| 7/26/2011 9:45:16 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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red35670
Somerville, AL
60, joined Feb. 2011
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my neighbor told me a good faster way to can tomatoes and I tried it. she said
to wash them, cut the core and bad spots out, blend them, strain, and heat to boil,
and can. I tried to call her but didn't get an answer to ask her this but the pulp and the liquid is separating with the liquid on the bottom. Wonder if this is normal and
will mix better later as it sets or what? I pressure canned mine to be sure for about
10 minutes. I wonder if it would hurt to shake them up to make it mix well? What do y'all
think?
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| 7/26/2011 8:31:57 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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goshas
Winston Salem, NC
52, joined Jul. 2011
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Shake it 
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| 7/27/2011 4:30:13 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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tbirdracer
Gainesville, GA
54, joined Nov. 2007
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It's normal for the water and pulp to separate in tomato juice. You can either shake it before pouring it out for use, or carefully pour off most of the water and shake the rest if used for cooking sauces or something thick. Personally, if the pulp is floating, I'd shake or swirl it so that the pulp eventually sinks to the bottom of the jar. Sometimes it won't.
Your neighbor's method of boiling and immediately canning is what my family calls "hot-packing" and works fine if you have your jars and lids in boiling water too, need to keep everything as hot as possible so when it cools it pulls the max vaccuum. Your method of processing for 10 minutes was fine too.
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| 7/27/2011 8:42:55 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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red35670
Somerville, AL
60, joined Feb. 2011
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Thanks! I have been shaking them and seems to be helping and so far they are
still sealed good so maybe they are good. Her method is so much easier than the
way I use to do them. I am starting to get alot of tomato's now so will be doing
alot of canning which I'm glad my plants did so well. They are huge and hanging
over the cages. Everyone has commented about them and asking how I grew them so
pretty. I really don't know except the method I usually use and that is soil and
compost from my compost pile, newspapers, powdered milk and epsom salt occasionally.
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| 7/27/2011 3:56:10 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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coppermare
Grady, AL
57, joined Feb. 2008
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I just drop mine into boiling water (it makes the skin come off so easy) then core if you like and pop them in quart freezer bags and into the freezer. Great during the winter for chili or soups or tomato gravy and such
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| 7/28/2011 12:45:58 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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tbirdracer
Gainesville, GA
54, joined Nov. 2007
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Coppemare, I love and use your method for canning whole tomatoes, although these days I like to halve and dump the seeds. Freezer space for me is too precious.
OP, you found the magic to good soil!
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| 7/28/2011 7:51:55 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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red35670
Somerville, AL
60, joined Feb. 2011
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I just drop mine into boiling water (it makes the skin come off so easy) then core if you like and pop them in quart freezer bags and into the freezer. Great during the winter for chili or soups or tomato gravy and such
I use to do mine this way also but was running out of freezer space and with the power
outtage some had I decided to try and can as much as I could. I may still freeze some
but this method she told me is so much faster and less messy.
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| 7/28/2011 5:20:40 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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coppermare
Grady, AL
57, joined Feb. 2008
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LOL IDK those canning jars and lids are expensive to me and instead of taking up freezer space they take up cabinet space. Small freezer around 150...and I guess I sorta got a pet peeve about "clutter" like my counters and such clean. To each his own I guess. 
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| 7/28/2011 6:38:09 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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red35670
Somerville, AL
60, joined Feb. 2011
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LOL IDK those canning jars and lids are expensive to me and instead of taking up freezer space they take up cabinet space. Small freezer around 150...and I guess I sorta got a pet peeve about "clutter" like my counters and such clean. To each his own I guess.
Yes they are expensive so I try to buy at thrift stores and save what I open and my
mom gave me some too so really haven't had to put a lot into jars so far. Yeah, cabinet
space is a problem with me also. Can't win for losing. Think this winter I
am going to build me some shelves in my spare bedroom to store them on or maybe some
shelves in the closet. My neighbor said to keep in a cool dark place so that might be
the thing to do is the closet. I don't know. Will figure it out later I guess.
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| 7/29/2011 2:02:10 AM |
Canning tomatoes |
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tbirdracer
Gainesville, GA
54, joined Nov. 2007
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I've always had a basement so space/shelving isn't a problem. We get storm related power outages sometimes, and hate to lose frozen food if it stays out too long. But I keep my freezers full anyway, so I 'can' what I am able.
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| 10/25/2011 8:45:09 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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lafemique
Otter Lake, MI
65, joined May. 2011
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I lost use of one arm and now preserve tomatoes by juicing, boiling to paste and freezing in small bags. Much more convenient and practical for me.
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| 10/26/2011 7:33:12 PM |
Canning tomatoes |
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linspace4
Asbury, MO
57, joined Aug. 2010
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Right or wrong? - I just canned 6 qts of tomatoes this am to a total of 23. Been a really tough year here - I am one of the very few who have tomatoes to can.
I dip in boiling water for a few seconds to loosen the skins, run them through a grater of 1/2" x 1/2" squares fill the jars which have been washed in sudsy water and then sent through the dishwasher to sterilize. Add 1 t. canning salt. Put on caps ( that have been simmering a few minutes) and rims. Then Hot water bath for 50 min gentle boil.
There is a Ball canning guide @ Wal-Mart for like $5. Lots of good info in it~
Good Luck and Happy Canning! 
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