
I have a ole reliable graniteware water bath canner. It is much larger than my biggest electric burner, takes forever to heat up (while at the same time turning my little kitchen into a sauna), and since the burner is uneven if I’m doing a big load of tomatoes it will spill water all over the stove. So I have a little wee saucepan that I stick behind it just to catch water. I 100% need some kind of better option.
I have a speckled enamel ware water bath canner that I use on my 36 year old Jenn Air range. It is much larger than the biggest burner and takes forever to heat up. I have also had an element to actually melt because of trapping all that heat under that large pot. I definitely need a better option!
I have the old school ball canning kit with the black pot with white speckles. I just purchased a blossom trivet to try instead of the metal rack in the bottom for the reason of your last post about the build up. This canning system you are giving away would be awesome as I think it would allow me to can that bacon jam that I had emailed you about from one of your other posts – still have to try making it 🙂
i would love one of these! we use the lobster pot! works well, but this has some really nice features.
I have a canning room set up in the garage. It was here when we bought the farm. I use the regular water bath canner and then have a pressure canner. I purchased a larger pot for water bath canning quarts so the water doesn’t boil all over the place.
I am new to canning; I have the basic equipment, but have been leery of using my glass-topped stove for it, so this piece of equipment would be perfect! I have read several cookbooks and books on canning, so I’m excited to get started!
I have a 12 qt stockpot with the daisy trivet for my jam canning…I also have a Kuhn Rikon tall pot for small batches and I have a pressure canner that (I’m ashamed to admit) that I have used only as a water bath canner for my tall 1.5 pint jars (I’m a little scared of the pressure thing–need to watch a youtube vid to get some pointers!).
For small batches, I use an old spaghetti pot for the water bath. For bigger batches, or taller jars (my guys love dilly beans, tarragon beans, Italian beans…), I use a large speckled enamel caning kettle with a rack/insert, which my husband got for me a few years ago. The Ball canner would be awesome — I could run it on my screened porch and watch my chickens scratching about the yard while I put up pickles and tomato sauce!
I have no “real” canning equipment. Two years ago I bought a ball kettle canner and my son (who is an excellent cook & canner) borrowed it for his annual clam bake, chances are I will never see it again. What a treat the Ball canner would be!
Kathy Mahovlic
My husband and I are huge jam and jelly canners! We use an ancient set-up from his grandmother; a big enamel canning pot with one handle missing. We grow our own raspberries and blueberries. We freeze some for making pies (a wonderful taste of summer in the dead of winter!) and the rest we turn into jam. Our greatest triumph was making raspberry habanero pepper jelly as favors for our daughter’s July wedding. We grew the rasberries, a yellow variety, and the peppers and the result was a wonderful favor appreciated by everyone! This new product has us very excited.
I need a whole new set up…my stock pot is on it’s last leg.
I learned my canning set up from you Marisa! I just tried to use things I already had… I use a very large stock pot that was bought in a restaurant supply store years ago. I found a circular cake cooling rack and plop that right in my stock pot when ready to can. Anytime I bought something labeled “canning rack” it never fit in any of my pots. I do have a canning rack that I bought which fits perfectly in my pressure cooker… but I haven’t had the guts to try canning in there yet!
I’m in the market for a new rig! I’ve been using an old stockpot, but I’m eager to expand my capacity. 🙂
I use my Moms old enamel pot and could certainly use some updating.
I’d luv to have 2 pots going at the same time cause you know fruits and veggies…when it rains, it pours!
I haven’t started canning yet. I tried some crazy freezing last year and would really like to can instead! I have been building my supply of jars!!!
I have an old chipped big bath pot with the wire insert. It wasn’t my mother’s though (alas that is lost to the sands of time)
I am in the process of moving and my new kitchen has a glass top stove so I’m not sure what my new set-up will be… I pressure and water bath can – LOVE IT !
This will be my third year canning. I started out with a silicon/plastic basket in my largest stock pot (8 quarts). I soon graduated to the blue granite canner and bought the automatic jam and jelly maker. The following year I also used the Ball automatic canning system but was a little disappointed by the limited size. I have access to a prolific fig tree and made over 60 jars of fig jam in addition to canned figs in syrup and dehydrating figs. By the end of summer I had canned over 200 jars of jams, spreads, jellies, fruit, pie filling and pickles. Needless to say I can really use the new automatic water bath canning system. All that canned bounty went to family, friends and charitable fundraising efforts.
I just bought my first house and I have finally got my dream! a lovely sunny place to plant tomatoes. I have spent all winter planning and my seedlings just went into the ground. I planted 23 heirloom tomato varieties. I have never canned, since I have not had a garden to supply lovely canned goods. I have always wanted to can tomatoes, and now I have an abundant supply but no equipment. I would love to have something built like this that seems foolproof. I would love to enjoy those tomatoes all winter long. Help me enter into tomato nirvana.
Small stock pot from college with a towel in it… because it works, even if it’s not elegant or pretty 😛 It would be awesome to have something built for the purpose, though 😀
I use my mom’s stock pot with the classic wobbly rack. We can whole tomatoes in the summer, then spiced chunky applesauce in the fall. I would l love to play with this new technology.
