Mirro makes two models of pressure canners: a 16 qt and a 22 qt. Both of these models are weighted-gauge canners, with no dials on top of the machines. It’s unclear where these are made.
Who is Mirro
The Mirro company started with the merger of three aluminum companies in 1909; the merged company named itself the “Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company.” [1]”New Company to Embrace Three”. Manitowoc Daily Herald. March 8, 1909. p. 1. In 1917, the company introduced the Mirro line of goods. [2]James M. Rock. “A Growth Industry: The Wisconsin Aluminum Cookware Industry, 1893-1920”. Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 55, no. 2 (Winter, 1971-1972): 86-99. By 1957, the company had become so synonymous with these goods that it renamed itself the “Mirro Aluminum Company”. [3]”Would Change Goods’ Official Name to Mirro”. Two Rivers Reporter. March 20, 1957. p. 2. Mirro was located at 1512 Washington Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
In 1983, Mirro was acquired by The Newell Companies (who also owned Ball, Bernardin and Kerr).
In 2004, a company named Global Home Products purchased Mirro, along with Regal and Wear-Ever brands (founded 1888), and combined them into The WearEver Company. [4]Description to photo of Juicer. Museums of Mississauga, Canada. Identifier: 2005.6.11, Item 1932. Accessed March 2020 at http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/historicimagesgallery
In 2006, Groupe SEB from France bought the “Mirro Wearever” company in a bankruptcy sale. The Mirro line of goods became its entry-level cookware, joining T-Fal (mid-range) and All-Clad and Krups (upper end).
Production of Mirro was moved out of the country in 2001. Its admin offices were moved out of Manitowoc, Wisconsin at the same time. In 2015, the entire former plant was razed to the ground. [5]”History comes tumbling down”. Gannett. htrnews. December 30, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from https://www.htrnews.com/story/home/2014/12/30/history-comes-tumbling/21078275/.
Site of former Mirro plant, 1512 Washington St, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
At time of writing (spring 2020), Mirro is still part of Groupe SEB. We do not know where the manufacturing is done, nor where the customer service is handled from.
Nor is it known when the last time was that the company invested any resources in pressure canning research.
Confusion about Mirro’s previous pressure pot devices
Mirro has changed hands many times in the past few decades. No doubt, there has been loss of in-house expertise and experience, including in its pressure canning line, and without the people to maintain them, the documentation has fallen far behind. This may account for some of the confusion you will encounter about Mirro pressure canners.
As of 2020, Mirro sells what it calls “pressure cookers” in four sizes: 8 quarts, 9 quarts, 16 quarts and 22 quarts (US quarts.) [Other cookware is also made under the Mirro name.]
The “current” (as of 2020) Mirro pressure cooker / canner manual is undated; it appears to be from the early 2000s. The manual was written for their 8, 12 and 22 quarts (US) pressure cooker / canner models. Since at least 2017 the choices have changed: the sizes they now offer in pressure cookers are 8, 9, 16 and 22 quarts (US.)
On page 4 of that undated manual, they appear to identify the 8 quart, 12 quart and 22 quart models as pressure canners. “Cooking rack…to place jars off the bottom of the 8, 12 and 22 Qt. (US) canners.” On page 34 of the same manual, they write: “CAUTION: Pressure can only in models with selective control (5, 10, 15 lbs.) only. Do not try to can in single-control model.” It may be that at the time of writing their 8 quart came with a selective control; now (2020), it does not – only a single 10 lb pressure choice.
The fact is, their manual certainly did seem to refer to their 8 and 12 quart models as pressure canners (see chart below under “Manual”.) The 8 quart would not hold any quart jars; the 12 quart model would hold 7.
The USDA pressure canning recommendations only support pressure canners large enough to hold 4 x 1 US quart (1 litre) jars at once. [6]The reason for this is that warm-up and cool-down times in the canner are counted as part of processing time; a smaller canner would heat up too fast, and cool down too fast. So even if the person who wrote the manual for Mirro classed the old 8 quart as a pressure canner, the USDA never would. And whoever wrote the manual for Mirro is probably long gone after all the company buyouts and no longer around to accept responsibility for that.
This means that of the older pressure “pots” referred to in that manual, the 8 quart does not qualify as acceptable for pressure canning; the 12 quart would.
And it means from their currently-sold range (dating from at least 2017, current as of 2020) that the 16 quart and 22 quart models are the ones that are acceptable pots to do pressure canning in.
Mirro’s 16 quart and 22 quart pressure canners
As of 2020, Mirro makes two models of pressure canners: a 16 qt and a 22 qt. Both of these models are weighted-gauge canners, with no dials on top of the machines. Each comes with three separate weights: 5, 10 and 15 lbs.
Please note that as of 2020, to the best of our knowledge, Mirro still does NOT recommend either model for use on glass-topped stoves. “Mirro pressure cooker/canners are not designed to be used on a flat top (glass or ceramic) range because they have concave bottoms. On a flat top range, a large area of the bottom will be out of contact with the heat source, preventing the transfer of heat and the buildup of pressure.” [7]Swanson, Marilyn A. Using and caring for your pressure canner. Pacific Northwest Extension: University of Idaho · Oregon State University · Washington State University, 2013. PNW421. Page 9.
1. 16 US quart (model 92116): Can hold 7 x 1 litre (1 US quart) jars
2. A taller 22 US quart canner (model 92122.): Can hold 7 x 1 litre (1 US quart) jars or 2 layers of 8 x ½ litre (US pint) jars, for a total of 16 x ½ litre (US pint) jars at one time. Comes with a stacking rack included in the cost.
Mirro pressure canner manual
See the separate page for the Mirro pressure canner manual.
Note that the manual is very dated. Consult the manual for canner operation only of OLDER manuals. For newer models, the issue is that the canners were updated, but the documentation on how they were was not. We cover that on the page about the manual (link right above.)
