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Canning Tomatoes, How to Can Tomatoes, Canning Whole, Chopped, or Diced Tomatoes

canning tomatoes

Easy steps for canning tomatoes at home. Learn how to prepare and can extra tomatoes from your vegetable garden for use all winter long. Includes Basic Tomato Recipe, Green Tomato Relish Recipe, and Tomatoes with Okra Recipe given below.

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Tomatoes are the one exception to the rule of the foods we consider vegetables that must be processed by pressure canning.

When canning tomatoes, experts say that canning in a boiling water bath is safe even for tomato varieties that are low-acid.

If your tomatoes are a bit on the sweet side, add 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice per pint before processing if desired.

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Canned Tomatoes Basic Recipe

Preparation for Canning:

Wash firm-ripe tomatoes.

Dip into boiling water for ½ a minute.

Then dip quickly into cold water.

Strip off peel and cut out stem end.

Leave whole, half, quarter, chopped, or diced.

If to be packed hot, bring prepared tomatoes to a boil, stirring continuously.

Packing:

For raw pack, press down firmly into jars to fill all spaces.
Add no liquid.
Allow ½ inch headspace.
For hot pack, fill jars with tomatoes, and then add hot juice from the kettle.
Leave ½ inch headroom.
Put lids on jars.

Processing:

Process tomatoes in a boiling water bath.

Pints for 35 minutes.

Quarts for 45 minutes.

Canning Tomatoes with Okra

In the South, fresh okra is a staple and used to thicken and flavor many delicious traditional southern meals such as seafood stews or gumbos.

It is equally good when canned, especially with tomatoes.

The following directions are for canning tomatoes with okra, onions, and green peppers.

Directions:

Peel, core, and chop ripe tomatoes.

Slice an equal quantity of okra.

Boil tomatoes for 20 minutes.

Add 1 small chopped onion to each quart.

Add okra.

Boil 5 minutes longer. Pack into clean, hot canning jars. Allow 1 inch headroom.

Add ½ teaspoon salt per pint. 1 teaspoon salt per quart.

Place lids on jars.

For canning by the pint, process at 10 pounds pressure for 30 minutes.

Quarts require 35 minutes processing time.

Green Tomato Relish

Either at the height of the season or when frost threatens to kill the vines, green tomatoes make superb canned goods for later use.

Uses include mixing in pies and tarts.

The following recipe combines canning tomatoes with a unique blend of fruits and spices.

Makes 10 pints.

Ingredients:

40 small to average sized green tomatoes, enough to make 4 quarts when chopped

2 quarts peeled, cored, and chopped tart apples

Grated rind and chopped pulp of 1 large orange, seeds removed

Grated rind of 1 large lemon

1 pound raisins

1 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon ground allspice

½ teaspoon ground ginger

4 cups packed light brown sugar

½ cup dark Jamaica rum (optional)

Directions:

Wash tomatoes, cut out stem ends. Chop coarsely. Drain in a colander for 2 hours.

In a large preserving pan combine the tomatoes with the apples and all the other ingredients except the rum.

Stir well, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, simmer until thick. Continue stirring frequently.

Depending on the juiciness of the ingredients and the heat level, this procedure of canning tomatoes takes from 1 to 2 hours.

When green tomato mix is thick enough to heap up in a spoon, add the rum if desired.

Spoon the green tomatoes into clean, hot pint canning jars.

Add lids to jars. Finish canning tomatoes by processing in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes.

Cool. Store jars in a dark cupboard for several weeks before using.

Canning Tomatoes to Vegetable Gardening

Canning Tomatoes to Canning Vegetables

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Canning Tomatoes, How to Can Tomatoes, Canning Whole, Chopped, or Diced Tomatoes

Canned Tomatoes Basic Recipe

Preparation for Canning:

Packing:

For raw pack, press down firmly into jars to fill all spaces.Add no liquid.Allow ½ inch headspace.For hot pack, fill jars with tomatoes, and then add hot juice from the kettle.Leave ½ inch headroom.Put lids on jars.

Processing:

Canning Tomatoes with Okra

Directions:

Ingredients:

Directions:

"Get the Dirt!" on Vegetable Gardening!> > A FREE Vegetable Gardening Tips and Ideas Newsletter < <

"Where to begin with my own vegetable garden? I need some help!"

Should I just try planting some seeds in the ground? Is there more to vegetable gardening than meets the eye? How about a container garden? Get the answers, tips, ideas, and more by subscribing to our FREE "Get the Dirt" newsletter.

For raw pack, press down firmly into jars to fill all spaces.
Add no liquid.
Allow ½ inch headspace.
For hot pack, fill jars with tomatoes, and then add hot juice from the kettle.
Leave ½ inch headroom.
Put lids on jars.

"Get the Dirt!" on Vegetable Gardening!

> > A FREE Vegetable Gardening Tips and Ideas Newsletter < <

Should I just try planting some seeds in the ground? Is there more to vegetable gardening than meets the eye? How about a container garden?

Get the answers, tips, ideas, and more by subscribing to our FREE "Get the Dirt" newsletter.