The Presto Pressure Canners require a rubber gasket (aka sealing ring) to go inside their lids. It will need replacing from time to time.
The lifespan of a gasket and plug depends upon the amount of pressure canning you do.
Presto says,
“Replace the sealing ring every two to three years or when the canner is not able
to build or maintain pressure. It should also be replaced immediately if the ring has
shrunk, become hard, deformed, cracked, worn or pitted.” [1]Pressure canner care and maintenance. Advice PDF. National Presto Industries. 2014. ADW03-5156D
For Presto models….
- 01745 (16 quart, weight only)
- 01751 (18 quart dial gauge)
- 01755 (16 quart, dial gauge)
- 01781 (23 quart dial gauge)
- 01784 (23 quart dial gauge induction-compatible)
… you want Presto part number 09985. It is very inexpensive.
That part number gets you a box that has in it both the replacement sealing ring (aka gasket) and the overpressure plug come together in a package. Presto wants you to replace both at the same time.
“Replace the overpressure plug every time the sealing ring is replaced”[2]Pressure canner care and maintenance. Ibid.
Many users suggest to plan proactively to replace both the gasket and plug at the same time every year or two, so that you don’t get a sealing ring failure right in the middle of a big canning session.
The box comes with both the sealing ring and the small overpressure plug. Presto wants you to replace both at the same time.
If you store extra rings, how long they are good for in storage depends, frankly, on who you speak with at Presto. Some reps will say two years; some will say they are good in storage for up to 5 years after the date of manufacture (but you will have no idea of what that manufacture date was.) Some reps will say “don’t store them at all” because some people would store spares for ten years and then be cross when the spares were no good. If you keep a spare in storage, date when you purchased it.
If you live in isolated areas, or do a great deal of canning, you will probably want to keep a spare ring on hand, anyway. Even if the replacement does go bad because you had it in storage so long, the cost of it is so low that it could just be worth the cost as “insurance” just in case.
We always keep a spare one on hand, dated.
The Presto gaskets are now made of a synthetic rubber and don’t need oiling.
These are inexpensive, and should cost you no more than around 10 to 15 bucks in North America.
Further reading
Just Plain Marie Facebook post. 20 April 2015.
Page updates
This page was last reviewed spring 2019.
Presto Pressure Canner Topics
Presto Pressure Canner 3-piece Regulator Weight
Presto Pressure Canner Accessories
Mar
I have a new silicone gasket for 20 qt old model. I see there’s an open hole like place on lid gasket area. Does the gasket cover hole, or one of grooves in the gasket leave it open??
Steve Edgar
Hi I ordered a Presto replacement ring for my older model 40. The chart said I needed a 9901 . However it is much too large. Its over 10 1/2 inches and I need 8 3/4 . I can’t find a chart that gives me the correct size for me. If you could direct me to a chart or tell me the part number I sure would be happy and thankful. I had waited 4 weeks for what I got today and will now have to return it. Thanks if you can help. Steve
Healthy Canning
Hi Steve, contact Presto directly and ask them. You can contact them by phone or email: https://www.gopresto.com/information/feedback.php
They have excellent in-person customer service.
Donald R Leonard Jr
I am planning to buy a Presto 01755-10 16 qt. Pressure Canner, but I can NOT tolerate old-tech sealing rings that go brittle and require replacement every 1-2 years, and can’t be stored! My other two smaller 6 & 8 qt. Pressure Cookers used for meal preparation BOTH use Food Grade silicone rubber seals that have NEVER required replacement in over a decade, even though I do have a spare replacement for each. So, I will NOT be ordering spare Presto seals for the 16 qt. canner.
I do plan to order 1-2 spare silicone Rubber seals from after-market suppliers, but no one has published the needed outside/inside cm dimensions to get the correctly sized seal. Can you get me this information? It will help other users if you publish this dimension here in this segment. Thank you for any help you can provide. Your time and effort are appreciated.
Healthy Canning
Sorry Donald, just found this trapped in the WordPress spam filter.
The box the gasket comes in doesn’t give any measurements, so I measured it myself for you.
The outside diameter is 34 cm (from outside edge to outside edge), the inside is 31.5 cm (from inside edge to inside edge.)
Your new canner will arrive with a gasket already, so you’ll be able to verify those numbers when it arrives.