Presto 23 Quart Induction Pressure Canner
Low-medium risk. Stainless and aluminum pressure canner with no nonstick coating. Buy with confidence.
This traditional stainless steel and aluminum pressure canner has no nonstick or Teflon-family coating, making it lower-concern for PFAS exposure. Presto doesn't disclose PFAS information, but the metal construction doesn't typically require PFAS treatments.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Stainless steel and aluminum construction
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Aluminum leaching in acidic foods
Aluminum base and possible internal surfaces can migrate small amounts into high-acid canning batches (tomato, citrus, vinegar). This is a known property of aluminum, not a flaw unique to Presto, and is managed by food type selection per canning guidelines.
Rubber seal degradation and odor release
User reports indicate that gaskets (silicone or rubber) can harden, crack, or emit rubbery smells after 5-10 years of use. Replacement gaskets are inexpensive and widely available; degradation is mechanical wear, not chemical off-gassing of hazardous compounds.
Pressure-release mechanism integrity
Blockage or wear of the vent pipe or overpressure plug can occur over time if mineral deposits or food residue accumulate. This is a function safety issue rather than a chemical hazard, but proper maintenance (descaling, rinsing vents) is essential to avoid pressure buildup.
What’s reassuring
Bare uncoated material
Recorded as a bare, uncoated material with no surface coating or treatment.
Lead
Stainless steel and bare aluminum construction carries no glazes, enamels, or decorative ceramic coatings where lead or cadmium could be present. No recalls or test results indicate coating contaminants.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Metal pressure canners do not emit VOCs. Any initial metallic or oil odor (from manufacturing) dissipates after a few rinses and is not a health hazard.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Presto 23 Quart uses stainless steel for the main cooking vessel and aluminum for the base and heating surface. Stainless steel is chemically stable under normal cooking conditions and does not leach metals at typical pressure-cooking temperatures (below 250°F). Aluminum can leach in acidic conditions, but pressure canners are predominantly used for low-acid foods (vegetables, meats, broths) where migration is minimal; the aluminum base also does not contact food directly in most designs.
The brand's record and disclosure
Presto has not publicly disclosed detailed material testing or PFAS avoidance statements, which is typical for the pressure cooker segment where nonstick coatings are uncommon. No major product recalls related to material leaching or contamination have been established for Presto pressure canners in public databases. The brand focuses on safety testing around pressure-release mechanisms and structural integrity rather than coating or chemical safety, reflecting industry norms for this category.
How it compares in its category
Presto dominates the affordable pressure canner market and this model is representative of standard stainless-and-aluminum designs used by most home canners. Most competing pressure canners (All American, Ball, others) use identical or very similar material construction. This product does not use nonstick coatings, placing it ahead of any hypothetical nonstick pressure cookware in terms of chemical safety, though true nonstick pressure canners are rare in the market.
If you buy it
Avoid prolonged boiling of highly acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegar solutions) to minimize aluminum contact; the product manual specifies compatible recipes for this reason. Inspect the sealing ring and pressure valve annually and replace if worn or discolored, as degraded rubber can emit odors (generally low toxicity but undesirable). Hand-wash rather than dishwasher to extend seal lifespan. The stainless steel body will not degrade; concern is mechanical wear of pressure-release components, not material leaching.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Presto has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More pressure cookers grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.