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Ball wide-mouth quart jarsWide-mouth quarts are the workhorse jar. Ball and Kerr are interchangeable — buy whichever is cheaper.
Water-bath canner (21 qt)Granite-ware 21-qt fits 7 quarts or 9 pints. Enamel-on-steel handles the heat; the rack lifter is essential.
Pressure canner (23 qt)Low-acid foods (vegetables, meat) require pressure canning, not water bath. Presto 23-qt is the standard entry point.
Canning tool set (funnel + lifter)A wide-mouth funnel and jar lifter are the two tools you'll use every batch. Buy them as a set.
Pectin (Sure-Jell / Ball RealFruit)Reliable pectin set is non-negotiable for jam. Liquid vs powder pectin are not interchangeable in recipes.