Tomato preservation season is in full swing in Colorado. If you are wondering what to do with all your tomatoes, you have several options.
Freeze
Freeze tomatoes, sauces, salsas or juice. Many people freeze raw peeled tomatoes for later use. To peel dip them in boiling water for 30-60 seconds to loosen their skins. Others prefer to stew peeled tomatoes before freezing. Either way be sure to use freezer-grade containers or bags for the best long-term flavor and quality, leaving enough head-space for expansion.
Dry
Dry (dehydrate) peeled and blanched tomatoes in slices or sections. Fourteen pounds of raw tomatoes will yield 8 ounces (2-3 pint containers) of dried. These are perfect for adding an intense flavor boost to casseroles, soups and stews, made at home or at your favorite Colorado campsite. Sweet varieties, like Campari, make tasty, nutritious dried snack foods.
Can
Can tomatoes, whole, crushed, as sauce, or tomato juice. For more variety, try canning something new such as spaghetti sauce, Mexican tomato sauce, hot sauce, salsa or a variety of ketchups. Always follow research-based recipes and processing directions for your altitude. All tomato products require added acid to make them safe for home canning.
For best results, select firm, ripe tomatoes. Before you plan a day of canning, make sure you have all the supplies you will need. This year many people have reported having a hard time finding canning lids and/or jars. The sparse supplies appear to be a combination of more people canning this year and slower production due to Covid-19 workforce issues.
Follow research-based salsa recipes that are appropriate for home canning. There are many options to choose from such as this set of tested salsa recipes. If you want to safely preserve you own salsa recipe, freeze it, don’t can it!
Preserve Smart is a handy resource for preserving any type of produce so you can enjoy your harvest all year long!
This is great article and I really like using PreserveSmart app to figure out how much I need to preserve the fruit or veggie while I am shopping!
I agree Ann, the PreserveSmart app is a great tool for planning, purchasing and preserving food.
I wish I read this a week ago! I just donated all of my tomatoes.
I commend you for donating surplus produce. Someone else will really appreciate your donation of home grown tomatoes! Save this blog with the links for next year and any other produce you may want to preserve this year, the links are to more than just tomato preservation.
Thanks for providing lots of great options for preserving tomatoes, Sheila!! I really like the list of salsa recipes, too!!
I’m glad to read you like the recipes for canning salsa. If you have a favorite family salsa recipe that is not tested for safe canning, your best preservation option is to freeze it instead of canning. Upon thawing it will be a little watery, so just pour or spoon off extra liquid and stir in a few tablespoons of washed and chopped fresh herbs before serving.