Canning on Induction Top Stove Tops
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I’ve gotten a lot of questions about canning on induction top stove tops. I did a little research on how an induction stove works. All I knew is that it had something to do with being magnetic. This article outlines what I’ve learned.
What exactly is an induction stove?
Please note: Induction top stove tops are not the same as an electric glass top. Here is a good explanation I found regarding induction cooking.
“Induction cooking heats a cooking vessel by electrical induction, instead of by thermal conduction from a flame, or an electrical heating element. The cooking vessel must be made of or contain a ferromagnetic metal such as cast iron or stainless steel.
Heat is coming from within the pan, making this method of cooking a lot more efficient. You therefore need to ensure that your pans are suitable to use on an induction hob. Copper or aluminum pans would not work unless they have additional layers added onto the bottom that are magnetic. The best way to check if your pans are viable is to see if a magnet will stick to the bottom of the pan!”
https://www.cda.eu/hobs/how-does-induction-cooking-work/
If you are looking for information on electric glass top or flat top stoves check this article instead.
The way I understand this article, that means aluminum will not work on induction top stove tops. Most pressure canners are aluminum, so that means pressure canning on an induction top stove top is pretty much eliminated automatically. But for water bath canning, check out those stainless steel canners. (And check with your stove manufacturer just to be sure.)
UPDATE (Dec. 2019): We recently stumbled across this Induction Compatible Presto Pressure Canner (23 quarts) that you might want to check out! If you have one of these canners, I’d love to hear your feedback on it.
Canning on Induction Top Stove Tops: You’ve Got Alternatives!
There are still solutions available to you if you find you can’t use your induction top stove top for canning.
First, consider canning outdoors. (I actually have a kitchen setup in my garage where I process sweet corn, etc. during the summertime. And I’ve heard from other readers on Facebook who have set up outdoor cooking areas too.)
You can use a propane burner or electric burner instead of canning on an induction top stove top. Personally, I’ve tried canning on a Camp Chef stove with great success, but there are some concerns about using such a burner for canning.
Read more about the concerns here, so you can make your own informed decision.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation lists these concerns about using propane or electric burners for canning:
- Because they’re portable, these burners may become unsteady or tilted.
- The size may not be big enough for using a canner. (Generally, “…the canner should not extend more than 2 inches from the burner on any side.”)
- For electric burners, a low wattage may not be high enough to allow for canning. (Side note: This also means that low-cost electric stoves will most likely NOT work for canning either.)
- For propane burners, the heat produced may be too high for the canner or burner itself to handle.
Another alternative is an electric water bath canner. I have one and like it. Note that it is only for water bath canning. To my knowledge, no electric pressure canners are available.
Canning on Induction Top Stove Tops: Reader Comments & FAQs
General Experiences, Tips, & FAQs
Canning on an Induction Cooktop with a Stock Pot. by: Anonymous
I have an induction cooktop and used a SS stock pot for a water bath on some green tomato pickles and it did great. The pot bottom was the same size as the cooking eye. Hope this helps someone. I’m looking for a pressure canner now.
Induction Should Work Well by: Brian Richards
First, you do have to have some iron content in your cookware. If a magnet sticks to the cookware, then the cookware will work.
Induction does not cycle on and off like conventional radiant electric cooktops. It emits a steady power to maintain a selected temperature. Many brands have settings so gentle you can melt chocolate without a double boiler.
Also, unlike a radiant electric cooktop, the induction surface doesn’t heat up the way a radiant electric cooktop does. That’s because the cookware is delivering heat with induction, not the cooking surface. The cookware can transfer heat to the cooking surface, so it can get very warm, but not really hot like a glass cooktop with radiant heating.
Another thing to remember is that water doesn’t get any hotter than 212ºF. Remember science class? So the cookware won’t get much hotter. I can’t see why enameled steel can’t work with induction, but I can see why it would not work with radiant electric.
Canning on Induction Cook Tops. by: hawkonraven
This is my second season of jam making with an induction cook top. My only problem is this year, the jam got too thick. Also, yes water boils at 212F. Jam will get much hotter. Check it with a candy thermometer.
