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Filled jars of whole Roma tomatoes

How to Can Whole Roma tomatoes

A great way to preserve Roma tomatoes and add to your pantry for cooking later!
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Canning Vegetables
Cuisine American
Servings 7 quarts

Equipment

  • 1 water bath canner
  • 1 mixing bowl with pourable spout
  • 1 mixing bowl to hold peelings
  • 1 mixing bowl for ice water bath
  • 1 paring knife
  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 1 Stockpot
  • 1 nonmetallic canning tool for removing air
  • 7 quart canning jars, lids and rings

Ingredients
  

  • 150 Roma tomatoes
  • 7 t canning salt
  • 7 T bottled lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Prepare quart canning jars by washing, sterilizing.
  • Add water to the water bath canner that will be enough to cover the 7 jars about 1-2" and begin heating on the stove.
  • Wash Roma tomatoes and add to a stockpot half filled with boiling water.
    washing Roma tomatoes for how to can whole tomatoes
  • Leave tomatoes in hot water for about 5 minutes or until skins feel "full" or break.
    water bath whole roma tomatoes for canning
  • Add tomatoes to a mixing bowl with ice and water to cool.
    ice water for canning whole Roma tomatoes
  • Using a paring knife, cut the core from the top and slide off the peelings over a mixing bowl with spout. Juice collected in the bowl can then be added to the tops of canned tomatoes.
    Save juice when peeling and canning Roma tomatoes
  • Add 1 T lemon juice to the bottom of each quart jar and begin adding the peeled tomatoes to the jar, pressing to pack them.
  • Be careful not to overfill jars.
    adding whole Roma tomatoes to jars
  • Add 1 t canning salt to the top and pour over additional juice until it gets to the bottom ring of the jar.
  • Using a nonmetallic canning tool, remove air by inserting inside the jar down the sides and center.
  • Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe off rims and rings of jars and then top with a clean unused lid and band. Don't add the band on too tight.
    Filled jars of whole Roma tomatoes
  • Add the jars to the water bath canner and make sure that it has 1-2" of water covering the jars. Add the lid.
  • Begin processing timer when the water bath begins to boil.
  • NOTE: Ball Blue Book recommends 45 minutes for quarts; 35 minutes for pints; USDA recommends 85 minutes processing time for whole tomatoes.
  • When time has completed, use a jar lifter and set the jars on a cloth covered area free from drafts without moving for 12-24 hours.
  • Don't forget to label and date after they have cooled.

Notes

Canning Roma tomatoes provide much more options when cooking with them later. Because they are only seasoned with salt, they lend themselves to be used for many things, such as, salsa, soups, spaghetti sauce, etc. later.
Roma tomatoes are also the perfect size and quality to easily remove peelings and add to jars for canning!
Keyword canning whole Roma tomatoes, canning whole tomatoes, water bath canning, water bath canning whole tomatoes