News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
As Spring brings in canning season across the region, Dekalb County encourages food safety by testing pressure canners.
April Martin with the UT Extension Office at Dekalb County said individuals should check the dial gauges at least once a year.
“If it is reading incorrectly then the food in the jar is not being heated to the right temperature for the right amount of time,” Martin said. “So that the enzymes, microbes and other bacteria can be killed in the canning process, and so it’s really a food safety question, we want to keep people safe.”
Martin said dial gauges lose accuracy with age.
“You can either take apart the dial gauge on the canner lid. You can do that or come in with the entire lid,” Martin said. “I know a lot of times when people come to me, I end up having to take the dial gauge off. Then we have a tester we put it on, just to test the pressure inside of that.”
Martin said a two-pound difference in the gauges can damage the canned goods.
“So if it says to process it for twenty minutes at ten pounds per square inch, then they may need to let the dial go up to another higher number. Like if it is two pounds off, it would need to go up to twelve. If it is more than two pounds, probably it would be best to just go ahead and replace it.”
Dekalb County UT Agriculture Extension is one of several counties offering canner gauge testing, including Jackson County.
