• Home
  • About
    • About
    • Terms and Conditions + Privacy Policy
  • Press
  • Work With Us
    • Creatives + Brands
    • Interior Design + Decorating
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact

STAY AWHILE

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Terms and Conditions + Privacy Policy
  • Press
  • Work With Us
    • Creatives + Brands
    • Interior Design + Decorating
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact

Follow A Hosting Home

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

A Hosting Home

Styling and Inspiration + Handcrafted Designs

Recipes

How-To Preserve Your Fresh Garden Tomatoes

How-To Preserve Your Garden Fresh Tomatoes / A Hosting Home Blog

This post contains affiliate links. Please see the disclosure on my about page for more information.

How-To Preserve Your Fresh Garden Tomatoes

Our garden has been such a highlight to our Spring and Summers the past couple years. Rob and I have so much fun getting to tend to it and watch it grow. We’re constantly learning, adapting, and making notes for how we can make it even better the next year. We’re definitely not professionals, but we’ve had such great luck with each year. There’s no better feeling than getting a plethora of veggies from your garden after a long spring/summer of putting in the hard work. Whether canning or cooking, we use all of what comes out of our garden — and it makes cooking in the summer that much more fun and enjoyable for us.

This year, we had a crazy number of tomatoes come off our tomato plants in our ‘salsa’ bed. After making two huge batches of our Instant Pot Salsa, we decided that we wanted to experiment with making our own homemade tomato sauce and canning our own diced tomatoes in attempts to not let anything go bad or to waste. While we were a little intimidated at the thought of canning when we first did it, it really was so much easier than you’d think it is. So today on the blog, I wanted to share with y’all about how you can easily preserve your overflow of fresh garden tomatoes to enjoy long after the summer season is gone.

READ ALSO: The Best Instant Pot Salsa Recipe

READ ALSO: Our Beginner Gardening Tips / Raised Garden Bed Tips

How-To Preserve Your Garden Fresh Tomatoes / A Hosting Home Blog

I think the best part about preserving / canning tomatoes is that there are almost an infinite number of uses for them as you head into the rest of the year. It really is one of the most versatile ingredients to stock your pantry with — and how amazing would it feel to be able to stock up with ingredients you grew yourself rather than purchasing them on a shelf at the store.

Sean Brock is one of Rob and I’s favorite chefs, and his soul-deep passion for Lowcountry and Southern foods comes through with each and every recipe. He also does an amazing job educating people on how to build up their pantry through the processes of preserving and canning. One of our favorite cookbooks of his is South. (We also have his other book, Heritage!) We used his South cookbook as a guide for preserving our garden tomatoes this year.

How-To Preserve Garden Tomatoes

Like I said, we used Sean Brock’s recipe in South (page 278) for preserving tomatoes as a guide for preserving our garden tomatoes this year. We didn’t use the exact recipe because we were using a huge leftover batch of a variety of different tomatoes. However, we used his process outlined in the recipe and preserved 3 quart sized jars full of tomatoes from our garden.

Ingredients:

The recipe in Brock’s book calls for these ingredients to make 2 quart sized jars plus 1 pint sized jar. We adapted his recipe based on what / how much we had on hand and what we had from the garden, but we followed the actual preserving process below!

  • 5 pounds of heirloom Roma (plum) tomatoes – We used whatever tomatoes we had leftover that we didn’t want going to waste. Our tomatoes included: Biltmore, Rutgers, Sunsugar (yellow cherry tomatoes), Juliet, and Beefsteak tomatoes. Primarily, we used Biltmore, Juliet, and Sunsugar tomatoes. 
  • 1/2 cup of tomato juice or water – We made our own tomato juice from tomato paste and water. 
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of hot sauce (another recipe) or Red Clay Original Hot Sauce – We used regular tabasco in place of hot sauce. 

The Process:

Bring a large pot to a boil over high heat. Make an ice bath with equal parts ice and water in a large bowl. Working in batches, lightly score the skin on the bottom of each tomato with an X and submerge the tomatoes in the boiling water for 20 seconds. Remove and submerge them in the ice bath to cool. Do not leave them in the ice bath for longer than 5 minutes. Drain. Peel the tomatoes and place them in another large pot. Repeat until all your tomatoes are done.