Water Bath Canner Option for Induction Cooktop? by: Karen
I am checking into this now, but supposedly the Ball Elite stainless steel works on any cooktop…it doesn’t list induction cooktops specifically, so I am trying to find out if it is magnetic on the bottom.
Induction Stove & Pressure Canning by: Anonymous
I have just purchased an induction cook top. It has been a nightmare trying to find a pressure cooker I can use on it. But I knew this would be the case. There are no pressure canners that have adequate gauges to can at the required pressure for various altitudes. Most are 10 and 15 there is no in between.
I am going to can in using a large camp stove that is also made to can on. Any input? I am using a stock pot to water bath in.
Sharon Comments: I use the Camp Chef stove to do my outdoor canning on. It works great. Here is my review for using the stove as an outside heat source for canning.
As long as your camp stove will bring the canner up to pressure and maintain a steady heat, it should work. Be sure you are in a protected area away from any strong winds.
As far as the weights, it is standard that weights come in 5/10/15 pounds. What you will want to do is use the weight just up from your required pressure. For instance, if your requirement is 12 pounds, use the 15-pound weight. This way, your foods will not be under-processed.
Canning on an Induction Stove Top. by: ELSherrod
Bought a pressure cooker without checking, and of course, it didn’t work on the induction stove top. Used my conversion disk and the test run was perfect. No fluctuations in temp at all. Loaded it with 7 jars and tried to run it for real. For what ever reason, the eye kept turning off.
Switched to my large chili pot, still using my conversion disk, and did a boiling water bath. Perfect. Boiled just fine – evenly for 45 minutes and all jars have sealed perfectly.
My Solution to Induction Canning. by: Anonymous
Got a GE induction stovetop/range last year and love it. Have a years old Mirromatic pressure canner that still works well. Couldn’t find a canner that would work with induction when I bought the GE so kept the old stove and put it in the basement.
Takes some trips up and down the stairs right now because the food prep is mostly upstairs. I’m lobbying for a basement sink and good countertop so I can do it all in the basement.
Why NOT to Use Graniteware on Induction Top Stove Tops. by: Anonymous
While your enameled “granite ware” canners are magnetic, my guess is manufacturers don’t recommend using them for several reasons.
1) To prevent warping, most are stamped with a pattern on the bottom; this limits contact with the burner.
2) They are extremely thin and most induction cooktops have a safety feature that wont engage the element unless a metal threshold is met; this is to prevent jewelry on your finger or a metal spatula on a side burner from engaging an element (not good in either case).
3) This one is me just theorizing, but I’d guess that the enamelware is thin enough, that if you could easily get experience localized melting of the bottom of your pot (especially if it doesn’t sit well in the cooktop).
While you might be able to “get by” with using them on induction cook tops, no manufacturer is going to tell you its OK. Furthermore, with the potential downsides, I don’t think its a very good idea to risk it.
An Induction Stove Canning Nightmare. by: Anonymous
Was told I could can on my new Induction stove; I have a Fridgidare Professional. Love love the stove. Forget canning on it. I got all potatoes in jars and the stove kept shutting off; canner would not work. Hauled out a 2-burner tabletop. Worked okay, but took me about 3 hrs to get a 45min job done. I am buying a stove for the garage. I am sooo done canning like that.
No-Go on Using Kuhn Rikon for Canning. by: Anonymous
I just bought the Vollrath 59500p Mirage cooker just to add a separate burner on the island when canning. 100 temp selections and I love it.
Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers do work on an induction cooker but they are not suitable for canning. There is no vent function to initially vent the cooker like a canner. You put the lid on and it builds pressure based on the heat applied.
I have 3 All American canners that I knew wouldn’t work on the induction, and there’s no way I would replace them, so I use a gas stove or gas burners on the patio for the canners.
The only irritation I have is that my stainless Back to Basics steam juicer won’t work on the induction cooker.
Induction Stoves vs. Glass Cooktops. by: Anonymous
Many of you clearly don’t know what Induction cooking is, and if you don’t, you probably should refrain from commenting; it just confuses people.
Induction is NOT just a glass cooktop; most of those are radiant heat, just like a coil electric cooktop. Induction uses magnetic waves to heat the cookware itself, not the stove surface. Induction cookware must be magnetic or it will not work.
