Who Knew Homemade Ketchup Was AMAZING?!

Have you ever made or had homemade ketchup? Canned homemade ketchup that is so amazing you won’t believe it!

Shopping for canning items had items on my list that were pretty ordinary…ingredients for special recipes that I love to can, canning rings and lids…if you can…you know, right?

Now, I have a disclosure to make. Last year I had not had luck with previously made bread and butter pickles, so I picked up a package of Mrs. Wages Bread and Butter Pickle seasoning mix and I have been truly happy with the results.

Well…while shopping, there it was hanging on a rack along with all sorts of pickle seasoning packages—

Mrs. Wages Ketchup

What?!

My husband’s favorite food is ketchup. Can I also tell you that he is reallllly picky about ketchup?

I was TRULY risking my life by suggesting that I could even attempt to make a homemade ketchup to match his favorite brand.

But, risk I did.

That Ketchup packet ended up in my cart for the awaited canning.

No artificial color or artificial flavor read the package…a simple seasoning mix. Sold.

This Ketchup mix is amazing…

And why is it amazing?! It can be made ANY time of the year with diced canned tomatoes!

WHAT?!

But, it also had the recipe for using fresh tomatoes…and because it IS CANNING SEASON…I chose that route.

Remember, when I shared the my home canned tomato juice recipe? Well, that’s how I began.

6 pounds of fresh tomatoes were cooked and juiced before the final steps of making that ketchup.

All I had to do was mix tomato paste with vinegar and add to the juiced tomatoes along with the sugar and Mrs. Wages Ketchup mix, stir really well and simmer for 5 minutes.

You can serve it immediately, freeze or can. I chose to can it.

Here’s how my version of Mrs. Wages Ketchup recipe went below.

So how long does homemade ketchup keep?

• one week after opening.
• one year canned or in the freezer.

Is making homemade ketchup really worth it?

• Ask my husband! Yes!
• If you don’t mind canning, it’s perfect to have in the pantry.
• I haven’t frozen it yet, so I don’t know how it holds up thawed after freezing.
• I am a fan and I know my guests will be.

Is it time consuming?

• This is what’s involved- washing & quartering the tomatoes and adding to a Dutch Oven/Stockpot and cooking for about an hour.
• Juicing is quick and easy IF you have the equipment to do it which only takes about 10 minutes.
• Mixing the rest of the ingredients in and simmering for 5 minutes is easy.
• AND, if you water bath can, it takes another 40 minutes of processing and then waiting 12-24 hours before labeling and storing.
• If you freeze or serve immediately, cooling down and packaging is all that you have to do.
• With all of that said…the time is well worth it.

Any helpful tips for making homemade ketchup?

• Since the recipe recommends eating within a week of opening, consider the serving size of the container you want to put it in. For me, that meant I canned the ketchup in 1/2 pt. containers.
• 1/4 pint containers would be perfect for single servings.
• Juicing fresh tomatoes gives a beautiful flavor and smooth consistency to the ketchup. It’s an easy way to remove skins and seeds and provide great pulp and juice for a great product.
• I haven’t tried the canned tomatoes, but probably will during the winter months.

You know what I have done now?

Yep…I have added another recipe that has to be made for my family. I am not sure that after eating this we can go back to other brands.

It is that good.

Hope you’ll give it a try…and then let me know what you think? May all of your food that need ketchup be glorious!

Don’t mind me…I may be making more homemade ketchup during the winter with canned tomatoes!

In case you need a little shopping help, I’ve got you. I’ve added affiliate links so that you can shop your heart away at no additional cost with this link, but may provide a tiny commission.

My husband’s favorite ketchup now is this one. As tomatoes are coming in, I’m off to get more to add ketchup to the pantry.

If you need more home canning recipes from Mrs. Wages, here you go:

• salsa
• pizza sauce
• pasta and spaghetti sauce

I love that the ones I use have no artificial flavor and many no artificial color. That’s in the bonus category for me for sure.

Mrs. Wages has so many other packets of seasonings from pickles to beets and beyond. Each and every one always have great flavor and add a bit of ease to the canning process and results.

Happy canning, friends,

As an Amazon, Walmart and LTK affiliate, at times I may provide affiliate links to products that may offer an easier way to find products that I mention or use. Same price for you, but beneficial to this blog and at times, may offer compensation if you use them to shop. See my disclosure policy here.