Gear guide
Best pressure cookers for sterilizing sawdust blocks at home
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Supplemented sawdust blocks (hardwood sawdust with bran or soy hulls) are sterilized at 15 psi, commonly for 2.5 hours, so the cooker has to hold that pressure and be roomy enough for filled bags. Straw for oysters is only pasteurized and needs no pressure cooker. What differs between the stovetop canners here is capacity in quarts, the operating pressure the listing actually states, the stoves the base works on, and the body material. Some listings name 15 psi outright, one states 14.5 psi, and several give no figure at all: those are marked "not stated", and you should confirm 15 psi in the maker's manual before buying one for substrate. Electric multi-cookers usually run below 15 psi and digital canners do not state a figure, so none are listed. No listing here gives inner height or diameter, so bag fit has to be checked against the maker's own measurements. Nothing was tested: the comparison uses only what each listing states. Follow the maker's manual for safe operation.
Compare the picks
| Pick | Capacity | Stated pressure | Stoves | Body | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kitchen Affections 24 qt canner kit, 10 and 15 psi | 24 qt | 10 and 15 psi weights | Induction, gas, electric | Aluminum | - | Amazon |
 Mirro 22 qt aluminum canner, 5/10/15 psi regulators | 22 qt | 5, 10 and 15 psi | not stated | Aluminum | - | Amazon |
 Presto 01781 23 qt aluminum canner with dial gauge | 23 qt | not stated | Regular and smooth-top | Heavy-gauge aluminum | - | Amazon |
 T-fal 22 qt aluminum canner, 3 pressure settings | 22 qt | 3 settings, psi not given | Gas and electric coil | Aluminum | - | Amazon |
 All American 915 pressure canner, 15.5 qt | 15.5 qt | not stated | Gas, electric, flat top | not stated | - | Amazon |
 Zalborg 23 qt stainless steel canner with gauge | 23 qt | not stated | Induction, gas, electric | 304 stainless steel | - | Amazon |
 timiland 24 qt aluminum canner, 14.5 psi regulator | 24 qt | 14.5 psi regulator | Gas, electric, induction | Aluminum | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
If you just want one
- Closest match for the jobKitchen Affections 24 qt canner kit, 10 and 15 psiShips with 10 and 15 psi weighted regulators plus a 0 to 20 psi dial gauge for monitoring pressure.
- Most for the money on paperMirro 22 qt aluminum canner, 5/10/15 psi regulatorsThree pressure regulators are included, and the listing names the settings: 5, 10 and 15 psi.
- Most complete listingtimiland 24 qt aluminum canner, 14.5 psi regulatorThe listing states the regulator figure, 14.5 psi, instead of leaving the pressure unstated.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · Kitchen Affections
Kitchen Affections 24 qt canner kit, 10 and 15 psi
See price on AmazonA 24 quart aluminum canner sold with 10 and 15 psi weighted regulators and a 0 to 20 psi dial gauge. The base is induction-ready and also listed for gas, electric coil and smooth-top ranges.
What the listing offers
- Ships with 10 and 15 psi weighted regulators plus a 0 to 20 psi dial gauge for monitoring pressure.
- Induction-ready base that the listing says also works on gas, electric coil and smooth-top ranges.
- Three safety features are described: a float interlock, a spring safety valve and a gasket release window.
Limits to know
- Six of the nine pieces are jar-canning tools that are of no use for substrate bags.
- Capacity is given as seven quart jars in a single layer; inner dimensions for judging bag fit are not stated.
Pick 2 · Mirro
Mirro 22 qt aluminum canner, 5/10/15 psi regulators
See price on AmazonA 22 quart aluminum canner with three pressure regulators for 5, 10 and 15 psi, so the listing itself names the 15 psi that supplemented sawdust recipes call for. Stove compatibility is not stated.
What the listing offers
- Three pressure regulators are included, and the listing names the settings: 5, 10 and 15 psi.
- 22 quart capacity, with two racks included to make use of the height.
- Aluminum body with dual cool-touch side handles, a secure locking mechanism and a steam release valve.
Limits to know
- The listing does not say which stove types it works on, so induction owners should check before buying.
- Inner height and diameter are not given, so bag fit cannot be judged from the listing.
