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There’s so many questions you may have when getting started canning. This post answers the most frequently answered questions with science-based answers, step by step instructions, and free resources to get you started canning with confidence. Read on to get all your canning questions answered!

Do I need to sterilize my canning jars?

Do you need to sterilize your jars first when canning? This post explains how sterilizing canning jars can be a huge waste of time and why. Read on to find out when you need to spend time sterilizing canning jars!

Do you need to simmer your canning lids?

Do you have to simmer your canning lids? This post will explain whether or not you have to simmer your canning lids before putting them on your canning jars. Read on to get the scoop and I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the answer!

Do You Need to Use Pickling Salt?

Many canning recipes call for pickling salt, and curious canners want to know: Do you need to use pickling salt? I’ll explain what pickling salt is, when you should use it, when it is okay to skip, and you’ll want to dive into canning immediately because salt is salt, Wildflowers.

Can You Use An Instant Pot for Canning?

This post will explain whether or not you can use an instant pot for canning, and why, using scientific information you can trust from the USDA. This is one of the most frequently asked canning questions! Read on for the scoop on using an instant pot for canning.

Oven Canning: Should You Try It?

This post will explain oven canning, and whether or not it’s a safe choice. I know, people do it but that doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Read on for the scoop on oven canning!

What Happens if You Forget The Lemon Juice?

What Happens if You Forget the Lemon Juice? In many canning recipes, it is required that you add an acidifying ingredient like bottled lemon juice, citric acid, or vinegar. What happens if you forget? Well, I did once and show you in the post what happens. Spoiler alert: it ain’t pretty.

Canning 101: Myths Busted!

One of the biggest reasons that only about 20% of the population in the US cans (puts food into jars) is concerns over safety. In this post, I aim to explain why if you follow the rules (the way you might observe the speed limit and wear a seat belt) canning is absolutely safe.

Best Home Canning Equipment For A Beginner

Have a beginning canner you are shopping for? Want to get the best canning supplies for the beginning canner in your life? This post will share exactly the Best Home Canning Equipment For A Beginner, even if they are just canning curious and want to to start canning, or if they have canned a few times before. Read on for the complete list of canning supplies for a beginner!

Free Canning Basics Course

If you have wondered about canning, thought maybe you’d like to try it out, but didn’t know how to start, this post, and Free Canning Basics Course is for you.

The Best Canning Jars

This post will share the best, most versatile canning jars for a new or experienced canner, that will double as food and drink containers in your home, and will help simplify your pantry and your canning process. Read on for the best canning jars (you’ll be surprised at how short this list is)!

Ready to start canning, but want a fast recipe? Here’s my favorite, and fastest, recipe.

Raspberry Jam Recipe

Raspberry jam is one of the fastest preserves a person could make. Canning has a terribl reputation as being time-consuming- this recipe proves that canning can be quick, easy, and is a simple extension of the cooking process. Raspberry jam is a delight to give as gifts, easy to pick at U-pick farms, and delicious preserved in mason jars. 

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If you’re looking for an unusual jam recipe, you’re in the right place. These are some fantastic, unusual jam recipes to give as gifts, test your canning skills, stretch your imagination, and get you out of a canning rut.

One quick note about the following jams + Instant Pots. Many of the following recipes use an Instant Pot to cook the jam, and you should not use an Instant Pot to preserve the jars. I expound on the safety of doing so in this post.

Unusual Jam Recipes

Tomato Jam

This tomato jam easy canning recipe is savory, herbal, and rich. It is amazing when paired with meat, goat cheese, pasta, and salty snacks. Read on for the step by step tutorial to make your own tomato jam!

Huckleberry Jam

I’m your huckleberry! Huckleberry jam in your instant pot is unusual and delicious!

Lemon Jam

Not a canning recipe, and just 2 ingredients with very simple steps! I especially love how this blogger uses a blender with this unusual recipe.

