Have never done it but I speculate that yes, it will cause the pressure canner to cool down much faster than normal. If that is the case then the required processing time would be affected negatively as that cool down time is a part of the calculated processing time required. It is 50 degrees below normal in-house temps after all.

The only option I can think of - and I warn this is not approved or tested, just what I would do personally if no other option is available - is to extend the processing time. My personal preference in this case would be to freeze the beans instead of canning even though I prefer canned beans.

So for example - standard for green beans is 20 min for pints at 11 lbs. (depending on your altitude). So I would process them for the 25 min called for for quarts instead. If you are doing quarts of beans I'd add an additional 5-7 mins to the 25 min called for.

The other alternative would be to increase the pressure - do them at 15 lbs. (assuming your altitude would normally be 10-11 pounds). But I find that increased pressure has a more negative effect on end quality than does adding time. Your choice.

Dave

Since the weather is so unusually cold why not can indoors on your stove? It will be a nice plus that it warms the house a little.

I have been using 2 of the presto canners for the last 5 years and just got an All American 941 for Christmas. The 2 presto canners put so much moisture in the house that it is not feasible to can indoor when it is so cold out and I cannot open the windows or doors. I do not have an outside vent for the stove plus it is a glass top and it takes forever to get the small canners up to pressure using it. Because the 941 is so big I didn't want to try and move it inside when the time was up on the batch whereas I have had bad luck if the jars move around inside of the canner even when the pressure is at 0 and the lid removed.

I have decided that I am going to go out and pick up a kerosene heater tomorrow and that way I can get the temperature in the garage up to around 60 which should solve my problem. Thanks for yalls input on the problem.