Pick 3 · Presto
Presto 01781 23 qt aluminum canner with dial gauge
See price on AmazonThe 23 quart Presto in warp-resistant heavy-gauge aluminum with a dial gauge. The listing gives no psi figure, so pressure is not stated: confirm the operating pressure in the manual before buying it for substrate.
What the listing offers
- Dial gauge that the listing says registers the complete range of processing pressures.
- Works on regular and smooth-top ranges and carries an extended 12-year limited warranty.
- Includes a canning and cooking rack and a 76-page instruction and recipe book.
Limits to know
- No operating pressure in psi appears in the listing, so 15 psi is not confirmed there.
- Induction is not mentioned: only regular and smooth-top ranges are listed.
Pick 4 · T-Fal
T-fal 22 qt aluminum canner, 3 pressure settings
See price on AmazonA 22 quart aluminum canner whose title promises 3 psi settings without saying what they are. It comes with two racks and a gauge, and is listed for gas and electric coil cooktops only.
What the listing offers
- The title states 3 psi settings, and the bullets describe a gauge and a steam release valve.
- Two canning racks are included, and the 22 quart pot holds 7 quart jars or 18 pint jars per batch.
- Secure locking lid and sturdy handles, backed by a one-year warranty.
Limits to know
- The three pressure settings are not given as figures, so the listing does not confirm 15 psi.
- Listed only for gas and electric coil cooktops: smooth-top and induction are not mentioned.
Pick 5 · All American
All American 915 pressure canner, 15.5 qt
See price on AmazonA 15.5 quart canner with a gasket-free metal-to-metal seal held by clamping locks, a steam gauge and a machined regulator weight. It is the smallest pot here, and the listing gives no psi figure: pressure not stated.
What the listing offers
- Metal-to-metal sealing system with clamping locks, so there is no gasket to replace.
- Steam gauge plus a precision machined regulator weight for pressure control.
- Listed for gas, electric and flat top stoves, and made in the USA according to the title.
Limits to know
- 15.5 quarts is the smallest capacity in this guide, which limits how much fits in one run.
- No psi figure, inner dimensions or body material are stated in the listing.
Pick 6 · Zalborg
Zalborg 23 qt stainless steel canner with gauge
See price on AmazonA 23 quart canner in 304 stainless steel, the only non-aluminum body in this guide, with an induction-ready base and a pressure gauge. The listing gives no psi figure: pressure not stated.
What the listing offers
- Body is 304 stainless steel rather than the aluminum used by the other canners in this guide.
- Induction-ready base, also listed for gas stoves, electric ranges and smooth-top surfaces.
- Comes with a pressure gauge, a cooking rack and an instruction and recipe guide.
Limits to know
- No operating pressure in psi is stated, so the listing does not confirm 15 psi.
- A little-known brand, and the listing gives no inner height or diameter for judging bag fit.
Pick 7 · timiland
timiland 24 qt aluminum canner, 14.5 psi regulator
See price on AmazonA 24 quart aluminum canner with a gauge and a regulator the listing rates at 14.5 psi, just under the 15 psi that sawdust recipes specify. It is sold with a 9-piece jar-canning tool kit.
What the listing offers
- The listing states the regulator figure, 14.5 psi, instead of leaving the pressure unstated.
- Flat induction-compatible base, listed for gas, electric and induction cooktops.
- 24 quart capacity, the largest in this guide together with the Kitchen Affections kit.
Limits to know
- The stated 14.5 psi regulator is slightly under the 15 psi named in substrate recipes.
- Little-known brand, and the included jar-canning tools are of no use for substrate bags.
Read before you buy
- How to sterilize mushroom substrate for sawdust blocksSterilize sawdust blocks for oyster, shiitake and lion's mane at 15 psi: 2.5 hours for a 5 lb bag, then about 8 hours of cooling. Times by bag size and steps.
- How to grow king oyster mushrooms, and how they differ from other oystersGrow king oyster on a supplemented sawdust block: fruit it from the top at 50 to 65 F and harvest 10 to 20 days after setup. Steps and a comparison table.
- Green, blue or black mold on a mushroom kit or block: what it is and what to doGreen, blue, black or orange mold on an oyster, shiitake or lion's mane kit: how to tell it from healthy mycelium, and why the block is discarded.
- Best substrate for each mushroom species, in one chartSubstrate chart for oyster, shiitake, lion's mane, king oyster and chestnut mushrooms: the best material for 8 species and the heat treatment each needs.
More gear for the prepare the substrate stage
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