I just taught myself how to can last year so everything that I have so far is pretty new. I wish I had been older when my grandmother was still healthy enough to preserve her garden – I could have learned so much from her! We did a lot of summer garden preservation when I was a child but it was predominantly for the freezer. I feel like I’m the generation bringing it all together. My biggest frustration is not having a large enough pot to process large batches in, especially during tomato season. I lost my job last year so unfortunately this new canner is not possible right now. Thanks for the opportunity to possibly get one anyway.
A pressure cooker canner combo. It is pretty bulky.
I have the speckled pot that my parents used to make salsa and chow chow when I was a kid. I use it primarily for salsa and jam, but my partner hates when I heat up the kitchen in August.
I have a smaller pressure canner and a stock pot with a silicone trivet for waterbath canning. I have looked at this new canner online but I haven’t been able to justify spending that much. It would be great to can more quarts of pears at a time! We eat so many in our house.
I am new to canning and just purchased my first set of canning jars. Doing research to get the rest of the supplies needed and wonderful recipes. Would love to have this canner.
Apparently I am trying to poison everyone by trying to can on a glass top stove. Grrr…this would help out that situation!
I use my biggest pot, a trivet made of canning jar lids and an old pair of tongs. Help! I need a canning makeover! Somehow it seems to work and I still love canning, but boy could I use some new technology! 🙂
I use a wood stove to can as I about burnt my electric stove up. I have already canned enough on the electric stove that I have bowed the top. So I took an old wood stove and set it up out in the yard and that’s where I can at now a days but it gets hot. I think a Ball FreshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner and Multi-Cooker would make canning a lot easier.
Well unfortunately I’ve never canned before but my Mom and both of my grandmothers did. I think this would be an easy way to learn and would love to try canning. Also it’s my birthday so I thought maybe I’d get lucky and win:) it’s worth a try!!
I can mostly with my dad – tomatoes and green beans. He has his parents’ 2 pressure cookers from the 1960’s and we did buy a Presto one a few years back. He has a great garage set up – a camping cookstove – 2 gas burner and he also uses a turkey fryer to boil up water for the canners. When I make jam in my kitchen, I do have a large basic water bath canner, but because I have a glass top I am afraid to use a pressure canner on it, and I am even reluctant to do long canning sessions – jam only! This looks awesome to use, although I may look into the induction burner this summer. Thanks!
I have a water bath canner and a large pressure canner. I first thought that the electric canner was sort of gimmicky. Then I read the description and the mention about stoves that are slow to boil….hmmm.
With this gear awning will be a breeze!
My current canning gear is a Granite Ware 21.5 qt. pot. I also have a 12 qt. Revere Ware pot with a silicone trivet for smaller batches, and your favorite 4th burner pot for even smaller batches. My stove only has 1 large burner, so it can be a challenge when I’m trying to make a large batch of something. Usually, I can at my friend’s house and we use her cast iron gas stove. But, it has a limited head space (the broiler unit is over the cook top), which makes it hard to reach the back burners, especially with the canning pot in the front. Having an electric canner would make a huge difference (although, the induction burner could work with my Revere Ware pot, because I think my 21.5 qt pot doesn’t have a fully flat bottom)!
I love my 23 quart Presto canners!! I have two of them that I use on a double gas burner set up on my back patio since my glass top stove cannot support the weight with them full. I always use the metal trivets or rings to separate the jars from the bottom or each other. I water-bath with a HUGE stockpot, with a metal trivet on the bottom sometimes too. I would love to try silicone.
I have a tried and true granite ware pot that I love, but I do have a glass top, so am looking for a possible alternative. This could be it!
I started canning when my husband was diagnosed with a fatal heart condition. I was not aware of the sodium content of many of the canned goods I purchased before his diagnosis. I was shocked at the amount of sodium we were consuming daily.
My husband and I can our vegetables together. Last year I purchased a pressure cooker canner and we started canning green beans, potatoes, vegetable soup, and much more.
We have increased our garden, so hopefully we will have an abundant amount of vegetables to can this year. We live in Georgia and have wild blackberries growing all over our property. My entire family comes to visit when they know the blackberry jelly has been canned.
I feel much better feeding my husband food that I am able to control the amount of salt being added. I believe his health has improved as a result of our ability of controlling the sodium added to our food. Canning food has become a real hobby for both my husband and myself. We are constantly looking for new and better ways to can our food.
I am newbee to canning, my kids are in 4H and they attended a few canning session. They made strawberry preserves, pickles and peaches and entered them in the County Fair. My kids really enjoyed it, so we had our first home canning session and made jalapeno jelly for Xmas. I wasn’t sure if I would like it, so we used the tamale steamer pot for this purpose. I was hooked! I went out and bought all the essentials, not only for water bathing but also for pressure canning. We have made pinto beans (we eat beans in our home like they are going out of style), chicken, raspberry preserve, salsa, pickles, butter pickles,and more jalapeno jelly. We are now also growing our own vegetable garden and are anxiously waiting, so we can can all our goodies!
I use an All American 21 qt gasketless canner for pressure canning, and some water bath canning as well. This device looks awesome and I would love to win it! 🙂