3 Steps to Can Your Tomatoes and Keep Them Fresh Longer

Tomatoes are one of the healthiest food choices you can have.

They are also one of the most common ingredients you add in your meals. Have you ever wished to plant them in your garden?

Supermarket tomatoes don’t taste good, so home-grown tomatoes are definitely better option. This is possible only if you can them. You can buy canned tomatoes in stores, but they don’t have the same quality as the ones grown at home conditions. Canning is a simple procedure, so you can enjoy your tomatoes during the whole year. Plus, this method is inexpensive.

Follow these steps to can your tomatoes and keep them fresh.

1. Get the necessary canning materials 

You will need:

• Several ripened tomatoes
• Two large pots
• Canning tongs
• Canning jars and lids
• Funnel
• Ladle

Extra tip: You can also add cooked red peppers and onions. Add fresh herbs like basil and oregano to enrich their taste.

2. Preparing the tomatoes 

Make a shallow cross-cut on the top of the tomatoes. Boil the tomatoes so that you can remove the skins.  Keep boiling them and the skins will slide right off. Now, you can add onions, herbs, and peppers. Dice the tomatoes along with the vegetables and you can start the process of canning.

3. Canning 

Use the large pots to boil some water. Fill the other pot with cool water. Salt is the most popular natural preservative, which will keep the tomatoes fresh. If you are using pint-sized jars, add 1/2 teaspoon. In case you are using quart-sized jars, add a teaspoon of salt. The funnel and the ladle would serve to fill the jars. Wipe the rim of the jar off. Seal the lid tightly. Then, put the jar in boiling water. Make sure you leave at least 1 inch of water between the jar and the surface of the water. Pints will need 40 minutes and quart-sized ones will need 45 minutes.

Remove the tomatoes with tongs. Transfer the jars to a large pot of cool water. Keep them at room temperature.