How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath
Do you have a garden full of tomatoes and are not sure what to do with them all? Learn how to can tomatoes in a water bath so you can enjoy your harvest all year long!
There are quite a few different recipes you can choose from when you're looking to can tomatoes from a summer harvest.
You can have canned salsa, whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, quartered tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, etc...
The possibilities are endless.
Typically, we'll can whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and salsa from our tomato harvest. I don't use tomato sauce or even paste very often in my cooking, but that's a preference.
Canning Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner
Generally speaking, there are two methods for canning tomatoes:
water bath canning
and, pressure canning
Neither is really better than the other. But, one does take less time than the other.
With pressure canning, you're cutting the processing time in about half due to the pressure part of it. But, not everyone has or wants a pressure canner (though we highly recommend every household has one).
How to Choose What Type of Canned Tomatoes to Make
This should be easy.
What do you buy most at the store to use at home?
diced tomatoes
crushed tomatoes
whole tomatoes
tomato sauce
tomato paste
Once you have an idea of what you use the most of I'd say go from there.
If you use a lot of diced tomatoes but a few of the other types of canned tomatoes, then I would say make a few types of the others you eat.
Our number one goal moving forward is to slowly replace what we buy at the store with things we can and process at home.
It is a lot of work over the summertime, but you reap the rewards come wintertime. It makes all the hard work worth it in the end.
Related Post: How to Grow Tomatoes for Beginners
Why Water Bath Can Your Tomato Harvest?
First, not everyone has or wants a pressure canner. A lot of folks are scared of pressure canners honestly. The thought of the lid blowing a hole in your roof is enough to scare even the best of us.
Second, you just need your equipment, water, lemon juice, and heat. It's not hard, but it can be time-consuming considering one round of processing can take 45+ minutes.
Third, it's not as expensive to get started. Some pressure canners are upwards of $100+ for the device. If you're wanting a heavy-duty, pass it down to your kids' type pressure canner then they can get super expensive... like $400 expensive.
Everyone has their own thoughts and feelings on this one. It's totally a personal choice though.
If you'd like to learn about canning I would suggest checking out Melissa K. Norris's Canning With Confidence.
Canning Equipment You Will Need
Water Bath Canning Tomatoes
Ingredients:
13 pounds of tomatoes
9 tablespoons of Lemon Juice (1 tablespoon per pint of tomatoes)
Instructions:
Start off by removing the core of the tomatoes either using a paring knife or a small scoop.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil get a large bowl of water ready with ice to place the blanched tomatoes in.
Also while waiting for the water to boil make sure your quart jars are sterilized by either running them through a dishwasher on sterilize mode, placing them in an oven on the lowest setting, or filling them with really hot water. This will prevent them from cracking when you put them into the water bath for canning.
Once the pot of water is boiling add in the tomatoes for a minute or so to blanch.
Remove tomatoes and immediately place into the ice bath to cool.
Remove the skin from the tomatoes and set it aside in another bowl or on a baking tray.
You can either pack them whole or cut them up. Either way works and it's totally a preference thing here.
Add your water bath canner to the stove and add water so that there will be approximately enough water to cover your jars.
Add the lemon juice to your jars (1 tablespoon per pint).
Fill the jars with the tomatoes leaving 1/2-3/4 inch headroom from the top.
Run either a chopstick or knife through the jars to remove any air bubbles that might be in the jar and then wipe the rims with a damp cloth.
Place your unused canning lid and ring on the jar finger tight and place the jar into the hot water bath. Be careful when placing it in the water as the water is hot and any splashing would burn the skin.
Continue until you've put all your tomatoes into jars and into the water bath.
Process in a water bath for 85 minutes (this will vary based on altitude so be sure to check your altitude and processing times)
Once the time is up remove the jars and place them on a towel to cool down before putting them up to store.