Canning on Induction Cooktop Safely. by: Ida
I have an induction cook top and the only canning I have done on it is water bath. I purchased a stainless steel stew pot the size of my largest burner. I love that the water boils faster and I get about 6 pint jars in the “pot”. I did have to improvise a rack for the bottom to keep the jars off the bottom of the pot.
I do need to remind you that in ALL canning you have to still process for the recommended time that your product needs to be safely processed. I follow the Ball canning book.
I have not done any pressure canning as I have not found a pressure canner to use on the cook top. It’s great the water comes to a boil faster but the processing time is the same.
Total Failure Canning Tomatoes on an Induction Cooktop – Help! by: Anonymous
After reading thru all the posts, I felt confident that I wouldn’t have any issues on my new induction cooktop (which I love!) I was using cold pack method in a hot water bath. I used new Ball 2-pc lids on pint jars. I used a pan that could hold 4 pints, with a rack in the bottom.
My concern is that these lids do stick to magnets (not zinc). Is that a problem with induction canning? My other thought is that maybe I loosened the ring too much so the cover was unable to seal…I haven’t canned in a few years and could use some guidance, but my biggest concern is about the magnetic rings. Any ideas?
…As far as my glass cooktop, I had no issues with it shorting out and very easy to clean. I have a drawer under neath my cooktop and it stayed amazingly cool, unlike when I had my electric cooktop. Any thoughts are appreciated!
Water Bath Canning Note. by: Ida
No Anglea, it does not shorten the actual time that is required to safely water bath process your product. The actual time it takes for the water to boil is much shorter, but you have to use the same recommended processing time for your altitude. I use a stainless steel soup pot that I found to fit the burner size and improvised a rack for the bottom. Hope this helps.
Looking for Induction-Compatible Canner. by: Susan
I have a Kenmore Elite Induction range that I LOVE! However, I just started canning last year, and now all my canning equipment is obsolete. From reading the posts, I’m thinking the best/safest solution for now is can outside with a Volcano.
I can find an area that is fairly shielded, but it will be awkward finding/creating a work space. Do you fill your jars inside and take them outside to put into the canner? I’ve always filled them, sealed them and added one-by-one into the canner, as the book instructs.
Canning on an Induction Cooktop. by: Ljo
Finding the perfect pot for water bath canning was not easy. I go to the store with magnet in hand whenever searching for cookware. Yesterday I went to my fav kitchen go to store & found the perfect find. It is a canning rack insert that turns any stockpot into a canner.
Cost was less than $8 made by Norpro, but I see on Amazon Ball has one as well. It’s only for small batches but hey, I can work with that as long as I don’t have to spend an enormous amount on new cookware. I’m not getting any compensation from the company, just passing along information.
Alternatives If You Can’t Use Your Induction Stove Top for Canning
What About a Portable Electric Burner for Canning? by: kks
Does anyone can on a single electric burner? I am getting an induction cooktop, and I’m thinking that I may be able to can on a single portable electric burner in the garage.
That way I can use my pressure canners that I have, and don’t have to worry about damaging the new cooktop. Unfortunately, some of the reviews of the burners seem like they are used for more of a warming plate, which would not get warm enough.
What About a Large Hot Plate for Canning? by: Autumn
I just got an induction stove and love cooking with it. We downsized to a small condo that doesn’t have gas and I was hating losing my gas stove, but the induction stove works in a very similar way as gas. The only negative was that some of my cookware won’t work on it, including my pressure canner.
I’m thinking, given the comments here, my best solution is a good large hot plate. Anybody see a problem with that solution?
Using Conversion Disks for Induction Stove Top Canning
Several people mentioned a heat diffuser. The opinions ranged from yes they work to nope, it takes forever to heat and they get too hot. If you use one, note the width of the diffuser compared to the bottom of your canner. This ring seems to work because of the comments we’ve seen, but no studies have been done to verify that.
Induction Conversion Disk on KitchenAid Range by: Mary
Has anyone tried pressure canning or cooking large batches of salsa in non-magnetic cookware using the conversion disk?
