Can You Store Tomatoes?
Tomatoes are used in a lot of recipes. And tomatoes can be used in a variety of ways- chopped, pureed, blended, and more. Not only this, but you can also have raw tomatoes in salads or as dressings. There are so many possibilities for tomatoes in the kitchen.
However, tomatoes do not last very long. Even if you keep them in the refrigerator, they will last for a maximum of three weeks. You must be wondering if you can store tomatoes for longer. Yes, you can. Tomatoes can be preserved by the processes of freezing and canning. They are the most popular home food preservation methods.
Freezing and canning are both totally different methods of preserving tomatoes for longer. And it is observed that tomatoes last longer when canned properly. Also, make sure you do not preserve softer tomatoes as they will be suitable for storing.
Is It Possible To Can Tomatoes?
Yes, it is possible to can tomatoes. In fact, tomatoes are one of those foods that do well in canning. Canning increases their shelf life by up to a year. However, make sure that you choose fresh and ripe tomatoes for canning, and reject the ones that are overripe. Canning is a great home food preservation technique.
Which Type Of Tomatoes Are Suitable For Canning?
Tomatoes that are fresh and ripe are suitable for canning. Also, keep in mind to check the sizes of the tomatoes because that will determine whether you need to cut them or not. While selecting the tomatoes for canning, also check if they have turned softer or not. If yes, then they cannot be canned.
In other words, it is important to choose fresh produce for canning. Some tomatoes are yellow in color which means they have not ripened properly, so it is better if you reject them while canning. This way you can ensure a year-round supply of fresh tomatoes at your home.
How To Can Tomatoes?
Canning tomatoes is an easy process but needs to be done carefully, otherwise, you might end up ruining the tomatoes. Tomatoes are delicate vegetables and contain a lot of water, therefore, you have to follow each step precautiously for canning tomatoes.
Check out the steps mentioned below for canning tomatoes at home.
- Start by peeling the tomatoes before canning them. This is because peeled tomatoes keep much better for longer periods upon canning. You can blanch the tomatoes for a few minutes and peel the skin off after they are completely cool.
- If the tomatoes are very large in size, either cut them into halves or dice them into smaller pieces. Or if the tomatoes are of medium sizes, you can only cut them into halves. Use a sharp knife to do so.
- Take wide-mouth clean jars. It would be best if you sterilize the jars and their lids before canning tomatoes. Pour the cut tomatoes carefully into the jars. You can also fill in the juices that come along while preparing the tomatoes.
- Add lemon juice to the tomatoes before canning. A splash of lemon juice is acidic and therefore boosts the canning process. It increases the acid level of the tomatoes and thus ensures safe canning.
- Seal the jars with their respective lids securely and place them in a canner with boiling water for about 40 minutes. This will improve the canning and seal the lids further for better preservation.
- Remove the jars of tomatoes from the boiling water with a ladle and let them cool. You can check the sealing by pressing the center of the jars- it will remain dipped if sealed adequately. Label and date the jars, and tomato canning is done.
Canning is a very popular way to store foods for longer. There are two methods of canning- water bath canning and pressure canning that are most widely used. However, the method you choose will depend on the types of foods that you want to preserve.
What Is Water Bath Canning?
Water bath canning is a method that involves boiling the sealed canning jars at high temperatures for about 30-60 minutes. This is done to create pressure inside the glass canning jars to improve the seal. This also stops bacterial growth which could otherwise spoil the foods. Water bath canning is ideal for highly acidic foods. You can also can your tomatoes by this method if you are adding lemon juice to them.
What Is Pressure Canning?
Pressure canning is considered the safest method to can low-acidic foods. The process includes steaming the canning jars at high temperatures inside a pressure cooker for about 40-60 minutes. This high temperature eventually destroys the bacterial build-up and thus preserves the food for longer. The pressurized steam further seals the jars more effectively and boosts the canning process. Tomatoes can be canned using this method.
Do’s And Don’ts Of Canning Tomatoes!
Now that you know how to can tomatoes and the ways of canning food, check out the do’s and don’ts of canning tomatoes. This will ensure more effective canning of the tomatoes.
- Leave a headspace of about 1-2 inches in the canning jars. This is because the tomatoes will release steam upon boiling to seal and will not be possible if the jars are completely filled. So, it is important to leave a little space before closing the jar lids.
- Do not use fancy tomatoes for canning. Instead, go with the regular ones. This is because fancy tomatoes are expensive and do not react well to canning. Whereas, regular tomatoes are relatively suitable for canning.
- It is best if you can the tomatoes in their original juice instead of adding other liquid ingredients. Fruits and vegetables when canned in their original juice can be preserved for longer periods. This way your canned tomatoes will last for up to 12 months.
- Do not can a lot of tomatoes together. If you have a lot of tomatoes to store, it is best if you portion them out into smaller serving sizes. This will also reduce food wastage and keep your tomatoes for longer.
Types Of Jars To Store Tomatoes!
The market has a lot of different varieties of canning jars and each one of them has a dedicated usage. Therefore, you need to select particular jars for canning different types of foods.
As far as canning tomatoes are concerned, go with a wide-mouth pint or quart canning jar. This will be beneficial if you are canning half-cut tomatoes or whole tomatoes. The wide mouth of the jars will allow easy pouring and taking out of the tomatoes from the jars. Further, the pint-size or quart size is perfect for canning the ideal portion of tomatoes because you cannot can a lot of tomatoes together.
Can You Use Bottled Lemon Juice For Canning The Tomatoes?
Yes, you can also use bottled lemon juice for canning your tomatoes. Lemon or any other citric acid increases the acid content in the tomatoes and therefore boosts the preservation process of tomatoes.
Bottled lemon juice is no different than fresh lemon juice, therefore it will be suitable for canning. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of the bottled lemon juice into the jars and it will be enough to can your food.
Summing it up that was all about canning tomatoes. Now you know that it is a great preserving technique to store your food for longer. You can either use a water bath or a pressure canner method for boiling your jars. Furthermore, you can use these tomatoes in a lot of recipes.