What Are Cherry Tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes, as the name suggests, are relatively smaller round or oval-shaped tomatoes than the traditional ones. These smaller fruits, which are a genetic cross between garden tomatoes and wild currant tomatoes, can range in size from a grape to a golf ball.
Cherry tomatoes are usually crimson, but you will also find orange and yellow ones. The tomatoes are juicy and sweet and can be grown easily in your home garden. They are most widely used as salad dressing, for making pasta sauce, and toppings, and for garnishing other recipes.
How Can You Preserve Cherry Tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes taste their best when consumed fresh. You cannot keep them for long because they will go bad after some time. Also, you cannot keep them fresh for longer in the fridge. So, how can you preserve cherry tomatoes?
The best way to preserve cherry tomatoes is by canning them. Canning is a great food preservation technique and works well for most food items. You can preserve cherry tomatoes for a long time by canning. The flavor and freshness will also remain intact upon canning cherry tomatoes.
Does The Tomato Type Matter In Canning Tomatoes?
No, the tomato type makes no difference while canning the cherry tomatoes. You can use any variety of cherry tomatoes for preserving- orange cherry tomatoes, black cherry tomatoes, or yellow cherry tomatoes, and all of them will keep equally well when stored properly.
Do You Need To Peel The Tomatoes Before Preserving?
No, you do not necessarily need to peel the tomatoes before canning. Just wash the cherry tomatoes in clean water, remove the stem, and let them dry, and they are ready for canning. You also do not need to cut them as they are already small in size. So you can preserve the tomatoes whole without peeling.
Ways To Can Cherry Tomatoes!
Tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes can be canned in two ways- raw pack or hot pack. In the raw pack method, you can simply can the tomatoes in a preserving liquid while they are still raw and then process them in a water bath canner. While in the hot pack method, you briefly cook the tomatoes before actually canning them.
Well, another point of difference between the two methods is that you can preserve more tomatoes at a time in the hot pack method because they shrink upon cooking. On the other hand, it is easier and faster to raw pack tomatoes. Whatever method you choose, make sure you pack them nicely to preserve the tomatoes for longer.
Equipment For Canning Tomatoes!
The use of appropriate equipment is essential in the canning process of packing cherry tomatoes for later use. You just cannot can something with the wrong equipment, it will only spoil the food. You need specific equipment for canning different food items. Similarly, cherry tomatoes require particular canning supplies for adequate storage.
Check out the detailed list of all the canning supplies required for preserving cherry tomatoes.
- A boiling water canner
- Canning jars- pint jars or quart jars
- Specific jar lids and bands
- 2 large saucepans
- Measuring spoon, ladle, and funnel
- Jar lifters or tongs
- Paper towels
How To Raw Pack Cherry Tomatoes?
Check out the following step-by-step method to raw pack cherry tomatoes effectively at home.
- Always go with fresh cherry tomatoes and avoid the ones that are mushy, charred, or blemished. Wash the tomatoes gently in cool water to remove dirt and let them dry.
- To prepare the canning jars, lids, and bands, put them in hot soapy water and clean them. This will be enough to clean the jars. You can also sterilize them.
- Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. At the same time, fill a water bath canner with water and get the canner ready for processing the jars.
- Fill the jars with the tomatoes, add the boiled water and about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Lemon juice will boost the canning process. Do not fill the jars all the way, leave a headspace.
- Gently tap the jar on the counter to remove air bubbles. Next, secure the jar lids and tighten the bands adequately.
- Place the closed jars in the water bath canner. Make sure they are completely submerged in water before you start the heating process. Cover the lid and heat the jars for 40-45 minutes.
- After the timer goes off, let the jars sit in hot water for about 5 minutes. Then remove the jars with a jar lifter carefully and place them on the counter to cool down.
- Leave the jars undisturbed for about 24 hours at room temperature. Check for the seal, and your cherry tomatoes are ready to be canned for up to a year. Keep them in a cool and dry place.
How To Hot Pack Cherry Tomatoes?
Check out the following steps to hot pack the tomatoes easily at home. Note that this will take more time as compared to the raw pack method, but here you can preserve more tomatoes at a time.
- Prepare your canning jars. Clean them with soapy water and sterilize the jars in hot boiling water. Place the clean jars on a towel and let them air dry.
- Select fresh tomatoes, wash them to remove dirt, and put them in a large saucepan. Fill the saucepan with water and cook the tomatoes for 5-8 minutes.
- Take the jars and pour the tomatoes along with the liquid into the jars. Add lemon juice and sprinkle some salt into the jars. Also, remember to leave a headspace.
- Scrape the jars with a straw to remove the air bubbles. Next, seal the canning jars adequately with specific jar lids and bands.
- Prepare the water bath canner, and process the canning jars with cherry tomatoes for about 35-40 minutes. Make sure the jars are completely submerged in water while processing.
- Turn off the heat and remove the jars from the canner. Place them on the counter for about 24 hours to cool completely. Keep them undisturbed at room temperature.
- Check the jar seals by pressing the center of the lids. Store the jars in a cool and dry place away from heat, and your cherry tomatoes are ready to be canned for about 18 months.
How To Store Canned Cherry Tomatoes?
Storing is an important step to keep the canned tomatoes appropriately and safe from heat and light. Heat and light are the two factors that can spoil canned food. Also, before storing the canned food jars, check for the sealing and let the jars cool completely.
Store your canned cherry tomato jars carefully in a cool and dark place, always away from sunlight. You can also store them in the pantry o kitchen cabinet. This way the canned tomatoes will stay good for up to 18 months.
Ways To Use Canned Cherry Tomatoes!
You can use canned cherry tomatoes in a lot of ways. From stews to sauces, from snacks to any recipe that demands tomatoes, the options are endless. Check out the following ways to use canned tomatoes in further recipes.
- Pasta Sauce
- Tomato Soup
- Salsa
- Bruschetta
- Drinks
Summing it up, that was all about canning cherry tomatoes. You can choose whatever method suits you the best for canning tomatoes, both of them will preserve the tomatoes equally well. Pickled cherry tomatoes are also a great way of preserving them for later. Remember to never use a pressure canner to process the tomato jars.