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A canning rack keeps jars off the bottom of the pot and lets hot water or steam reach every side. It isn't optional. The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) says a boiling water canner needs a removable, perforated rack, and pressure canners need a rack too.
Buying one comes down to three things: whether it fits your pot, how many jars it holds, and whether it's made of a metal that will last. Lifting handles are a bonus that makes loading easier.
Below are six picks, from a stockpot conversion rack to a genuine Presto replacement, with specs taken from the manufacturers' product pages.
Quick Picks
- Best Overall: Norpro 6001 Deluxe Stainless Steel Canning Rack. Best for turning a stockpot into a full-size canner with a rack that won't rust.
- Best Budget: Norpro 604 Canning Rack. Best for a low-cost, foldable full-size rack.
- Best for 21.5-Quart Canners: McSunley Prep-N-Cook Stainless Steel Canning Rack. Best as a stainless replacement in a standard 21.5-quart canner.
- Best Small-Batch: Norpro 646 Small Canning Rack. Best for two quarts or four pints in a regular stockpot.
- Best Pressure Canner Replacement: Presto 85707 Cooking/Canning Rack. Best for Presto canner owners who lost or wore out the original.
- Best Rack and Canner Set: Granite Ware 21.5-Quart Canner with Jar Rack. Best for anyone who doesn't have a deep enough pot yet.
Comparison Table
| Rack | Best for | Material | Holds | Size | Folds or lifts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norpro 6001 Deluxe | Full-size stockpot conversion | Stainless steel | 7 quarts or 8 pints | 11.75 x 11.75 x 2 in | Folding soft-grip handles |
| Norpro 604 | Budget full-size | Chromed steel | 7 quarts or 7 pints | 12.25 x 12.25 x 2.25 in | Folds flat; handles rest on rim |
| McSunley Prep-N-Cook | 21.5-qt canners | Stainless steel wire | 7 quarts, 9 pints or 12 half-pints | 12.25 in across top, 10.4 in at bottom, 2.5 in tall | Rests on canner edge; foldable |
| Norpro 646 Small | Small batches | Not stated | 2 quarts, 4 pints or 4 half-pints | 8.25 x 8.25 x 1.75 in | Handles rest on rim |
| Presto 85707 | Presto pressure canners | Not stated | Fits the canner floor | About 11 in diameter (retailer listings) | Flat rack |
| Granite Ware 21.5-Qt set | Rack plus canner | Rack with enamel canner | 7 quarts, 9 pints or 12 half-pints | Fits its canner | Included rack |
The Best Canning Racks, Reviewed
1. Norpro 6001 Deluxe Stainless Steel Canning Rack (Best Overall)
Who it's for: anyone converting a tall stockpot into a water bath canner who wants a rack that will last.
This is Norpro's top canning rack and the one we'd buy for a stockpot. Norpro says it's rust-free stainless steel and holds up to 7 quart or 8 pint jars, regular or wide-mouth. The long soft-grip handles let you lift the jars to the rim for loading and removal, which is the most awkward part of canning without a hanging rack. They fold down for storage. Hot water circulates freely around the jars.
It measures 11.75 inches square, so measure the inside of your pot at the bottom before you order. Norpro recommends hand washing. One buying note: the 6001 is sold through kitchen retailers, and we couldn't find a current Amazon listing for it. If you're shopping on Amazon, the Norpro 604 below is the full-size alternative.
Pros
- Stainless steel won't rust
- Holds a full 7-quart load or 8 pints
- Soft-grip handles help lift the whole load
- Handles fold for storage
Cons
- Costs more than the chromed 604
- Square shape needs a wide enough pot
- Hand wash only
- No Amazon listing found
Norpro 6001 Deluxe Stainless Steel Canning Rack
by Norpro
2. Norpro 604 Canning Rack (Best Budget)
Who it's for: occasional canners who want a full-size rack at the lowest cost.
The 604 is a chromed steel rack that holds up to 7 quart or 7 pint jars. Norpro says its handle design lets you raise the jars onto the edge of the canner for easier removal. It keeps jars from touching each other or the pot, and it folds flat. At 12.25 inches square, it fits Norpro's own 20-quart Krona stockpot and similar pots.
The trade-off is the finish. Chromed steel is fine for seasonal use but can rust where the plating wears, so dry it well after each batch. It also holds one fewer pint than the 6001.
