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Welcome back to Reviews Inside TV. Today I’ve got something quite different: a product that sits at the intersection of preserving food and convenience, for everyone who cans, batches, or just wants a simpler way to cook large quantities. Let’s take a close look at the Ball EasyCanner Electric Water Bath Canner, 21-Quart Capacity, with Automated Heating, Multicooker & Steamer Functionality.
This is a countertop electric water bath canner made by Ball, with “Press & Forget” technology that automates heating steps, built-in heat sensors to maintain optimal temperature, a 21-quart capacity (fits up to eight pint jars or seven quart jars), and extra functions: multicooker, steamer, comfortable handles, an easy-to-drain spigot, detachable base parts (many dishwasher safe), though the main pot must be hand washed. Wattage is about 1400W. (Specifications from Ball’s product info.)
First, let’s think about the problems this is promising to solve. If you’ve ever water bath canned in a large pot over a burner, you know the headaches: having to watch boil constantly, worrying about stove-top space, heat in the kitchen, lifting a heavy pot full of boiling water, draining safely, making sure jars are correctly processed without under- or over-boiling. Plus, for people with glass-top stoves, or limited stove burners, or who simply want to free up the range, a freestanding electric unit sounds compelling. Also, having multicooker/steamer options is nice if you want a dual-use appliance rather than something that sits unused except for canning season.
In my hands-on time with the EasyCanner, here’s how it actually performs in real life.
Setting up was straightforward. The base unit with the heating element is already assembled; you add the pot, rack, lid. The spigot helps when placing near a sink to make draining easier, which I did. First test: filling to capacity with jars of jam (pint size), preheating jars, processing them. I also tried steaming vegetables and cooking pasta to test the multicooker/steamer side.
Heat-up time is decent. It’s not instant, but within what I’d call reasonable for a 21-qt electric appliance. It brought water to boil in a larger pot faster than via a low-power burner, though naturally slower than a high-output gas burner. Once boiling, switching to the canning/processing mode, the unit held the boil well—thanks to the heat sensors and the “Press & Forget” mode. That means instead of adjusting a knob constantly or moving pot around, it cycles the heating element to maintain the right temperature.
Steaming and multicooker work decently: the steam tray fits well, vents are adequate; steaming greens/vegetables was efficient. For pasta and soups, the unit handles volume, though stirring is of course needed; it’s not super-deep like some stockpots so if you’re doing huge batches, some splashes occur.
Draining via the spigot works well: much safer than lifting a huge full pot, though you need to place something under the spigot (sink, large bowl) carefully. Cleanup: lid, rack, steam tray (and detachable base components) are dishwasher safe; the pot itself needs hand washing, which is heavier work due to size and walls.
Some specific scenarios I tested:
Jam making: hot liquids, sugar, extended boil time. EasyCanner kept boil steady, processed multiple jars in one go without needing to rotate or fiddle.
Pickling / low-temperature pasteurization: I tried to keep temperature at around 180°F for certain pickled items. It isn’t super precise in thermometer terms, but the temperature control allowed me to maintain something close; fine for many users but if you need exact temp, you’ll need an external thermometer.
Volume steaming: steamed vegetables and seafood; steam tray did the job, though steam escape sometimes leads to condensation around the lid’s seal.
Where it struggled: initial heating time isn’t lightning fast, especially with full load. Also, the pot is heavy, especially full of water and jars, and while handles are comfortable, moving it is a two-person job if full. Also, since pot must be hand washed, that adds chore. Lid fit: I found sometimes the lid rests less snugly when the jar rack is raised, so steam doesn’t always stay fully inside for some steaming tasks.
Now, what are the strengths and what are its weaknesses?
On the plus side: this thing simplifies the canning process significantly. The automation is genuinely helpful: heat sensors, “push a button and go” mode reduces babysitting. The spigot is a huge benefit for safety and convenience. Versatility: Not just for canning—steaming, soups, pastas works. Capacity is good: eight pints or seven quart jars is ample for many home canners. The detachable components help clean-up (though pot hand-washing dampens that a bit). Design feels solid; handles, grips, base design are thoughtful.
