Crushed Tomatoes

By tschnet1

Ingredients

• Tomatoes, prepared
• lemon juice or citric acid
• Salt

Details

Adapted from bernardin.ca

Preparation

Step 1

Place required number of clean 500 ml or 1 L mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F). Set screw bands aside. Heat SNAP LID® sealing discs in hot water, not boiling (180°F). Keep jars and sealing discs hot until ready to use.

Blanch, peel, core and quarter tomatoes removing bruised or discoloured portions.

Place 2 cups of tomato quarters in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil while crushing and stirring to extract juice. Boil gently, stirring constantly; add remaining tomato quarters, 2 cups (500 ml) at a time. DO NOT crush tomatoes, as they will soften with heating and stirring. When all tomatoes are added, boil gently 5 minutes.

Place 1 tbsp lemon juice or 1/4 tsp citric acid and 1/2 tsp salt, if using, in hot 500 ml jar or 2 tbsp lemon juice or 1/2 tsp citric acid and 1 tsp salt, if using, in hot 1 L jar.

Ladle tomatoes into a hot jar to within 1/2 inch of top rim (head space). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles and adjust head space, if required, by adding more tomatoes. Wipe jar rim removing any food residue. Center hot sealing disc on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner. Repeat for remaining tomatoes.

When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner & bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft, process –boil filled jars – 35 minutes* for 500 ml; 45 minutes* for 1 L.

When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands.

After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place.