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 am still using a very old blue granite color water bath canner. This looks like it would be fun to use! Used to can all the time when my kids were young…not so much now. However, I really want to get back into canning again as I have access to a bounty of organic produce.
I use an old canning pot that I found on Craigslist – I paid $5 for it! It has an old sticker on it that won’t wash off that says “canning pot,” but I can’t tell what the brand is. I like that it is vintage, but it is getting some rust spots and I am definitely in the market for a new one.
My canning rig depends on what country I am in! I have “made do” with multiple small pots, huge graniteware canners and everything in between! Whatever it takes!
I use stockpots I got off of craigslist and a pressure canner–all on top of my glass top stove!
I use a victorio to can, but I would love to win this! Thanks for the chance
I use a pressure canner with a rack in the bottom for processing. On busy summer days, there may be three pots going on my stove at one time while cooking sauces and processing. I’d love to be able to move part of that to another part of my kitchen with this type of electric unit.
I have only been canning 4 years.slowly increasing my supplies. I usually have one large waterbath going wish I could have 2 but don’t want to put that much weight on my glass top. I have a small stock pot for canning jelly. And picked up some silicone trivets to try this year.
I currently have to can at my in-laws… The stove in our rental is set a little lower than the counters, and the first time I canned here, the big pot scorched the sides of the countertops! I can’t use really big pots or pans on it anymore – especially not at the sustained high temperatures required for canning. This would be perfect!!!
No REAL canning setup, per se. Just an old canning pot and rack. My mom used to can and I miss it.
just started canning. i would love to try one of these!!!!!
Well, my mom gave away all her canning stuff to my younger brother, so I had to start with a set from the hardware store. Still makes me incredibly happy, though, so it does the job! 😀
As a family we have always used my mother’s canning equipment as we only use it a few days a year
I use a stock pot, balling canning jars and canning tongs. Would sure love to upgrade to this electric set. Sounds like it would make canning so much easier and way more fun!
My wife does most of the canning but I have recently discovered “shrubs” so I will be canning these interesting drink additions with the old standby freckled pot
Hi, this is great info, and even better to have the chance to win one of these canners. Currently I am in the market for a good canner. I just moved to a house with a big yard this past summer, and have plans for an eventually large vegetable and fruit garden. I want to learn to can and preserve food. Also, I love the fact that this canner can also be used as a portable cooker. Will be great if we need to bring a dish to a family gathering and to keep things warm for home entertaining. Thanks!
My original pot had started leaking so a new one of some kind is in order for summer canning
I bought a very basic, cheap beginners’ canning set a few years ago. I use the tools from that along with a big stockpot with a towel in the bottom. My jars are, for the most part, a motley assortment that a neighbor was throwing out and that I salvaged.
I would seriously love to win this prize – it would make my spring/summer! Here’s hoping. Fingers crossed….
My mom taught me how to can and I use a large stockpot with a rubber trivet type of thing.
I was on my 3rd speckled canning pot when we had a fire (not from canning) so now is a great time to step up and try something new
Don’t have anything yet – will be learning to can now that I’ve retired!
Thanks for the opportunity.
I use a traditional Ball water bath on my glass top stove. I am very careful but am concerned about damaging my stovetop. This new electric water bath is a dream come true!
We use my parents pressure canner from the 70s and a water bath canner.
Currently, I just put a few veggies in a jar and pickle them. Or make yogurt in the oven.
Holy Cow, this is cool! Look how many comments you are racking up after posting just yesterday!
My canning set up is in need! I have been searching for a pressure canner at garage sales for about a year now- no luck. I’ve got TONS of jars, and am just waiting for that special day when a canner will come my way.
God bless! Daina
I have a big presto canner. It is big and heavy and the water takes forever to heat up on my gas stove. This would make my canning experiences much more enjoyable. I would love to win.
I am definitely in the market for a new set up! I appears that my big canning pot is starting to erode/disintegrate and I don’t think it’ll make it through another summer.
uggg!! Using an old hand me down set! I need this!
We had been using a big stock pot and need something that works with our burners better. This seems like a great alternative solution to have an electric option instead!
Thanks for the kind offer to a reader.
