Presto 23-Quart Digital Pressure Canner (02153): Largest Plug-In Option

Our pick if you want plug-inAd

Presto Precise

Presto Precise 23-Quart (02153)

The biggest plug-in canner made just for canning that we cover: seven quart jars, in both methods.

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Type

Canning-only electric with temperature sensor; aluminum body and cover

Pressure canning

Yes, per Presto

Water bath

Yes, quarts and smaller, per Presto

Liquid capacity

23 quarts

Jars per load

7 quarts, or 20 regular-mouth pints stacked

Altitude

Per Presto, the sensor holds temperature at any elevation when pressure canning. Water bath times still change with altitude.

Power

1,100 W

Price class

Premium

Stated in: Presto Precise Facts and FAQ (2025), read 2 November 2026

Why here: The largest plug-in canner made just for canning in our data, and it takes quart jars in both methods, per Presto.

Best for: You want a plug-in machine with the biggest jar count, and you have weighed the open questions.

• Seven quart jars in pressure and water bath, says Presto
• Up to 20 regular-mouth pints stacked in two layers when pressure canning, says Presto
• Letting out air and holding the heat are automatic, says Presto

• Presto has not published its own testing, and nobody outside the company has published test results
• Hybrid style new in 2025, so newer than most expert advice
• Canning only, not a cooker, says Presto
• Premium price class

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If a plug-in canner appeals to you, it helps to know exactly what this size gives you. Here it is, with the open questions alongside.

Is the 23-quart right for me?

What are the specs?

How many jars fit?

Stacked counts need two layers. Presto says not to stack jars in water bath canning. Presto says its 12-quart and 17-quart digital canners hold 5 quart jars and its 16-quart and 23-quart hold 7. Our electric canner sizes page lays out every model. Compare the 16-quart digital if quarts are all you pressure can.

What is it like to use?

• Where it goes. The manual calls for a dry, level surface that can carry the full weight, away from edges. It asks you to put a heat-resistant board under it, and to keep the vent pipe out from under your cabinets. It is for countertop use only.
• Power. It plugs into a 120-volt outlet. The manual allows an extension cord only under set conditions, so read that part first.
• The steps. The display shows each phase: warming, heating, venting, canning, cool down, done. Per Presto, it prompts you to insert jars, fill jars and put the regulator on. Our page on using an electric pressure canner goes through these phases.
• Cleaning. With no removable pot, you empty the body into the sink with the panel facing up, then wipe it out. Never put the body in water, per Presto.
• Parts. The manual says to replace the sealing ring and overpressure plug at least every 3 years. Replace them right away if they harden, crack or wear.
• Canning only. The manual says not to use it for cooking or preparing foods.

We don't summarize buyer reviews, so this section rests on Presto's documents.

What does Presto claim, and what do others say?

Presto says the sensor starts the canning phase only at 240°F and holds it. It says no altitude adjustment is needed when pressure canning, and that the machine went through extensive testing. Its materials say it follows USDA guidelines and carry a small round badge. The badge is Presto's own, says Kansas State. The USDA doesn't approve any canner. Presto's own footnote says neither the USDA nor the National Center for Home Food Preservation approves home canning equipment.

Nobody outside the company has published test results on Presto Precise canners. Kansas State and Penn State say Presto's research can't be checked. Oregon State and the National Center are reported to be working on it, in one answer from the Ask Extension service. That is one expert's reply, not a school's position. This hybrid style is also newer than most university statements. North Dakota State treats the Presto Precise as a usable option when used by its instructions. The range of views is on are electric pressure canners safe.

A sensor in the canner doesn't measure inside your jars, and Presto has not published its jar data.

Which recipes can I use? The sources disagree

Presto says tested recipes for stovetop canners work. Kansas State and Penn State say to follow only the manual. Kansas State's reason is that the manual leaves out at least two special USDA instructions. Its note is older than this model. North Dakota State says to use tested recipes from the National Center or your state's university extension office (free local food-safety advice). This model's own manual names the National Center, your local Cooperative Extension Service and the booklet itself as reliable resources.

We report these and don't settle them. Read your current manual and ask Presto. See where tested recipes live for the sources.

What are the alternatives?

• On the stove: the Presto 01781^* (paid link) has the same jar chart, per Presto, and costs less. You watch the dial yourself. The Presto 23-quart stovetop page has the detail. The electric vs. stovetop comparison weighs the trade.
• Same family: all four Presto Precise sizes are compared on the brand page.
• The wider field: our comparison of electric canners explains how we sort them.

If you decide this is the one, take your time with the manual first. Read it before the first jar goes in.