What Altitude Adjustment Do I Need for Canning?
Quick Answer
At higher elevations, water boils at a lower temperature, so canning requires longer processing times, while pressure canning requires higher pressure. First, find your elevation. Then, use the recommended processing time or pressure in your tested canning recipe for your jar size and elevation.
Why Does Elevation Affect Canning?
Water boils at a lower temperature as elevation rises. At higher elevations, food may not receive enough heat treatment if you use sea-level canning processing times.
Pressure canning also requires an altitude adjustment to ensure the canner is reaching the correct processing temperature. The amount of pressure needed depends on your elevation and is important to consider if you are using a dial gauge or a weighted gauge pressure canner.
In Utah, elevation ranges from about 2,700 feet to nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. Check the elevation of the city where you will be canning, not just the county name.
How Do I Adjust Canning Time for Utah’s Altitude?
If you are canning using a boiling-water canner, you will need to adjust your processing time based on your elevation. First, look up the elevation of the city where you plan to can. Then check whether your canning recipe includes an elevation chart. Use the listed time for your elevation.
If the tested canning recipe you are using does not include an elevation chart, the processing time is for 0-1,000 feet. You will need to make the following adjustment based on general recommendations for adjusting processing time for elevation:
- 1,001-3,000 feet: add 5 minutes
- 3,001-6,000 feet: add 10 minutes
- 6,001-8,000 feet: add 15 minutes
- 8,001-10,000 feet: add 20 minutes
Do not add these minutes to a time that already accounts for elevation. Use the recipe's own chart when it provides one. Find your location’s elevation in USU's Utah Altitude Adjustments for Home Canning guide.
How Do I Adjust Pressure Canning for Utah’s Altitude?
If you are canning with a pressure canner, you will need to adjust the pressure based on your elevation. First, look up the elevation of the city where you plan to can. Then check whether your canning recipe includes an elevation chart that tells you how many pounds of pressure to use for your elevation and gauge type.
A dial gauge pressure canner can adjust the pressure in one-pound increments. For processes that specify 11 pounds on a dial gauge at 0-2,000 feet, the general settings are:
- 0-2,000 feet: 11 pounds
- 2,001-4,000 feet: 12 pounds
- 4,001-6,000 feet: 13 pounds
- 6,001-8,000 feet: 14 pounds
- 8,001-10,000 feet: 15 pounds
A weighted gauge pressure canner has five-, ten-, and fifteen-pound increment options. For processes that specify 10 pounds at a weighted gauge of 0-1,000 feet, use 15 pounds at elevations above 1,000 feet.
Some tested tomato processes use other pressure and time combinations. Follow the specific recipe's chart; do not mix settings from different processes.
References
- USU Extension — Utah Altitude Adjustments for Home Canning
- USU Extension — Principles of Pressure Canning
- USU Extension — Avoiding Common Canning Mistakes
- USU Extension — How to Preserve Tomatoes
- USU Extension — Canning Resources
Adapted from USU Extension food preservation resources.
Contact
Jenna Dyckman, USU Extension Associate Professor
Jenna Dyckman
Extension Associate Professor | Cache County Director
Home and Community Department