I have been using a large stock pot to do my canning & last canning season I ended up losing 12 quarts of green beans because it didn’t seal correctly. I have been waiting to catch one on sale but no luck yet. Would love to have one like this…
Just using a regular old stockpot. Would love this!
I’m busy helping young, interested canners get started. I use my old speckled canner for water bath canning. The spout on this unit is genius! I’ve been canning for 30+ years and love the fruit BBQ/Dipping Sauces the best.
i am just starting out and have only canned pickles and some jam a couple of times. I just used a big pot on top of my stove. Would love to get something more professional! 🙂
I am new to canning and I bought a stove I can’t do it on! This is PERFECT!!!! My fingers are crossed along with my toes! My marriage would be much better if I could use this to pickle my SO carrots!
i received my Ball Jam maker as a Christmas gift from my father… He passed away 13 days before Christmas and never got to see it being used… I would love to get the electric water bath so I could get that stock pot off my stove… I have issues with the microwave being low above the stove so the pot doesn’t fit on top of the stove easily…
I have been using my grandmother’s old pot for years and recently purchased a big stock pot that I put a rack in. This would be a great addition and I know it would make life easier. Thank you for the Giveaway and thank Ball Brands…
I use my mom’s old unit, which has seen better days, and is not handy for small batches but the price was right. I use a trivet at the bottom, and I’ve only lost one jar in all the years I’ve canned, mostly because I’m a stickler for following the rules.
I’d love to win the electric set up and get one burner free while canning. Heaven!
I use a stainless steel stock pot with a wire rack. I tried the silicon flower rack, but it kept curling up. I saved your tip on keeping them flat and want to try it this summer when I get back to heavy-duty canning. But heavens, I would love to switch over to an electric unit!!!
growing up, I helped my mom can. Now that I am married and have a garden I just got a large canner at good will and plan on canning for the first time alone this summer.
I still use a 35 year old basic aluminum canning set. Would love to upgrade!
I use two large stainless steel pots on my glass-top stove, which for some reason has survived the abuse. These things are like 24 qt huge pots. One has a small trivet of canning rings I wired together and on top are a couple pieces of hardware mesh. This is enough room to let me do about a half-dozen quart jars no problem.
I’ve been considering investing in some brewing equipment so I could move to outdoor canning with some huge gas burners.
I currently use the standard Ball Canning pot on my glass/ceramic stove. It works just fine but I’m afraid the glass top will crack from the heat. Having an electric canner would be so much more convenient.
I have been helping can all of my life with my parents. The past couple of years I have pretty much taken over the canning for our family. I use my mom’s pressure canner and water bath canner. It gets crowded on our stove we have two big units but only one is working so it would be wonderful to have an electric canner to free up space. When we can I take care of putting everything in the jars and my pop puts the stuff in the canner and takes it out. He also helps preparing the food to be canned. I am so excited for canning season to start up again!!! Happy Canning!!
I live in a really old house. So I have to start heating my stove before puttingmy pot of water on otherwise the whole coil doesn’t heat up. I use an aluminum pot with bands tied together as my canning rack. I tried a silicone trivet but it must not have been “real” because it melted.
I received gift cards and went out to buy a canning set. I have all the equipment and my Food In Jars book. I have friends that are willing to can with me. Now I am just waiting for the fruit to come in season.
I’m using a black granite bath canner for my water bath canning. I also use a pressure canner for the other items to can. I’m always in the market for anything to make my life easier.
I use my multipurpose stock pot for boiling water canning. It works fine, and for big jobs I use my pressure canner. This would be very nice and convenient!
i have the weck electric water bath canner; haven’t seen them on offer for years. i’ve had mine for more than 15 years. i love it. it gets a massive workout every canning season. i wouldn’t mind a second one during tomato and pickle season!
I just use my stock pot – so winning this would be Great!
I have the old school black speckled enamel water bath canner with rack. This would be awesome to run as a second pot. I’ve also invested in a Presto pressure canner this year, but have yet to have time to use it. When my work schedule gets back to normal, I’m canning like crazy!
I have 2 water bath canners now. I LOVE them. My only issue is they take up too much room on my stove to run them 2 at a time. I use them mainly for jelly and tomato sauce <3