The feature that made me buy this machine was the auto-turnoff, which turns out to be a misnomer. After the eggs are cooked the machine turns itself off but if you don't go to the machine and physically turn the knob to off, IT GOES BACK ON AND CAN THEN BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE. Obviously, I bought this so that if I forgot the eggs were cooking, which is possible if children interrupt or visitors come, the machine would turn itself off. Instead, if you don't remember to turn the button to the off position, it will turn on by itself. This machine is a danger at all times. What if after you take the eggs out, you forget to turn the button to the off position, it will go on again. Next, the noise it emits when the eggs are done is very low and HARD TO HEAR!!! If a television were on or if children were playing, I doubt that the noise signaling that the eggs are cooked could be heard by anyone. Don't buy this item.