An average of 21 pounds is needed per canner load of 7 quarts; an average of 13 pounds is needed per canner load of 9 pints. A bushel weighs 53 pounds and yields 15 to 21 quarts-an average of 3 pounds per quart.
Equipment Needed
• water bath canning pot
• canning jars (pints or quarts)
• lids (round metal lids with a gum binder)
• rings (metal bands that secure the lids to the jars)
• jar lifter (to pick up the hot jars)
Method: Sterilize the Jars and Lids
1. Fill the canner with water until it is half full and put it on medium high heat.
2. Fill the jars partially with water and place them on the rack in the canner for sterilization.
3. Bring the water to a boil.
4. Boil the jars for about 10 minutes.
Note: Jars can also be placed in the dishwasher and run through the high heat cycle. Be sure to let it go through the rinse cycle to get rid of any soap!
5. Fill the canner about ½ full of water and start it heating (with the lid on).
6. Put the lids into the small pot of boiling water for at least several minutes.
Method: Processing the Tomatoes
1. Wash tomatoes.
2. Cut shallow in non stem end to aid peeling.
3. Remove the tomatoes’ skins.
• Dip in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or until skins split, then dip in cold water.
• Slip off skins and remove cores. Leave whole or halve.
4. Fill jars with raw tomatoes, leaving ½ inch headspace.
5. Press tomatoes in the jars until spaces between them fill with juice.
6. Add salt to the jars.
• 1 teaspoon of salt per quart of tomatoes
• ½ teaspoon of salt per pint of tomatoes
7. Add lemon juice or citric acid to the jars.
• 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon citric acid per pint of tomatoes
Note: Acid can be added directly to the jars before filling with product; in fact, this is recommended to be sure you get the acid in each and every jar.
8. Using a flat plastic or wood utensil, free trapped air bubbles by gently sliding it up and down around the inside edge.
9. Put the lids and rings on.
Note: Just screw them on snugly, not too tight. If there is any tomato on the surface of the lip of the jar, wipe it off first with a clean dry cloth or paper towel.
10. Put the filled jars in the canner and keep them covered with at least 1 inch of water.
11. Process the jars in a boiling-water bath.
• 85 minutes for quarts.
• 85 minutes for pints.
12. When processing is complete, lift the jars out of the water and let them cool in a draft-free place.
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17 Comments
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rspunderwood on 6.16.2010
Can’t wait to try this!!! I have made some jam using a hot water bath and didn’t have the canning pot or the rack to go in the pot. My granny told me, that when she was growning up she didn’t have special pots or a rack. She justed used a big stock pot and would fold up a kitchen towel and lay in the bottom of the pot to keep the jars directly off the pot to avoid breaking. It works!! Just love that woman….she is the smartest person I know, she knows how to do everything!!
cookingkristin on 9.20.2009
Can I use cherry and grape tomatoes? I have tons of them growing faster than we are eating and I would like to preserve them for winter time. I would love to be able to use them to make pasta sauce and other dishes.
gsrader on 9.10.2009
Kudos on your canning, Frank. I’ve canned since I was a little girl. My mother taught me, and even though you can buy all the jams and tomatoes on cans now, it’s much more satisfying to can your own. The taste is so much better too! Having tomatoes from your garden to cook with in December is a treat each year. This year, we had a lot of yellow tomatoes. I have some really pretty jars of yellow tomatoes mixed with red.
Frank on 7.20.2009
grandi13,
Your most important step in home canning is to follow safe and sanitary canning methods. If you have a question about canning practice or technique contact your local Extension Service agent.
Have fun.
grandi13 on 7.19.2009
I, too, am canning tomatoes for the first time this year. I got my canner from Kitchen Collection for only $20. The rack was included. I bought a ‘Utensil set for Perserving’ from Wal-Mart. My method is a little different than this one, but I think I will try this way.