On the downside: It takes time to reach full boil, especially when loaded. For small batches, heating so much water may feel wasteful. The size and weight make it bulky; storing it will take space. Hand-washing the pot is a burden. Also, temperature control is good but not laboratory precise, so for those processes where exact temps are needed (pickles, fermenting, delicate preserving) you might need extra gear. Lid fit occasionally imperfect in certain positions.
Some negatives are subjective: if you don’t mind hand-washing big pots, or you have lots of storage, these cons matter less. Others are objective: slower heat-up time, bulk, etc.
Value for money: here’s where I weigh cost vs what you get.
Given its features—automated canning, multicooker/steamer, decent capacity, safety features—if you do a fair amount of canning, this could be worth the investment. If this costs in the region typical of Ball’s appliances (in US dollars or converted to UK/EU), you’re paying for convenience and versatility. Compare to buying a large stockpot + rack + paying high power on stovetop, plus the risk of stove damage (if glass top). Also compare alternatives: general stockpots are cheaper but don’t have automation, spigot, temperature sensors. There are also competing electric water bath canners, some cheaper, some more expensive, some with more precise digital control. If the EasyCanner’s price is moderately above basic electric canners, you pay extra for Ball’s brand, the automation, and safety.
If you do only very occasional canning, you might find that cost hard to justify; but for seasonal preserving, jam and fruit batches, pickling, and home canning enthusiasts, the value becomes much stronger.
Let’s compare it briefly with similar products.
One obvious comparison is Ball’s FreshTECH Electric Water Bath Canner (the predecessor / sibling). From what users report, FreshTECH has dial settings (Low / Medium / High / Canning), works more manually. The EasyCanner adds a digital timer/display and more automation (Press & Forget mode) to reduce the manual monitoring needed. For similar capacity, EasyCanner gives more “hands-off” control.
Another competitor would be generic electric canners or large stockpots + induction burner rigs. With the generic versions, you may get similar capacity but almost always fewer features: no spigot, less automation, less convenient draining, and less robust heat sensors. Also, build materials may be thinner, handles less comfortable. On the other hand you might save money.
Also, pressure canners are in a different category—they allow canning low-acid foods—but they are pricier and more complicated/weighty. If all you need are water bath approved recipes (jams, pickles, fruit), EasyCanner covers those well; but if your preserving includes meats/low-acid vegetables, you’d need pressure canning.
On build quality & longevity: Ball is a well-known name in home preserving. The materials here are stainless steel / steel pot, plastic / stainless accents, solid handles. The heating element is internal and robust, from what users report so far. Because this is a newer model, long-term data is limited, but early reports (and reports from FreshTECH) suggest durability is decent: people have used these for seasonal heavy use without breakdowns major. Of course, wear and tear on spout seals or lid seal or handles may show over years. Pot warping is possible if misused (such as overheating empty, letting element run dry). Overall, brand reputation is strong, and materials / design look built to last.
No significant interactions with customer support during my testing; however Ball’s reputation in the home preserving community is fairly good. Manuals are clear, product specifications transparent. Warranty presence is standard. Some users report prompt responses for parts or questions. No major red flags.
Final verdict: The Ball EasyCanner Electric Water Bath Canner delivers on what it promises: simplifying water bath canning, freeing up the stovetop, offering versatile cooking / steaming functions, with decent capacity and safety features. It won’t be perfect for everyone: if your batches are always small, or you need precise temperature control, or space is very tight, some drawbacks may loom larger. But for home canners who do moderate to heavy preserving, or who find stove-based pots cumbersome, this is a compelling choice.
I recommend it for those who preserve fruit, make jam, pickles, who want a safer, more automated and hands-free process and are willing to invest in a useful kitchen appliance. If you only can once a year or do minimal preserving, a more basic pot might suffice—but you’d lose some convenience and safety.
If you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to hit like, subscribe and ring that bell so you don’t miss future deep looks at kitchen tech. Thank you for staying with me, and if you already own the EasyCanner or are thinking about it, drop your thoughts, questions or experiences in the comments below. The link to check out the product is in the comments box. Goodbye till next time — stay curious inside Reviews Inside TV.
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