Now We're Cookin'

September 5, 2019

Canned Whole Tomatoes

(Using a Pressure Canner or Boiling-Water Bath)

 

The key to safely canning tomatoes is to ensure, first, that they’re at a safe acidity level, and then to process them at the right temperature for the right amount of time. This recipe is designed to work with either a boiling-water bath (i.e., a large pot filled with boiling water) or a dedicated pressure canner for safe long-term preservation of ripe whole summer tomatoes.

 

About 2 pounds (1kg) whole, ripe plum tomatoes, free of all damage

2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon citric acid

1 teaspoon 100% pure sea salt or kosher salt (optional)

 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and fill a large bowl with ice water. Meanwhile, wash tomatoes, discarding any leaf and stem remnants. Score skin of each tomato by making an X at the top of each. Carefully lower tomatoes into boiling water and let stand until skins show the first signs of loosening around the edges of the score marks, about 1 minute. Transfer tomatoes to ice water and let cool; their skins should loosen even more.

Pull off tomato skins and discard. Place peeled tomatoes in a large bowl.

Wash a 1-quart glass canning jar (or two 1-pint jars) in hot soapy water, rinse, and set aside. Alternatively, run jar(s) through the dishwasher and leave in machine until ready to use.

Add lemon juice or citric acid to jar, or divide evenly between jars if using the pint size. If using, add salt to jar or divide evenly between jars; salt seasons the tomatoes but can be omitted if desired.

Scoop skinned tomatoes into jars. Gently press them in, until jar is filled to a 1/2-inch headspace. Slide a thin plastic or metal blade in and out of jars to remove air bubbles. If headspace decreases from 1/2 inch, add any accumulated liquid from tomato bowl (or water, if you don’t have enough tomato liquid) to bring contents back to 1/2-inch headspace.

Wipe rims of jars with a damp towel. Place lids on top, then screw on rings only to finger-tightness. Over-tightening lids can prevent the canning process from working.

If Using a Boiling-Water Bath: Set a rack on the bottom of a stockpot, making sure the pot is large enough to hold the jars and allow at least 2 inches of water above them. Fill pot about halfway with water. Bring to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, bring a kettle of water to a boil as well.

When water is boiling, carefully lower jars into pot using jar-lifting tongs. When all jars are in the pot, if water does not cover them by at least 2 inches, add more boiling water from kettle until they are covered by 2 inches.

Cover pot and return to a rolling boil. Process tomatoes at a boil for 85 minutes at sea level; add 5 minutes to this time for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Remove jars when processing time is complete.

If Using a Pressure Canner: Set canner’s rack in the bottom of pressure canner and add about 4 inches water. Using jar-lifting tongs, carefully lower jars into pressure canner. Seal canner lid following manufacturer’s instructions. If using a weighted-gauge pressure canner, bring to 10 psi and process for 25 minutes. If using a dial-gauge pressure canner, bring to 11 psi and process for 25 minutes. If above an elevation of 1,000 feet, increase pressure setting to 15 psi for a weighted-gauge canner or 12 psi for a dial-gauge canner. (Follow manufacturer’s instructions exactly for specifics on how to operate your canner.)

Allow pressure canner to depressurize by venting it following manufacturer’s instructions. Once fully vented to 0 psi, let stand for 10 minutes. Attempt to remove lid only once canner has fully depressurized and has sat for 10 minutes. Attempting to open a pressure canner before it has depressurized is extremely dangerous; do not do it. The 10-minute rest at 0 psi allows the jars to acclimate to lower pressure; skipping this by attempting to move the jars too soon can cause siphoning (loss of liquid in the jar). When ready, carefully remove pressure canner lid. Let jars rest 15 minutes inside canner before removing with the jar-lifter.

Let jars stand for 24 hours, then check their seal. Lids should be taut, with no flex or give when you press down on them, and each jar should be at least halfway filled with liquid. If your jars do not pass the test, transfer to refrigerator and use tomatoes within 1 week. If they do pass the test, tomatoes can be stored in a dark, cool place for 12 to 18 months.

 


Homemade Salsa

9 c. chopped tomatoes, skins removed*

3 c. chopped green peppers

3 c. chopped white onion

3–4 jalapenos, chopped**

8 cloves garlic, chopped

6 tsp. canning salt

1 c. white vinegar

1 (12 oz.) can tomato paste

 

*Remove the skins from the tomatoes. To do this, make an “X” in the bottom of the tomatoes, than place in boiling water for 60 seconds. Then, remove the tomatoes from the water and place directly into a bowl if iced water to shock. The skins should slip right off.

Place all of the ingredients in a large pot (you will need a 10qt. saucepan for this batch, or split the ingredients among 2 saucepans) and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Taste! Add more spice as needed.

You’ll then process using a water bath. To do this, bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Your saucepan needs to be tall enough to have the water cover the jars by 2 inches- though the jars will displace some of the water as they are added.

Add the jars to the water bath and cover with a lid. Process for 30 minutes, then remove.

Let the jars sit for 24 hours. Discard any that have a broken seal. The salsa should keep for up to 18 months before being opened. Enjoy!

**For a hot salsa, use 4 jalapenos with the seeds. For a mild salsa, seed 1-2 of the jalapenos before chopping. Remember that the heat will lessen as the salsa sits, so tend to error on being spicy than not. However, you can taste while it’s cooking so if you want more, you can always add more. It’s hard to correct spice level so if you don’t like things spicy, then start with only 1 jalapeno and go from there. Yields 7-8 pints of salsa.

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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