Fresh Homemade Canned Crushed Tomatoes Recipe Easy Step by Step Guide
This recipe guides you through making fresh homemade canned crushed tomatoes with simple ingredients and easy steps, delivering a rustic, flavorful pantry staple perfect for sauces, soups, and stews.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: About 6 quarts 1x
- Category: Preserves
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 pounds (4.5 kg) fresh Roma or plum tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) sea salt
- Up to 1 cup (240 ml) water (optional, to adjust consistency)
- Optional: a few sprigs fresh basil or oregano
- Optional: 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Wash and prep tomatoes by rinsing under cool water, removing stems and blemishes. No peeling needed.
- Place tomatoes in a large pot and heat gently over medium heat until they start to soften (about 10 minutes).
- Use a food mill or potato masher to crush tomatoes into a chunky sauce. Mash directly in the pot if no mill is available.
- Bring crushed tomatoes to a simmer. Add salt and lemon juice. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Adjust thickness by adding water if necessary.
- Sterilize canning jars and lids by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. Keep jars hot until ready to fill.
- Using a funnel, ladle hot crushed tomatoes into jars, leaving about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) headspace. Wipe rims clean.
- Place lids and bands on jars and tighten gently. Process jars in a boiling water bath covered by at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water: 35 minutes for quarts, 30 minutes for pints.
- Remove jars carefully and cool on a towel for 12-24 hours. Check seals before storing in a cool, dark place.
Notes
[‘Do not peel tomatoes; crushing breaks down skins during cooking.’, ‘Add lemon juice to maintain acidity for safe canning.’, ‘Simmer gently to avoid burning and bitterness.’, ‘Release air bubbles before sealing jars to prevent spoilage.’, ‘Cool jars undisturbed to ensure proper seals.’, ‘Measure salt carefully to avoid overly salty tomatoes.’, ‘Freezing is an option if you skip canning.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup (120 ml)
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 230
- Carbohydrates: 9
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: canned tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, homemade tomato sauce, canning, preserving, Roma tomatoes, pantry staple