Strawberry Rhubarb Chipotle Jam

A tasty unusual jam recipe that you can freeze! Great on top of chicken or pork or simply with cream cheese and crackers. Don’t be shy; it has just the right amount of heat.

Kiwi Fruit Chia Seed Jam Recipe

Kiwi Fruit Chia Seed Jam Recipe: This kiwi fruit chia seed jam recipe is fresh and refreshing. It’s easy, healthy, vegan, and plant-based. Kiwi jelly is perfect on whole-wheat toast or pancakes.

Plum and Amaretto Jam Recipe

This lovely, easy recipe is amazing and turns out well even if you’ve never tried making jam before! The almond of the Amaretto goes perfectly with the plums and makes it a real treat too – perfect with scones for a grown-up afternoon tea.

Instant Pot Pineapple Jam Without Pectin

This mouthwatering pineapple jam is like spreading Hawaiian sunshine on your toast. It’s addictive, and so easy to make – no pectin needed. Who knew you could make jam in an Instant Pot?

Watermelon Jam Recipe That Always Works

This watermelon jam is so simple to make, tastes amazing and turns out perfect every time! This is the only watermelon jam recipe you’ll ever need! If you are a beginner who wants a foolproof method of making watermelon jam, look no further!

Instant Pot Fig Jam

Easy and quick fig jam you can make in the Instant Pot or any other pressure cooker. For this recipe, you can use all varieties of figs (green, purple, red …). Delicious on toast, with cheese and foie gras.

Wild Plum Jam

A deliciously tart, wild plum jam perfect for using as a breakfast preserve or as a condiment on cheese platters. Includes directions for using both wild plums or commercially grown fruit.

Homemade Pear Preserves

An easy way to preserve excess pears in preparation for winter or simply a tasty treat to make for a fun, pear preserves are easy to make and require no special skills or equipment.

Mulberry Jam

Filled with Vitamin C and iron, mulberries are little powerhouses of nutrients. Harness the goodness of mulberries with this simple and delicious homemade mulberry jam recipe.

Blueberry Chia Jam

No pectin required for this easy peasy jam recipe. Blueberry jam is naturally sweetened, with a touch of tart, and made using chia seeds for added protein. It’s simply delicious with only 15 minutes of active time required.

Apple and Pear Jam

With fresh apples and pears plus a variety of spices, this homemade spiced apple and pear jam is the definition of fall. Be careful though as it is so good you’ll be wanting it year-round.

Sweet Cherry Jam with Merlot Wine

Making fresh cherry jam is a summer treat! Our Sweet Cherry Jam with Merlot Wine is a fun recipe for farm-fresh summer cherries! It’s great on toast, on soft creamy cheeses and vanilla ice cream!

Sugar-Free Blueberry Jam with Chia Seeds

A beautiful, tangy sugar-free blueberry jam thickened with chia seeds and flavored with lime. This blueberry jam is absolutely delicious and perfect for any low carb keto diet.

Cinnamon Eggplant Jam

Cinnamon eggplant jam with walnuts is a unique Middle Eastern recipe that will make your whole house smell like Christmas! Mini eggplants are kept as a whole and cooked with sugar and spice until a jam consistency is reached.

Carrot Jam

This delicious 3-ingredient carrot jam is based on a recipe from 1865. It’s bright, tasty and super-easy with no unusual equipment needed. It tastes like an apricot jam!

Homemade Fig Jam

My dear neighbor gave me 20 figs from her fig tree. I knew it was time to make some fig jam! It’s easy to make and full of all-natural ingredients. Perfect for a farm to table (or yard to a table)

Cherry Jam Recipe

Cherry jam can be prepared with sour or sweet cherries. Sour cherries make a great choice because the sour flavors are in balance with the sweet sugar .

Mango Jam Recipe

Mango jam is a rare sweet treat! Not all mangoes are the same and some are more challenging than others when used in a jam. This recipe covers 2 ways to prepare your mango jam. It all depends on your mango variety.