Pros
- Lowest cost full-size rack here
- Lifts jars to the canner edge
- Folds flat for storage
- Holds 7 quarts
Cons
- Chromed steel, not stainless
- Only 7 pints
- Hand wash recommended
Norpro 604 Canning Rack
by Norpro
3. McSunley Prep-N-Cook Stainless Steel Canning Rack (Best for 21.5-Quart Canners)
Who it's for: owners of a 21.5-quart canner whose original rack has rusted or bent.
McSunley's rack is stainless steel wire, made for its own Prep-N-Cook 21.5-quart stainless canners. It holds 7 quarts, 9 pints or 12 half-pints, the same counts as the classic enamel canner racks, so it's a natural stainless replacement in that size. Per McSunley, the bowl is 12.25 inches across at the top, 10.4 inches at the bottom and 2.5 inches tall. A flat, no-slip section rests on the canner's edge, and the rack folds for storage.
Fit is the thing to check. It's designed for McSunley's canners, so compare those dimensions against your canner before you order.
Pros
- Stainless steel replacement for 21.5-qt canners
- 7 quarts, 9 pints or 12 half-pints
- Rests on the canner edge for loading
- Folds for storage
Cons
- Designed around McSunley's pots
- No dishwasher-safe claim from McSunley
McSunley Prep-N-Cook Stainless Steel Canning Rack
by McSunley
4. Norpro 646 Small Canning Rack (Best Small-Batch)
Who it's for: small households and anyone making a few jars of jam or pickles at a time.
Norpro's pitch is simple: "Turn any stockpot into a canner." The 646 holds 2 quart jars, 4 pints or 4 half-pints. It's 8.25 inches square, so it fits stockpots far smaller than a full-size canner. The contoured handles rest on the pot's rim, and the rack raises jars off direct heat while hot water circulates. Norpro says it fits inside its 20-quart Krona stockpot as well.
Small racks still have to follow the depth rule. The NCHFP says jars need at least 1 inch of boiling water over the tops (2 inches if processing runs over 30 minutes), so a small rack only helps if your pot is tall enough. Like the 6001, the 646 is sold through kitchen retailers; we couldn't find a current Amazon listing for it.
Pros
- Fits ordinary stockpots
- Good for 2 quarts or 4 pints
- Handles rest on the rim
- Small and easy to store
Cons
- Small capacity
- Norpro doesn't state the material
- Pot still needs enough depth
- No Amazon listing found
Norpro 646 Small Canning Rack
by Norpro
5. Presto 85707 Cooking/Canning Rack (Best Pressure Canner Replacement)
Who it's for: Presto pressure canner owners who need a genuine replacement rack.
This is the rack that comes in Presto's stovetop canners. Presto's compatibility list for stock no. 85707 runs to 46 models, including the 23-quart 01781 (0178107), the 16-quart 01755 (0175510), the 23-quart induction model (0178410) and the Presto Precise 16- and 23-quart digital canners. Retailer listings put it at about 11 inches across.
If you double-deck pints in a 23-quart canner, the NCHFP says to put a small rack between the layers so steam can circulate. Follow your canner's manual for what to use as that second rack. Confirm your model number against Presto's list first; it's on the canner body or a tag on the cover. Our Presto pressure canner parts guide covers the other replacement parts.
Pros
- Genuine Presto part
- Fits 46 listed Presto canner models
- Includes the Precise digital canners
Cons
- Only for Presto canners
- Presto doesn't publish dimensions on the part page
Presto 85707 Cooking/Canning Rack
by Presto
6. Granite Ware 21.5-Quart Canner with Jar Rack (Best Rack and Canner Set)
Who it's for: anyone searching for a canning rack because their stockpot isn't deep enough.
If your pot can't hold quart jars under an inch of boiling water, no rack fixes that. This classic set solves both problems at once: a 21.5-quart enameled steel canner and a rack that holds 7 quarts, 9 pints or 12 half-pints. It's usually one of the cheapest full-size canners you can buy. See our canning pot guide for how it compares with stainless options.
The limits: Granite Ware says not to use its enamel canners on glass cooktops, and enamel can chip if you knock it.
