Altitude Time and Pressure Adjustment Tables
Water boils when its vapor pressure exceeds the atmospheric pressure, which reduces as the altitude
increases. Water will boil and maintain a lower temperature at higher altitudes than at sea level. These
lower boiling point temperatures increase the cooking times for any food, they increase the processing time
for canning in a water bath and they increase the pressure required to process in a pressure canner.
The temperatures and processing times that we publish are from sea level up to an elevation of 1,000 feet.
The charts below indicate the adjustments that should be made for each processing method at different
elevations.
Boiling Water Temperature in Fahrenheit
Sea Level
|
1000 ft.
|
3000 ft.
|
6000 ft.
|
8000 feet
|
212
|
210.1
|
206.3
|
200.6
|
196.8
|
Click here to find out more about our
Technical Guide, If I Can, You Can!™
It will provide you with simple, step-by-
step instructions for home canning,
illustrated using photographs.
Reflects a 1.9° reduction for each 1,000 foot elevation increase.
Water Bath Canner Processing Times in Minutes
Sea Level
|
1000 ft.
|
3000 ft.
|
6000 ft.
|
8000 feet
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
35
|
30
|
35
|
40
|
45
|
50
|
45
|
50
|
55
|
60
|
65
|
60
|
65
|
70
|
75
|
80
|
75
|
80
|
85
|
90
|
95
|
90
|
95
|
100
|
110
|
120
|
Adjustment for Pressure Canner, Dial Gauge
Sea Level
|
1000 ft.
|
3000 ft.
|
6000 ft.
|
8000 feet
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11.5
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
Adjustment for Pressure Canner, Weighted Gauge
Sea Level
|
1000 ft.
|
3000 ft.
|
6000 ft.
|
8000 feet
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
Processing times remain unchanged.
If you don’t know the elevation of the town where you live, you may try calling the county extension
office or find the average elevation for your zip code at Zip-Codes.COM.
- Enter your zip code into the zip code box.
- The average elevation for your zip code will appear with other data.
If the average elevation for your zip code is close to the breakdowns indicated and you would like to
know the exact elevation of your home;
- Click onto the NationalMap.gov
- Select "Go to Viewer" then “Find Place”. (Press the Control button if you have pop-up
blocker).
- A pop-up window will appear for your address.
- Select “Zoom to an Address”
- Enter your street address and zip code.
- A map will appear of your area, street or road.
- From the left-hand menu, Select “Elevation”
- Click onto the map at the approximate location of your home. (Press the Control button if you
have pop-up blocker).
- A window will appear with detailed information including the elevation.
Processing times remain unchanged.
CanningUSA.COM
A Simple Approach to Preserving Homemade Foods
|
