Presto Vs All American: Best Pressure Cooker for Mushroom Farming

This video compares the two most common pressure cookers in mushroom farming - the 23 qt Presto and the 21.5 qt All American! Enjoy and MUSHLOVE

🔬🧪🧫 on 1 Mushroom EXPERIENCE:

@freshfromthefarmfungi

[Robebabu]

My thoughts: First, you forgot to vent. The rockers should be put on 10-15 minutes after steam begins to escape, not right when the heat is turned on. Second, the volume of the AA is smaller, and this could account for the faster time to reach pressure. Third, you did not measure the total cook time, including cool-down. That would have been the most important thing to know, as most people report that AA's take much longer to depressurize compared to Presto's. Perhaps this is because they are much heavier aluminum (not steel). And, as someone already mentioned...never take a screwdriver to your pressure cooker! Those things are expensive, and you don't want to risk damaging one. And when talking about saving time and money, I would suggest switching to gas. A hotplate is just another expense, whereas most people already have a stove. Gas is a lot less expensive than electricity, and you will be able to cycle your PC faster, as it won't take an hour and a half just to reach pressure. I use gas, and my 23 quart Presto only takes 20-30 minutes to reach pressure. I would rather save time and money by buying a cheaper, more lightweight PC that cools down faster. If I buy three Presto's for the same amount of money as one AA, I've already tripled my productivity. Having to replace a seal once in a blue moon is a negligible expense for maintenance.

[CarverSean]

I've been using two all american sterilizers since 2010 love um! Btw theyr'e aluminum Gary not steel😮

[john-smith.]

Don't use a screwdriver on the AA, lube the metal seal with a very thin layer (on a paper towel) vegetable oil, or get some silicone grease even better, and apply with your finger. I've had my AA for over 30 years and never needed a screwdriver. I use silicone grease i have on hand as a home brewer, and only need to reapply after about 6 runs or more, as silicone grease is the bomb.

[shagdawg]

ive had the same 23 qt presto for like 14 years

[nextmycology]

I love my Presto's! For the price, they cannot be beat. I have 2 of them with the Cadco burners! I think I would go with the induction plates if I did it again.

[akashicrecord]

The difference in speed isn’t because of the difference in cookers, but rather your burners. Those burners are really weak compared to gas stoves. Same goes for induction cooktops. They take forever to get your PC up to pressure. My 23qt presto reaches 15psi from cold water in 22 minutes when I run them on a gas stove.

[JamesButler-odqm]

I have five all American 25x that I run on a 4 hour kettle timer takes an hour to get to temp pressure and I let the run for 2.5 hours .... I am in Texas and I've tried 90 minutes and I get 40% contam at that but at the higher run time I'm able to mitigate the issues in part my partner/ mentors are biochem and microbiology people and I am 1 year in putting together my first farm .... From tattoos to fungi

[RDensd]

You should have read the manual for the All American. That weight should never have been placed on the pipe until it had vented 10 minutes of steam. The lubricant should ALWAYS be applied to the lid and upper portion of the lid, so you don’t have to mar the finish with a screw driver. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[TomWilson-tf]

20 minuets longer could very well be due to a variations of the heat sources. Not comfortable with the run time conclusion without first level matching the BTU of each burner.

[mycologylids]

You're the man Gary. Awesome video!

[MrJackson]

The ONLY reason to buy the AA, is to buy an American built product, otherwise save yourself some cash and get the presto...

[giovannipascal]

Which cado burner do you use, because my current burner is too weak

[KotoBish]

0:55 you state the All American has nice grade steel. Isn't it Aluminium?

[MrJackson]

If you keep the presto gasket oiled it doesn't need replaced, ive had mine for over 6 years, and still using the same ole gasket, still in pristine shape. Nice video.

[themyceliumnetwork]

why don't you cover your bags in the PC with a trivet?
that is not a recommended habit.

[LarsLarsen]

You should use a pressure STERILIZER not a pressure cooker.

[JohnnyHarness-et]

I don't seal my grain bags when pressure cooking I just fold them and then fold another 1 inch cold they seal perfectly. It's crazy to watch other mycologist and seeing how we all get the job done but in different ways.

[zeratul]

hey man thanks for sharing this amazign video, I want to give back something to you, so I recommend you to look for this video in youtube "How to Run An All American Pressure Cooker for Mushroom Cultivation" by "mushroom revival" it's a sweet and very knowledgeable lady explaining in depth how to properly use the AA pressure cookers, I found specially helpful the part about closing the lid in balanced way, Its hard to explain because english is not my first language, but basically you put your lid on the cooker but don't tight all the way the locks, you do it in pairs preferably and trying to do it only 2 o 3 full twist per lock in order to make the lid fall in position all over the cover, so you wont have one side full settle while the diagonally opposed side is way up and you can't fix it... Its like tightening the nuts of a car's wheel. Also be careful using metal tools on the AA because the metal on metal seal its very precise and any deformation would probably be a headache :D

[donmandotron]

I noticed you sealed your bags before cooking them. I have heard this can damage the air vent unless it's a 5 um filter which most people don't use for grain. What are your thoughts on that?

[youngdutchmaster]

Love the content but just a tip your supposed to allow the PC to vent for 10 minutes before placing the weight on top that way your are sterilizing with steam and not just compressed air