Ever since I tried homemade preserves and jams, I've always wanted to make my own. However, I couldn't be bothered with all the equipment, timing and procedures needed to make your own jam and preserves. This little gadget has caught my attention when it first appeared on Amazon but I couldn't justify the cost of purchasing one since I didn't know how often I would use it. It was recently on sale and the price was low enough for me to pull the trigger and get one. This Ball FreshTECH jam and jelly maker is a hoot to use. It takes out all the guesswork needed to make jams and jellies. All you have to do is wait for the beeps to add stuff in. It takes care of the cooking and stirring so you don't end up with a mess all over stove. Overflows are an issue with jam and jelly making but this unit eliminates it by constantly stirring the concoction until it's ready to go in your jars. You need to make sure you don't overload past the manufacturer's recommendation. The clean up is simple and fast (unless it overflows). The biggest issue I read is the capacity. It makes around 4 cups of jam; not nearly enough for the serious jammers (?). Wonder why they haven't come out with a larger capacity model since this seems to be very popular. For my own family, the amount is perfect. Just enough so they don't get tired of the same flavor. I am going to try and see if I can actually preserve my next batch to be shelf stable. The instruction booklet that comes with the unit is very informative and tells you exactly how much pectin, sugar and fruit to add. Just about foolproof. I can do it anyone can. This unit is not really a one trick pony. You can use it to make spaghetti sauce; just about anything that requires cooking and stirring. Once you try homemade jams and jelly, there is no going back to the commercial stuff.