Canning Diced Tomatoes

Canning diced tomatoes is one of the easiest ways to preserve your bounty of tomatoes at the peak of summer and enjoy their sweet, juicy flavor all year round. Canning diced tomatoes is a great way to add flavor to soups, sauces, salsas and more, and it’s incredibly easy to do. Here’s how to can diced tomatoes in a few simple steps.

What You’ll Need

• Tomatoes
• Jar lids and caps
• Canning pot
• Canning jars
• Knife
• Food mill
• Vinegar

Step One: Prepare the Tomatoes

Start by washing your tomatoes. You’ll want to be sure to remove any dirt or debris that may be on the surface. Next, you’ll need to core the tomatoes. With a sharp knife, carefully cut out the cores of the tomatoes and discard. Now, you can use a food mill to peel the tomatoes. This will remove the skins and make the tomatoes less bitter. Finally, dice the tomatoes, removing any seeds or pulp as you go.

Step Two: Sterilize the Jars

Make sure your jars and lids are sterilized by boiling them in water. This process will kill any bacteria that might be present. Be sure to take the jars out and let them cool before adding the tomatoes.

Step Three: Fill the Jars

Start by adding about a tablespoon of white vinegar to each jar. This will help preserve the flavor. Fill the jars with the diced tomatoes, leaving an inch of space at the top. You can add any herbs or spices at this point.

Step Four: Process the Jars

Once the jars are prepared, it’s time to process them. Place the jars in your canning pot and make sure they’re covered with at least an inch of water. Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for at least 45 minutes. Once the time is up, use canning tongs to carefully remove the jars and let them cool before handling.

Step Five: Label and Store the Jars

Once the jars are cool, it’s time to label them so you can easily identify them later. Use a permanent marker to write the contents, date canned and any other information you want on the lid. Finally, store the jars in a cool, dry place and they should keep for up to a year.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to can diced tomatoes, you can take advantage of the summer bounty and enjoy its delicious taste all year long. Just remember to follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll have fresh tomatoes whenever you need them.