A:Answer Hi,
Thanks for the question! We appreciate your interest in this model and we're more than happy to help. We do not believe a heavy duty burner is necessary for your range. Canning should be done on surface units (burners) only. Normally, pots that extend beyond one inch of the cooking element's trim ring are not recommended for most surface cooking; however, when canning with a water-bath, pressure canner, or pressure cooker, larger diameter pots may be used. This is because boiling water temperatures (even under pressure) are not harmful to cooktop surfaces surrounding the surface units. We hope this information helps! If you have any further questions let us know. Take care!
-Sylvia@GEA