For actual processing, disregard any directions in the Mirro manual and follow USDA guidelines instead.
Please note that regardless of the smaller pressure canner sizes referred to in the old manual, from their currently sold product line up only the 16 quart and 22 quart are acceptable choices because they will hold the minimum 4 x 1 US quart (1 litre) jars.
Note: in this chart in the old manual, it is indicated that the 12 quart (no longer made) would hold 7 quarts. If so, this would appear to meet the USDA minimum requirement of 4 x 1 quart jar capacity.
See the separate page for the Mirro pressure canner manual.
References
Sherrill
I have a 12 qt and a 22 qt, both Mirro pressure canners. Both have good gaskets, one is brand new.
No damage to either canner.
They both drip water onto my stove during cooking/processing.
How to I stop this water leaking?
VA
How do you use the weight? There are 2 “clicks” when you pop it on… the first one, the weight swivels around and is sort of on an angle… the 2nd click, it’s locked down and hardly moves at all… which one is correct???????????
Verna
I got a mirro pressure canner model #92122 22quart from a friend. All the parts are with it and the gasket looks good . She is going to teach me how to use it. My question is can I use it on a glass top stove? My regular canner is stainless steel and has a flat bottom. This pressure canner does not have a flat bottom . I hope I hear back from you before I use it . Thank you.
Connie Minix
I have the old mirrormatic 16 qt pressure canner that I still use. It Don’t won’t to giggle after being on the burner for awhile. What do I need to check why the pressure won’t giggle.
Thank you.
Krissie
My mother has my great grandmother’s Mirro Matic 16qt canner that’s 60+ yrs old.. she has always used everything that came with it (except of course changing gaskets when needed of course it’s getting hard to find them)..
Sydney
Where have you been able to find gaskets? I wandered onto this page trying to find one!!
Steve
You can clearly see in the screen capture of the manual where it lists the 8, 12 and 22 QT Canners on the very right of the image where it lists the Jar Capacity for the 8 Quart Canner, under Quarts it does not have a number, just a “-” meaning you can’t pressure can Quarts in the 8 Quart canner but it is suitable for Canning pints and half pints.
So, the person that wrote the book is well and good out of liability for anyone attempting to can Quarts in the 8 Quart Canner.
Deniece A Sikes
I bought a 92122 model Mirror canner a few months ago. This week I decided to use for the first time. I. Couldn’t ever get it to work properly. It never did build up pressure. It leaked steam around the Handle that has the pop off valve on it. How can I return it?
Kenneth Erlenbusch
I recently purchased your 22 qt. Mirro Pressure Canner. yesterday we used it for the first time and was less than impressed with the performance. It took 40 minutes to build up to pressure for the medium sized jiggler to begin dancing. I am using a GE Profile flat-top range to heat the canner. This morning I noticed that the bottom is not flat like on our previous Mirro Pressure Canner. This canner bottom is slightly domed. I see nowhere in the operator booklet that mentions anything regarding the type of range/burner to use with this canner.
Any help you can provide to me will be greatly appreciated.
Ken
Robyn
Can I buy a new weight pressure valve for a 13 yr old Mirro 22 qt. Can a newer version of the weights be used? Or do I have to source the exact same one? I’m at 1100 altitude and only have 10psi on this Mirro
Jodi W
Is it possible to buy a replacement gasket for the mirro matic 16qt model 0406??
I have looked on the internet to the best of my ability but not having any luck.
Thank you
ann
I have tried all this year to find what gasket to purchase for my
16 quart and 22quart mirromatic pressure canners.
Could not find the right ones. Did order several replacement ones
that do not work. I would appreciate help in getting the correct ones.
thank you
Krissie
My ggmaw’s is 60+ yrs old & it takes a 0406
Janice Stanley
I have a Mirro eight quart pressure cooker. I need a 10 psi pressure control.
Donna Richey
Trying to find a gasket for my old mirro pressure canner. There is no model no on the bottom. Just 7 and below it 89 UL listed 284H Manitowoo ?Wi 54220 I think its an 6 or 8 qt canner, Please help me find a gasket I measure it inside of the like its 13 1/2 and outside of the lid is 13 7/8.
Healthy Canning
Check with Laura over at https://www.hipressurecooking.com, she might have an idea.
josu
I’m looking for the same item, do you have any lock….main measure is 9 3/4 Inside and 10 3/4 out side sounds like 6 quarter’s 284H….thanks
Margaret Amoroso
I purchased a Mirro 16 quart pressure canner. There are 3 weights included. The instruction manual states that pressure canning should only be done using the 15 pound weight. I live in an area with far less than 1000 foot altitude. Can you please advise?
Steve
Follow the USDA guidelines. https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html
I believe the OP mentioned that in the article.
Robert Lavinscas
I would like to have a copy of the Mirror cook book .
I have used it since 50 years and its great .
The gasket is in great shape as we took care of it.
Today I am cooking a 5 LB shoulder Pork .
348 Sauriol St.Eustache Quebec Canada J7P5J1
My pot is an 8 QT barely visible also punched on bottom 8.72
Healthy Canning
Please check with Laura over at https://www.hippressurecooking.com/
Becky Lamphere
I am being told the 12qt Mirro canner is no longer safe to use as a canner. Can someone explain why not.
Steve
I would question validity of the source of the information. It’s probably just someone messing with you or trying to generate sales.
Shannon dietlein
I have just bought the 16 quart canner. It says to use the 15 lb weight only for corn and green beans, but all recipes say use the 10 pound weight. Which do I use?
Healthy Canning
Follow USDA directions for using the weights.
Debbie
Disregard that post, the first link did take me to Mirro, the last one to Presto. Thanks