Hello friends. I don't often share recipes here, but I had to pass along this…
Tomato Canning Tips
Now that fall is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to harvest your fruits and vegetables and do some canning. Ever since I watched my mom can tomatoes when I was young, I’ve been interested in learning how to preserve the season’s best flavors with nothing but jars and a hot water bath.
Now that I get to can on my own, I’ve learned how to preserve green beans, make tomato sauce, can tomatoes, fruit and more. Today I wanted to share some pictures from my recent tomato canning adventures.
First, get your supplies. This includes a bushel (or two if you are ambitious) of ripe tomatoes. Different types will cost different amounts, and I usually get beefsteak for canning and plum for sauce. Supplies also include a hot water bath canner, you favorite Ball canning jars {have you seen the pretty blue and green ones?} and lids.
Next, bathe the tomatoes in hot water until their skin breaks, then blanch them in cold water. After that you peel the skin off, cut them up and put them in jars.
There are lots of recipes just for tomatoes. They can be cold or hot pack canned either in their own juice or water. Plus you can add citric acid for preservation and salt if you’d like. Once they are in jars, use your hot water bath canner according to the recipe and boil. That’s it!
We use these for chili, soups, pasta and more. I love having items fresh from the garden to use all winter in my cooking. This year I still might make salsa, which I have not done before. Wish me luck!
I do can, in fact I love it. Years ago I used to do it very summer with my mother. This year the berries have been terrible so I haven’t done as much; even though my husband bought me a gorgeous big bath pot (a Ball one like yours, I used to just do them in the spaghetti pot one at a time!) I want to do some tomatoes, maybe I should just bite the bullet and buy a bushel of heirlooms.
Hi Margot,
I bet as soon as you get into cutting those tomatoes, you will wonder why you waited so long!
I’ve never canned but I really want to try. I have a few books that show how and it doesn’t seem so hard, but I’m still a little afraid that I’m going to food poison my whole family.
We were just talking about learning how to can yesterday! This would be a great way to start!
I do not can, but I would love to learn. This is such a nice giveaway!
Great post! I’ve never officially canned before, but looking forward to trying out the info you’ve shared. Tomatoes will be great for all kinds of things – looking forward to spaghetti sauce! Plus, my home town is where Ball jars were originally manufactured – Dunkirk, Indiana! Had to give a nod to my roots!
I’ve only done tomatoes but I’d love to try something more adventurous!
I tried canning once, but it’s a little scary to me! I love summer fruits in winter though!
I havent canned in a long time and now I am preparing to get back into it, I plan on canning some jellys and preserves and some tomatoes and sauce . this is such a great giveaway to get started! Thank you for that!
i grew up learning how to can plums and cherries from my mom and grandmother
We love to make and can applesauce.
My mother canned everything, including her own homemade catsup, chili sauce, mincemeat and venison! We had no money, but we sure ate well from our garden all year long. I liked to can stewed tomatoes and green beans … my favorite garden veggies. Don’t do much now that it’s just me, but I never turn down home canned goodies when my sister offers them!
I can pickles, tomatoes, salsa, pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce this year.
The weather here was horrible for our garden this year, so I didn’t get to can like I usually do. 🙁 I did freeze some green bell peppers, however.
I’ve canned tomatoes before for spaghetti sauce, and it was a lot of work, but really tasty!!
AHH! I’ve been dying to learn how to can tomatoes in order to make homemade spaghetti sauce throughout the year! Crossing my fingers I win this giveaway! 🙂
I recently attended a class on canning…so I am in the learning stages
I have done tomatoes and peaches with my mom. Next week I am attempting to do pears on my own!
I’ve canned peaches, jams, jellies, and pickles.
I’ve always wanted to learn how to can. I can remember my grandmother had a huge cellar that she kept all of her canned goods in and she made the best stewed tomatoes. I would love to be able to replicate them 🙂
I’ve always wanted to learn.
I constantly hunt things to can. I love it. I think of it as a hobby not work
I started canning this year! I love it.
I love to can fruit, relish, pickles, and tomatoes. I also plan on doing some apple and pear sauce.
I have memories of making strawberry jam with my mom every summer!
I am just learning how to can and would be grateful for these. Thank you.
I have helped with my aunt’s canning but this year she will come to my house to help me with my own canning. I am excited. I plan on canning green beans and tomato’s.
I would love to learn to can.
I canned tomatoes years ago, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again. I also have made jam.
So far this season I have canned some tomatoes, tomato sauce, and peppers!
I don’t can, but I want to! I have never felt like I had the correct equipment.
I have canned tomato juice and tried to make pear preserves. For some reason my pear preserves didn’t set up.
I can with my mom and I love to can homemade applesauce
I remember eating my Grandma Archers pickles as a child- I would like to use her recipe and can my own!
Yes I can and so far all have done is jams and jellies..
My husband and I want to learn how to can so that we can make jams, pickles, and sauces.
My husband is the canner, i am just the assistant. When we were living in Colorado we bought Asian pears from a grower… about 2 crates worth and if you know what they are, it was a great way to be able to enjoy them year round and get them at a great price as a result of buying in bulk. We’ve been enjoying canned fruit from Colorado for the last 3 years!
I would love to learn how to can.
I love to can tomatoes and applesauce
I have always wanted to learn how to can. I would love to learn how to can green beans and preserves.
I have wanted to start canning. I remember my grandmother always was canning.
I do not can but my sis in law does.
I haven’t tried to can yet, but would love to learn!
We can peppers – mostly jalapenos, but also habanero peppers
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I love canning! This fall we have canned over 150 jars of food!!! Our garden did great this year and now we have food for the entire winter.
I have never canned before but I really want to. My sister-in-law cans though!
I grew up picking the vegetables and fruits out of the gardern and watching my mom can but I have never tried doing it myself! I planted a small garden for the last couple of years but not enough to brag or can with. I Love & Collect the canning jars, I use them all the time for gifts, and even for decor! Your posts are awesome!