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    Home » How to » Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes: A Step by Step Guide

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes: A Step by Step Guide

    September 23, 2017 , Updated May 30, 2024 Maria 166 Comments

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    A few jars of canned whole tomatoes on a wooden board.

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes is my favorite way to bring back a little bit of summer during those long winter months.

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    There is nothing quite like eating a freshly picked, sun ripened tomato. My family is privileged enough to have a small backyard garden and a good section of it is dedicated to a variety of tomato plants – cherry, heirloom, and of course, the thick flesh Roma tomato, which is a great plum tomato to make Homemade Pizza Sauce.

    Every year, there is this mad dash to maximize preservation of fruits and vegetables. It’s no wonder as everything in my garden ripens at once! It’s been a busy couple of weeks, from making Homemade Concord Grape Jelly, to Crock pot Vanilla Pear Butter, and some jars of Chunky Applesauce which will most likely end up as hostess gifts during the holiday season.

    So, in an effort to preserve some of my backyard Romas, I spent an afternoon canning these wonderful plum tomatoes. They will be used for those hearty stews and chunky minestrone soups, appropriate comfort food for the winter. I would like to spend just a few minutes and share this simple process with all of you.

    Before I get into the how to, I would just like to bring up a safety issue. As you probably know, when canning tomatoes (or any foods) the level of acidity will dictate the preservation method.

    Although tomatoes have always been considered a high acid food, they have recently been flagged as being borderline as far as the pH is concerned (source NCHFP). Remember, a certain level of acidity (pH below 4.6) is required in order to prevent food borne illnesses, botulism for one.

    So, like a good little canning soldier, I am following the recommendations. Just in case you are wondering, that means adding a tablespoon of concentrated lemon juice per pint of raw canned tomatoes; two tablespoons if you are using quarts. It is not recommended to use lemon juice (squeezed from a lemon) as lemons can vary in acidity.

    Canning whole tomatoes by using a water bath method is not difficult, but following a couple of essential steps makes the whole process a lot easier and safer.

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    STEP 1: The PREPARATION of JARS and TOMATOES

    • Canning jars need to be washed and sterilized (place in 225 ° F oven for at least 10 minutes). Leave them in the oven until ready to be filled up;
    • Lids also need to be sterilized; just 10 minutes in simmering water is all it takes. Leave them in the water until you need them;
    • The rings only need to be properly washed;
    • Tomatoes need to be washed. Although any tomatoes can be used, the plum varieties (Roma tomatoes) are the best when it comes to canning. Remember to use tomatoes that are blemish free.

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    STEP 2: The PEELING of the WHOLE TOMATOES

    • Score the tip of the tomato with an “x”  OR just slice off the tip. Personally, I find that slicing the tip off allows for the tomato skin to just slip off once it has been blanched;
    • Drop the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for about 60 seconds;
    • Remove tomatoes and place in a bowl to cool down (if you want, you can place them in an ice water bath);
    • When cool enough to handle, peel off the skin.

    STEP 3: The PACKING and CANNING TOMATOES

    • Add one tablespoon of concentrated lemon juice per pint (2 tablespoons if using quarts);
    • Fill each hot jar with peeled tomatoes and their juices;
    • Leave ½ – ¾ inch head-space from the top;
    • Remove air bubbles by running a knife along the side of the jar;
    • Wipe the rims clean;
    • Place a sterilized lid and screw on the bands until “finger tight”.

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    STEP 4: The PROCESSING of the CANNED WHOLE TOMATOES

    • Place the sealed jars in a lukewarm water bath. Ensure the water is a couple of inches above the jars.
    • Bring the water to a rolling boil and start the timing process. Please note that process times can vary based on your altitude. Please refer to this chart for recommendations. I will process my pint jars for about 85 minutes. GOOD TO KNOW: In order to prevent rough mineral deposits on the outside of your jars and on the inside of your water bath pot, pour about ½ cup of white vinegar in your water bath.
    • Remove jars and allow to cool down before storing.

    You’re done! When you hear the seals of the jar lids popping, you’ll know you’ve done a good job!

     Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    Recipe origins

    As you can well imagine, Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes, as well as making la conserva di pomodori (i.e. jarred tomato sauce) was a yearly ritual when I was growing up. As most Italians that immigrated to Montreal, my parents had a large vegetable garden which included tomatoes (technically a fruit  😉  )

    There was, of course, the obligatory visit to the farms to hand-pick a few more bushels of Roma tomatoes… just in case. You need to know that la cantina was one of the most important rooms in the house and it had to be well-stocked!

    And so it was, that as we washed and peeled and jarred tomatoes, stories of childhood memories and lessons of life were shared from one generation to another.

    I often look back at those days and think not only were we preserving tomatoes, but creating lifelong memories.

    Enjoy the rest of these wonderful summer like days.