Pros
- Canner and rack sized for each other
- Full 7-quart load
- Budget price
Cons
- Not for glass cooktops
- Enamel can chip
Granite Ware 21.5-Quart Canner with Jar Rack
by Granite Ware
Canning Rack Buying Guide
Measure the pot, not the label
Quart capacity on a pot tells you little about fit. Measure the inside diameter at the bottom, where the rack sits, and compare it with the rack's footprint. The full-size racks here are 11.75 to 12.25 inches across, which suits most 20- to 21.5-quart pots. The Norpro 646 is 8.25 inches.
Check the depth for your jars
A rack lifts jars about 2 inches off the bottom, which uses up depth. The NCHFP says a boiling water canner must keep at least 1 inch of boiling water over the jars, or 2 inches for processes over 30 minutes. Add the rack height, your tallest jar and the water cover, and make sure the pot is deeper still so it doesn't boil over.
Stainless steel vs chromed steel
Stainless racks (Norpro 6001, McSunley) won't rust. Chromed steel racks (Norpro 604) cost less but can rust where the plating wears. Dry any rack fully before storing it.
Flat rack vs lifting rack
Flat racks sit on the bottom and you load jars one at a time with a jar lifter. Racks with handles let you raise the whole load to the rim, fill it, and lower it in. That's easier and keeps your hands farther from boiling water.
Racks in pressure canners and steam canners
- Pressure canners come with a rack. Replace it with the maker's part. For two layers of jars, the NCHFP says to put a rack between the layers. See our best pressure canner guide for which canners are tall enough for double-decked pints.
- Steam canners have a shallow rack over a small amount of water. NDSU Extension says not to stack jars in a steam canner. See our steam canner guide.
Caring for a canning rack
Racks live in hot, mineral-heavy water, so they wear faster than the pot. Rinse the rack after each batch and dry it completely before storing it, especially a chromed one. Check welds and wires at the start of each season. A bent rack can tip jars, and a rack that rusts through can leave jars sitting on the hot pot floor. Norpro recommends hand washing its racks. If your rack has lifting handles, check that they still lock into place before you lower a full load into boiling water.
Jar count
A 7-quart load is standard. Pint counts vary from 7 to 9 depending on the rack's layout. Half-pints matter if you make a lot of jam.
How We Chose
We didn't test these racks hands-on. We chose them by research: product pages and specs from Norpro, McSunley, Presto and Granite Ware's maker Cinsa, retailer listings where a maker's page was incomplete, and NCHFP and NDSU Extension guidance on racks, water depth and double-decking. We focused on racks with published jar counts and dimensions, and left out generic racks whose sizes and materials we couldn't confirm. For the rest of your gear, see our canning supplies guide.
FAQ
Do you need a rack for canning?
Yes. The NCHFP says a boiling water canner must have a removable perforated rack, and a pressure canner needs a rack too. The rack keeps jars off the hot bottom and lets water or steam circulate around them.
What can I use if I don't have a canning rack?
The safest fix is a rack made for canning that fits your pot. The NCHFP specifies a rack for both boiling water and pressure canners, so buy one sized to your pot's inside diameter rather than setting jars directly on the bottom.
Can you stack jars in a pressure canner?
Yes, if the canner is tall enough. The NCHFP says two layers are fine in a pressure canner when you place a small rack between the layers so steam can circulate. Don't stack jars in an atmospheric steam canner; NDSU Extension says the breakage risk is too high.
Will any canning rack fit my pot?
No. Measure the inside diameter of the pot at the bottom and compare it with the rack's dimensions. Full-size racks such as the Norpro 604 and 6001 are about 12 inches square, which suits most 20- to 21.5-quart pots.
How do I replace the rack in my Presto pressure canner?
Presto sells a genuine replacement, the Cooking/Canning Rack, stock no. 85707. Presto's compatibility list covers its 16- and 23-quart stovetop canners, including the 01781 (0178107) and 01755 (0175510), plus the Precise digital models.
Verdict
For a stockpot conversion, the Norpro 6001 is the canning rack to buy: stainless, a full 7-quart load and handles that lift the whole batch. The Norpro 604 does the same job for less if you'll dry it carefully, and it's the one to pick if you're buying on Amazon. Presto owners should stick with the genuine 85707, and if your pot isn't deep enough, skip the rack and get the Granite Ware canner set.