Extension offices in Princeton, Ottawa, Henry to offer free testing of pressure canner dial gauges

To ensure safety in the home canning process, pressure canner dial gauges should be tested once a year.

This canning season, University of Illinois Extension is offering free testing of dial gauge pressure canners at local Extension offices. Over time, the accuracy of a dial gauge can become inaccurate. If the pressure is lower than recommended, the internal temperature of the food will not be high enough to kill harmful bacteria.

Register at a local University of Illinois Extension office on a pressure canner testing day. Lids and gauges can be dropped off before the testing day, and the Extension will call for you to pick them up at your convenience when offices are open.

Testing days are:

• 1 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Bureau County Extension Office, 850 Thompson St., Princeton. Register at go.illinois.edu/bureaucanner.
• 1 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at La Salle County Extension Office, 1689 N. 31st Road, Suite 2, Ottawa. Register at go.illinois.edu/lasallecanner.
• 1 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Marshall-Putnam County Extension Office, 509 Front St., Suite 4, Henry. Register at go.illinois.edu/cannermp.

For information or to request an accommodation to participate, call Susan Glassman at 815-224-0894. Early requests are encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.