Purchased this back at the end of Aug. 2017 as a gift. The gift was not opened and examined until today Nov. 16 2017 for a first time use. It appears the product was used, as there is a big black mark on the outside of the container (How did that happen???). (Always open your stuff and examine it before the return window...). The gift recipient might have to just try the product out and see if it actually works or if it is completely useless (wondering if the first purchaser found it did not work and sent it back for refund). It is upsetting that used products are sold as new out of the box. Any sale of used/returned products should be sold at a discount in my thoughts unless verified that the product has no damage. Anyway the gift recipient of this was very disappointed. Which in turn makes me want to rate this poorly.

I have a Mirro pressure canner, and it's worked very well for me. However, this one, with the gauge as backup, is so much easier! It's also quieter and faster! I'm really surprised that it's making this much difference. The only drawback is how heavy it is. It's 17 pounds empty! I'm old with a bum elbow. It can be difficult to move, store, and even set on the stove. But the other benefits fully outweigh the weight (pun intended!).

I do small-batch canning (mostly half-pint jars), and this works exceptionally even for that. However, with the size, I have been able to combine canning projects so things definitely go faster. So far I have canned 4 kinds of beans, chicken stock, beef stew, and hamburger in it. My next project is pumpkin. Next fall I will be going to a u-pick farm and picking about 100 pounds of tomatoes, peppers, and gherkins (and other veges that are available at that time). I'll be spending a week canning it all up (sauce, paste, sriracha, diced tomatoes, etc.). This canner is going to make all that work go so smoothly. I'm really excited!

My old pressure canner (another brand) started leaking and continued leaking even after the gasket was changed. I replaced it with the All-American canner, based on the reviews I read. So glad I did! Yes, it's more expensive than other canners, but worth it! I'm sure this will be the last pressure canner I ever need to buy. I bought the smaller model 915 to be sure that I could lift it easily. This canner is made heavyweight and durable. I also like that it's American-made. I can for our family of two and the 10-pint/7-qt. capacity is plenty. I read the manual and watched the included DVD before trying my first batch. After you've used it once, it's a piece of cake! I also watched the online video to make sure the pressure regulator weight was "jiggling" correctly, which it wasn't. I had the heat too high and it was "jiggling" too often. I lowered the heat and now know right where it should be put every time. I can set it there, checking it only occasionally, and it goes like clockwork. I make sure to take the lid off as soon as the pressure reaches zero (and it has the two-minute vent time) and I've never had a problem getting it off. Thanks, All-American for a quality product!

I just did my first test batch in the canner and I'm really happy with it. It's huge and will allow me to can a ton of produce at a time reducing the effort and tediousness of canning. I've had freezers fail in the past and almost ruined frozen food. I'm going to be canning more to prevent that from happening again. Canning is a more realistic option now, due to the capacity of this canner. The description says it can hold 32 pints but I like using wide mouth pints. It holds 25 of those plus an additional 3 regular mouth for a total of 28 per load. If you're looking to substantially reduce your time and increase production this is the canner for you.

It also holds 21 wide mouth quarts. 10 on the lower level and 11 on the top.

Would have to say this is a wonderful kitchen accessory. Makes things easier starting out with a bigger unit. I like to cook and storage is one of the things I lack. So canning with confidence has been a relief with some light reading and watching some YouTube videos.

The learning curve has been easy. Main thing is to allow it to cool before removing the weight off the peacock "Zero pressure ". Then letting it cool some more before opening the lid. Retains heat well. The side wall thickness is good so keeps consistent heat. Heat up is pretty fast, since it is gasket-less use some Vaseline on the bottom lip, helps it seal better. Trust me. Worth dabbin a little on there.

The gauge is nice, even though you can judge pressure after awhile with just the weight if you pay attention. Would I buy another one if this went missing? You know I would.

I had bought a Waring SB30 1300-Watt Portable Single Burner to use with this unit. Well worth having the stand alone range and free up the stove. Down Time is awesome. I use this to make quick meals of course but also help with camping supplies.

I would definitely recommend this product. The construction and the handles are a big plus. Hope this was helpful.