I was quite surprised to see that this maker costs twice here what I paid at a local retail store four or five years ago. I use it about every other week. I've never had a failed batch.
I would still recommend this unit, despite the higher cost. Most of the other contraptions I've seen are not only much more dear, but also require that you make lots of little pots of yogurt. What a hassle.
I prefer to buy organic animal products. When you can actually find organic yogurt, it's expensive. And finding organic whole milk yogurt is well nigh impossible. If you're interested in organic yogurt, making your own is the way to go. After several batches, you'll recover the cost of the maker.
And about the silly, flimsy design that other reviewers have mentioned... I chucked the inside tub, cover and spoon. I use a quart size, wide mouth canning jar. And I just discovered last week that my grocery store sells "storage lids" for canning jars, plastic, screw on tops. Much easier than the metal rings & caps.
I've read some reports that heating foods in plastic might be dangerous. Using glass eliminates that worry. Also, the added weight of the glass helps to stabilize the unit, which others have mentioned is very light.
Finally, using the canning jar/s means that I can store the yogurt in the container I make it in -- but then I can make more yogurt before that batch is completely used up. Not possible with the original container.
I wouldn't regret buying this unit at the higher price here. However, before I did, I'd check my local thrift store. I'll bet that, like crock pots, these little units get passed along at a good clip.
