This article was first published in the Manitoba Cooperator on September 1, 2016.
Is there anything better than the first bite of a vine-ripened, sun-kissed garden tomato?
As our first tomatoes ripen, we enjoy them just as they are on buttered toast or BLT sandwiches. As more become available there’s bruschetta, pasta dishes, pico de gallo (fresh salsa) and endless salads. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Inevitably, there are more tomatoes than we can eat. At this point, harvesting, storing and preserving becomes the challenge. It’s not that preserving tomatoes is difficult, it’s just tricky to harvest enough ripe tomatoes before the frost hits on a day when you’re not needed elsewhere. The tomato harvest is always at the busiest time of the year!
Once you do harvest them, here are some tips and recipes for storing and preserving tomatoes.
Storing & Ripening Tomatoes
If your tomatoes are being threatened by frost, pick them and ripen them inside. Store tomatoes in a single layer in a newspaper lined, shallow box. The warmer the storage temperature the faster the tomatoes will ripen. Storing them with ethylene gas producers like bananas or apples will ripen them even faster. To slow their ripening, store them away from other produce in a cool, dark, dry space. They’ll keep even longer if you wrap each tomato individually. Check and rotate them frequently and remove any that show signs of decay. Never store cut, bruised or frost damaged tomatoes as they will spoil very quickly.
Freezing Tomatoes
When time is limited, tossing handfuls of ripe tomatoes in the freezer is a quick and easy solution. You can use them as is or can them later if you need to free up freezer space.
Raw tomatoes can be frozen whole, chopped or pureed without any blanching by simply placing them in a freezer container. They can be frozen with or without the peel, which slips off easily when thawed. While they retain their flavor, frozen tomatoes will be quite mushy when thawed.
Any style of cooked tomatoes can also be frozen by simply placing them in a freezer container.
Drying Tomatoes
According to the USDA, tomatoes labelled “sun-dried” do not actually have to be dried in the sun; in fact, very few actually are. You can make your own sun-dried tomatoes in an oven or dehydrator. The best tomatoes for drying are paste tomatoes that aren’t as juicy as slicing tomatoes, but given enough time, any variety can be dried.
To dry tomatoes in an oven, cut tomatoes lengthwise in quarters, remove liquid and seeds, place on cooling racks and bake at 65°C – 95°C (150°F-200°F) for ten or more hours until tomatoes feel leathery throughout. For bigger quantities a dehydrator is a good option.
Canning Tomatoes
Canning tomatoes using a hot water bath is my preferred way to preserve tomatoes. It takes a little more prep, but it’s a convenient way to store a large bounty of tomatoes. Because tomatoes fall on the border of safe acidity levels, extra acid is required to make them safe for hot water bath canning. Always use trusted sources when canning tomatoes or tomato based products.
When canning salsa or tomatoes with herbs extra care should be taken to ensure proper acid levels are met. Canning prepared tomato products like soups, stews or anything with meats, fish or poultry requires pressure canning.
Here are two tasty canned tomato recipes to try.
Tomato Jam
A delicious savory jam to serve with cream cheese and crackers. Makes an excellent gift.
Ingredients
4 lbs tomatoes
2 – 3 tsp hot pepper flakes
2 teaspoon grated ginger
¼ cup lemon juice
1 box No Sugar Needed powdered pectin
1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Wash firm ripe tomatoes (any type).
- Scald, peel, and chop tomatoes. Place in saucepan and heat stirring constantly to prevent sticking and burning. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You should get 4 cups of liquidy tomatoes.
- While tomatoes are simmering, sterilize jars by boiling in water for 10 minutes.
- In large saucepan, combine 4 cups of the prepared tomatoes, hot pepper flakes, ginger, lemon juice and No Sugar Needed powdered pectin. Stir until pectin is fully dissolved.
- Over high heat, bring mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring frequently.
- Add sugar. Stir constantly and return mixture to a full rolling boil for 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Pour into hot, sterilized jars leaving a 1/4 inch headspace.
- Wipe rim of jars and apply 2 piece lids tightening ring finger tight.
- Place jars in hot water bathand process for 5 minutes.
- Allow jars to rest in canner for 5 minutes, then remove and cool.
Makes: 5 jam jars (250 mL) or 10 125mL jars
Source: www.GettyStewart.com
Canned Chopped Tomatoes
Hot packed, chopped tomatoes without the peel. You could leave tomatoes whole, with peel on if you prefer.
Ingredients
10 kg (22 lb) tomatoes
210 mL lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash tomatoes and remove any blemishes.
- Peel tomatoes. Make a small X on bottom of each tomato, place in boiling water for 60 seconds, transfer immediately to ice water bath and peel.
- Chop tomatoes and add about 500 mL into a large stock pot. Bring to boil while stirring and crushing to extract juice. Continue adding 500 mL at a time to ensure even crushing. This technique helps prevent tomatoes from floating later. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Pack hot tomatoes into clean, hot jars, leaving a 1.3 cm headspace.
- Add 20 mL lemon juice to each Litre (quart) jar.
- Seal with hot sealing lid and add screw band tightening only finger tight.
- Place in hot water bath for 45 minutes.
- Allow jars to rest in canner for 5 minutes, then remove and cool.
Makes: 7 Litre (Quart) jars
Source: www.gettystewart.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Getty Stewart, Professional Home Economist
Getty Stewart is a Professional Home Economist, speaker and writer sharing tips and recipes for making and enjoying local, seasonal homemade food. For more recipes, preserves and kitchen tips visit www.gettystewart.com