I’d like to buy an induction range, but don’t want to give up using my canning cookware.
Converter Disks for Induction Cooktops. by: magoo
I’ve seen several comments referencing converter disks, so I Google searched what that was and apparently its a small ferrous disks that acts as a heat source between the induction top and the cookware itself. I’m surprised this hasn’t been more of a focal point on here.
Was wondering if anyone has had any experience using the water bath or pressure canner on an induction cooktop using one of these converter disks? Seems to me like it should work. In the process of remodeling now and would love some feedback as not being able to can in my kitchen is a major deal breaker for the induction v. standard glass top.
Induction Converter Disks by: Anonymous
The disks will reduce the efficiency of your stove and also possibly damage it since they get so hot. Probably best to get a new induction compatible canner/ pressure canner or a small gas stove it would seem. Link here: https://www.centurylife.org/the-inefficiency-of-induction-converter-discs-aka-induction-interface-discs-and-what-your-real-alternatives-are/
Disks for Induction Stove Tops. by: Anonymous
I have two different sizes of those disks that operate on induction and enable the use of regular pans. My ONLY issue with both is the incredible amount of heat these things throw off! They’re not light either! It’s the only thing that’s stopped me canning with them.
They’re VERY hard to regulate the heat, even in normal cooking. I gave in, gave all my favorite pans away, and bought an electric canner, which arrived today! The disks are collecting dust.
I would be very careful using the disks on your beautiful induction stove tops (I waited 5 years for mine) as I think people need to be aware of the incredible heat toast continues for a LONG time after you’ve finished using it. And be careful when removing from your induction stove top. Very heavy. Don’t drop it!!
Induction Disks for Pressure Canners by: Debi
I tried using an induction disk with an aluminum canner on an induction stove. It eventually worked, but took more than 2 hours to bring the unit up to pressure. I won’t do that again. Still looking for a 16 qt canner. Presto’s 23 qt is far too large to lift.
Induction Disk by: 3isplenty
You can buy an induction disk that is induction ready, but allows your non-induction cookware to be used on an induction stove. It negates any energy savings you get from induction, but does work. I use an outside burner with my presto for now. We’re looking at getting an induction disk and an All American for this summer, but haven’t done it yet.
Related Pages
The Camp Chef Stove is reviewed for use as an outdoor canning stove. Try it as an alternative to your smooth top range.
Have a Glass Top Stove Instead? Is canning on it safe or not? What should you know before trying it? Can you use a pressure canner on a glass top? What about a water bath canner? Get informed at SimplyCanning.com
Understand the Canning Equipment you must get and which equipment is unnecessary.
I couldn’t be happier with the use of an induction burner and my Presto compatible canner. I find I achieve pressure and maintain it better than on regular stove top. I have confidence in my new method of pressure canning and have pressure canned exclusively this way for 2 years now. (I was one of the first customers of the compatible canner) And I use the Nu-Wave portable burner.
I have an induction stove and was looking for a pressure canner that I would be able to use. I purchased the 23 quart induction Presto canner and it’s been the best experience thus far. This is my second season pressure canning and it has done an amazing job. Be sure to check you appliance manual regarding weight limit.
My GE induction stove has a 50 lb. weight limit. I can not do double stacking on my stove, but that’s okay. I never can that much at one time. Thanks Presto.
Thank you. Great to hear from personal experience. 🙂
Many folks are speaking negatively about induction canning. Some saying impossible. Not true. The NuWave single induction burner can take a 23 qt canner (according to NuWave and my personal experience). I use s 23 Qt Induction ready Presto canner, not a problem. I hit Max Sear (maximum energy output) until the pressure closes in on 10 lbs. Then I can enter a numeric value and it holds at 11 lbs (the correct pressure for canning according to the fellow with a Master’s degree at the county extension office). I set the time for desired processing duration and that’s it.… Read more »
I’ve been eyeing the Presto 23 induction canner since it first came out and I finally bought one! I’m so looking forward to canning outside… perhaps even in the basement! Just in case anyone is wondering, Nuwave says the weight limit is 50 lbs, so pressure canning will work just fine. I would weigh things carefully before using it as a water bath canner, however.