Prepworks by Progressive 3-Piece Canning Essentials Kit

I try to live a frugal and simple lifestyle, and my kitchen reflects that. I prefer to have the equipment I need, balancing price and function, and generally ignoring aesthetics. Small things like measuring spoons, basic utensils, etc. definitely aren't fancy in my kitchen. Every once in a while though, you find a kitchen gadget that costs a few dollars more, but is worth every penny. This funnel is that kind of product, and I wish I would have purchased it sooner. I use it regularly, usually to pack quart canning jars with varieties of different soup for freezing. It's perfect for transferring everything from hearty chowders to stock into any size glass jar, regular or wide mouth. I was concerned about warping or melting from heat, since I usually funnel hot soups, but I've had no issues with it. The top of the funnel is large enough to accommodate my largest ladle, so there's less dripping. It's much less messy. My counter top stays clean, and the smart design prevents food contamination since the inner rim doesn't contact the countertop. The headspace gauge is accurate, and helps prevent overfilling, so no more mishaps from freezer expansion. Best of all, it's easy to clean, and doesn't have a bunch of hard-to-reach nooks and crannies to scrub. I've washed it many times in the dishwasher, top rack, with no problems. This is a must have item for anyone who cans, freezes or uses glass jars for any kind of food storage.

How do you lower it into a pot of boiling water??? It needs handles. I have to put it on top of my old canning rack to lower it into the pot. I tried loading my regular rack with jars and using this one for a second layer, as suggested in the video, and that was a disaster with jars on both levels falling over while lowering it into the pot. Single layer worked but again using my old rack to lower the jars. That being said I like the way the jars are stabilized and little 4 oz jars don't move around in the boil. I will continue to use it.It needs lowering handles and it would be perfect.

So, there I am, canning my first batch of marmalade using my brand new, handy, dandy "Magnetic Lid Lifter" when the epoxy holding the magnet lets go in the sterilizing bath ... CRAP!Even if the epoxy had properly held the magnet in place, the shaft of the lid lifter is too short to reach the bottom of the pot I use for sterilizing jars and lids. It's only 6" from the magnet to the top of the red shaft below the white ring. My boiling water bath is 7" deep. I've decided to try a "Telescoping Magnetic Pick-Up Tool" from my local hardware store instead.Happy Canning All ...

I received this quickly and was excited because I just started canning. When I opened the package there was a defect in the rim. I couldn't tell if it was accidentally cut at some point or if it was a manufacturer defect. I have purchased a lot from Amazon but this was the first time I returned an item. The day I received the item I went online to begin the return process, I thought it would be long and difficult, I was wrong. Within moments i received a message stating that a new item would be shipped. It also stated that I didn't need to return the damaged product. Since I really don't need two of them I donated the damaged one and hope someone gets great use from it, I wanted an undamaged one because that is what I paid for.End result it was replaced in a timely manner and I used it last night with no issue, cleanup is easy and it helps keep the rim of the jars clean, I still wipe them off just in case to make sure the jars seal correctly.

I really wanted to like this funnel as I love the matching ladle but I just couldn't! It is just too slow and messy. Has a couple of really cool features that I like to include the head space gauge and the fact that the funnel completely encapsulates the rim of the jar, great ideas! But they made it too narrow IMHO. Compared to using my old standby Norpro funnel I have to be much more careful and pour slower from the ladle to preclude making a mess. The Norpro which is much wider at the top lets me pour just about as fast as I can ladle.YMMV