Papaya Lime Jam

Papaya fruits can be turned into a beautiful jam with the help of some lemon or lime. This jam recipe is a real tropical fruit jam and you need to have tried it if you are raving sunny vibes!

Pineapple Freezer Jam

Pineapple Freezer Jam is a fun and tropical twist on your everyday jam. Sweet, with a bright and fresh pineapple flavor, this jam is made on the stovetop in minutes and will keep in the freezer for a year.

Red Pepper Jelly

Sweet and spicy, you will want this Red Pepper Jelly in your fridge and pantry. Learn how to can these jars…perfect for snacks, sandwiches, and gifts!

Instant Pot Peach Jam Recipe With Pectin

How to make homemade Peach Jam with pectin in your Instant Pot or other pressure cookers with just a few simple pantry ingredients.

Zucchini Marmalade

Looking for another way to use zucchini this summer? Why not try jam? It’s delicious, and a great sneaky way to get your veggies.

Kiwi Jam

Kiwi jam is a beautiful speckled green in the jars, and it’s full of tropical flavor. It comes together with just a few ingredients, no pectin needed.

Raw Raspberry Fig Chia Jam

The perfect healthy jam to spread on your morning toast or add to a nut butter sandwich. Raw, naturally sweet, and packed with healthy chia seed omega 3s, you’ll be happily spreading this raw raspberry fig chia jam on everything!

Rhubarb and Gin Jam

Rhubarb & Gin Jam is made with forced rhubarb and has a beautiful pink color and a clean, fresh flavor with a gentle hint of vanilla from the seeds which are flecked throughout. Even if you’re not a gin lover you will love this jam!

Pumpkin & Ginger Jam

Pumpkin & Ginger Jam is unusual as its flavor leans more towards marmalade than jam due to the ginger and lemon but there is also the subtle sweetness of pumpkin shining through. This is the perfect breakfast preserve.

Elderberry Chia Jam

Elderberry together with Chia seeds make a powerful combination full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances that can help you overcome this demanding flu and cold season.

Rose Hip Jam

They are the fruit of rose plants that contain their seeds. The preparation of the rosehip jam is not easy, but the taste is rewarding.

Bacon Jam

Think of it as a sweet and savory relish made from bacon.  It is a little smoky, a little sweet, and 100% delicious. We all know that bacon makes everything better.

Strawberry Basil Jam

There is nothing better than fresh, in-season strawberries. I used a few from the farms around here to create this amazing strawberry basil jam recipe.

Cranberry Bacon Jam Recipe

Cranberry Bacon Jam Recipe- made with or without cranberries, this deliciously addicting, sweet and salty combination is made with easy to find ingredients such as onions, bacon, brown sugar, and cranberries. Simmered slowly, this bacon jam is best enjoyed with fresh bread, crackers, or on top of your favorite burger.

Free Canning Basics Course

If you have wondered about canning, thought maybe you’d like to try it out, but didn’t know how to start, this post, and free canning basics course is for you.

How To Prepare for Canning Season as a Beginner

Canning season is right around the corner and this post will explain exactly how to get ready for my favorite time of year. These steps will help you be ready for the canning season and all the bounty it brings. There’s nothing worse than coming into a bargain quantity of produce and not having what you need to preserve it. Let’s get ready!  

Best Home Canning Equipment For A Beginner

Have a beginning canner you are shopping for? Want to get the best canning supplies for the beginning canner in your life? This post will share exactly the Best Home Canning Equipment For A Beginner, even if they are just canning curious and want to to start canning, or if they have canned a few times before. Read on for the complete list of canning supplies for a beginner!

Ready for the next step in canning?

What Is A Steam Canner

This post will explain what a steam canner is, the pieces that come with it, how it saves time, the types of recipes that maximize a steam canner’s efficiency, how much water they use (hardly any!) who a steam canner is best for, and why you’ll want to try one yourself!