Pbrisjar, I make jam the old-fashioned way, with lots of sugar! I know you can use pectin or the freezer method and use less sugar, but I need something that tastes good (pectin jam isn't as good IMO) and has a shelf life.

I suggest you go to the library and look for a few books on making jam. I have a whole collection of books now (been jammin' since 1991) and still love Fancy Pantry by Helen Witty. The truth is it takes some book learning to do it right, keep it safe, etc.

My tricks include picking my own fruit whenever possible and rushing it home to the pans. I consider the weather on the day I pick strawberries. They need heat and not too much rain just prior to harvest to taste their best. The strawberry jam recipes I like involve two nights of overnight maceration. If you can find the Witty book, the recipe is in there.

I also like to mix flavors with things that don't jam up tasty on their own. Blueberries flying solo are pretty boring for some reason. But, add some orange and the tiniest touch of cinnamon and you have an altogether different thing. Late in the season I will mix three and four different berries, even throwing in "leftovers" from the freezer. My four berry jam from two summers ago was perhaps the finest thing I'd ever produced. Start with recipes until you know what you're doing....but later you can get quite creative.

Don't invest in a canning pot. I finally bought one and it just annoys me. A good, deep stockpot (depth is critical) and a round cake cooling rack are all you need. I don't worry about bottles touching and I've never once had any breakage. It pays to be clean clean clean. I've never had a problem with spoilage, but then, I work clean! A funnel and the lifters are two things you really need and they are cheap. I reuse jars and rings, but not lids.

Making jam may seem overwhelming at first, but after a few batches, you will begin to get an intuitive sense of what you are doing. You'll remember all the steps automatically and learn some shortcuts (like sterilizing the empty jars in the DW). Let me know if you have any more questions. Have fun!