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria

    ★★★★★ If you have made this canned tomato recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes

    Canning Raw Pack Whole Tomatoes is my favorite way to bring back a little bit of summer during those long winter months.
    4.95 from 34 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Preserves
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 2 hours hours
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9 pints
    Calories: 121kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • 13 pounds tomatoes preferably Roma
    • 9 tablespoons concentrated lemon juice separated

    Instructions

    • Wash and score tomatoes.
    • Blanch the tomatoes by dropping them in a pot of boiling water for about 60 seconds.
    • Remove tomatoes and place in a bowl to cool down (if you want, you can place them in an ice water bath).
    • Peel off the skin when cool enough to handle.
    • Add concentrated lemon juice to jars (2 tablespoons per quart or 1 tablespoon per pint).
    • Fill each hot (sterilized) jar with peeled tomatoes and their juices.
    • Leave ½ – ¾ inch head-space from the top.
    • Remove air bubbles by running a knife along the side of the jar.
    • Wipe the rims clean.
    • Place a sterilized lid and screw on the bands until “finger tight”.
    • Process in hot water bath. Recommended process time for both pints and quarts is 85 minutes. Please note that process times can vary based on your altitude.
    • Remove jars and allow to cool down before storing.
    Enhance Your Cooking Experience!SCROLL UP for essential step-by-step photos embedded in the article above. When available, videos can be found in the next section. These visuals are designed to help you achieve perfect results every time. Happy cooking!

    Notes

    You can process as many or as little Roma tomatoes as you wish. What is important is that you follow safety guidelines.
    1 serving= 1 pint jar
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pint | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 1568mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 5460IU | Vitamin C: 95.5mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1.8mg
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    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a retired dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teresa Watters

      October 24, 2020 at 4:58 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my, I have enjoyed seeing the tomatoes 🍅 being canned. My Sister & Grandma would do the Canning, So Good To Taste!!
      Thank You for your Post…
      Beautiful!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 24, 2020 at 8:58 pm

        I am sure you have so many wonderful memories. Thanks for taking the time to share, appreciate it!

        Reply
    2. Indira Bisram

      October 06, 2020 at 8:22 am

      Do you keep this in the freezer? In the fridge>

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 07, 2020 at 5:20 pm

        Thanks for your interest Indira. Once processed, I keep them in my pantry.

        Reply
    3. Lee

      October 05, 2020 at 3:17 pm

      This year since we could not travel we planted tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. I could not believe how many tomatoes grew from our plants! I decided to can them using your recipe. It was easy and quick! Can’t wait to try them this winter! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 05, 2020 at 3:20 pm

        How wonderful to have a backyard garden. Thanks so much for sharing. Enjoy Lee!

        Reply
    4. Elaine Frlekin

      September 27, 2020 at 2:26 pm

      Maria,
      This was my first time canning tomatoes. Your recipe was easy to following and everything turn out beautifully. Thank you
      every happy cant wait to try other recipes.
      Ciao, Elaine

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 28, 2020 at 8:06 pm

        Thrilled to read this! Thanks, Elaine.

        Reply
    5. Carol

      September 26, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing your families way of canning whole tomatoes! I Love love how simple the instructions are, for this 1st time canner! The tip on the vinegar for the outside of the jars was much appreciated! Gracias!

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 26, 2020 at 10:08 pm

        My pleasure Carol. Thanks for taking the time to share.

        Reply
    6. Beryl

      September 20, 2020 at 10:47 pm

      5 stars
      thank you, i’ve been wondering what to do with my bounty of home grown tomatoes. who would’ve thought that two weary looking tomato plants would produce 100’s of tomatoes?! we’re having a fantastic summer in the great pacific northwest and i’m the queen of tomatoes. going out to buy canning supplies now:).

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 28, 2020 at 8:18 pm

        It really was a great summer for tomatoes. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    7. Tracy McKinnon

      September 20, 2020 at 11:20 am

      Can I add fresh basil to the jars?

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 20, 2020 at 6:49 pm

        Thanks for your interest Tracy. A small amount of basil is fine to add.

        Reply
    8. Stormy

      September 19, 2020 at 5:17 pm

      Is concentrated lemon juice necessary or can I use fresh juice from the lemons I have on hand?

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 19, 2020 at 8:38 pm

        Unfortunately, there is too much variation in the acidity of freshly squeezed lemon juice. That is why it is recommended to use a concentrated form. Thanks so much for your interest Stormy.

        Reply
    9. Donna Appold

      September 19, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      5 stars
      This was my first time canning tomatoes. I followed these super easy directions and voila! Tomatoes for the winter season.

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 19, 2020 at 8:39 pm

        How wonderful Donna! enjoy!

        Reply
    10. Wendy L Westgate

      September 16, 2020 at 7:43 pm

      No salt?

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 18, 2020 at 8:24 pm

        Thanks for your interest Wendy. Salt is optional. You can add it if you like.

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian (retired) and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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