Note:

Since they were so much smaller, the Sunsugar (yellow cherry) tomatoes were definitely harder to manage in the boiling water and then the ice bath than the rest of the tomatoes. The easiest thing to do was to make a small slit on the bottom (instead of an X) and the skins popped right off when they came out of the ice bath. 

For the larger tomatoes, we followed the same process. However, Rob found it was easiest to cut out the stem core out and make a slit on the top (instead of the bottom) before placing it in the boiling water. Upon coming out of the ice bath, the skins popped off so much easier. After he peeled them to put them in another large pot, he diced the larger tomatoes so they were all approximately 1-inch in size. 

Add the tomato juice, lemon juice, salt, and hot sauce to the tomatoes. Cover, and heat over medium-low heat, gently stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes register an internal temperature of 180 degrees (F) on an instant-read thermometer. (About 20 minutes)

Using a slotted spoon, divide the tomatoes among the jars and then ladle the liquid into the jars, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace. Wipe the rims and threads clean, place the lids and rings on the jars, and finger-tighten the rings.

Process the jars in a boiling-water bath for about 40 minutes for the jars to seal properly and for a vacuum to form. Properly sealed, the tomatoes will keep in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Note:

Instead of processing them on a lower temperature in the water bath for a longer period of time at a lower temperature, Rob processed them at a higher temperature for approximately 12 minutes. When the jars come out of the water bath, we let them cool upside down to allow the heat and pressure help seal the jars. You’ll hear a popping sound when the jars are sealed. The ‘button’ on the top will also be pushed down / be able to be pushed down without popping back up. If it does pop back up, the jar was not properly sealed and will need to be stored in the fridge. 

 

How-To Preserve Your Garden Fresh Tomatoes / A Hosting Home BlogHow-To Preserve Your Garden Fresh Tomatoes / A Hosting Home Blog

 

Well there you have it, friends! I hope this post helps you know how you can easily preserve your overflow of fresh garden tomatoes to enjoy long after the summer season is gone. Let me know if you try it out and how it goes for you in a comment below! In the meantime, you should also check out my Instant Pot Salsa recipe for the best homemade salsa!

August 13, 2020

« Chalkboard Lettering Tips and Tricks
DIY Floating Shelves in the Laundry Room »

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Muffins / A Hosting Home Blog2 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Muffins
  • 4th of July Inspired Summer Charcuterie Board / A Hosting Home Blog4th of July Inspired Summer Charcuterie Board
  • Blackberry Hand Pies Perfect for Summer / A Hosting Home BlogBlackberry Hand Pies Perfect for Summer
  • The Best Summer Party Recipes / The Best Summer Cookout Recipes / A Hosting Home BlogThe Best Summer Party Cookout Recipes (Round-Up)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Atlanta based Award Winning Interior and Event Designer and Home Blogger Cathy Nugent

Hi, friends! I'm Cathy, a nationally published award winning designer of spaces to gather and southern belle writer based out of a small(ish) town outside of Atlanta, Georgia. However, most people know me as the Monica Geller of my friend group – a coffee connoisseur and dog mom with a huge heart for hosting and an eye for design. The heart behind what I do is simple. I want to help you be intentional on creating spaces to gather and celebrating life's precious moments - whether that be weddings, parties, or something as simple as having loved ones in your home. Living Simply, Loving Generously, and Hosting with Heart.

Follow A Hosting Home

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

POPULAR POSTS

DIY Easter Keepsake Craft Ideas / A Hosting Home Blog

DIY Easter Keepsake Craft Ideas

April 2, 2021

Baby's First Easter Basket Ideas / A Hosting Home Blog

Baby’s First Easter Basket Ideas

March 31, 2021

Simple Spring Tablescape / A Hosting Home Blog

Simple Spring Tablescape Inspiration

March 22, 2021

4th of July Inspired Summer Charcuterie Board / A Hosting Home Blog

4th of July Inspired Summer Charcuterie Board

July 2, 2020

Blackberry Hand Pies Perfect for Summer / A Hosting Home Blog

Blackberry Hand Pies Perfect for Summer

June 11, 2020


Spoiler Alert: the tomb is empty // Easter on the Spoiler Alert: the tomb is empty // Easter on the Lawn at church this morning. Happy Easter, friends! He is risen! ✨I hope y’all had an amazing weekend surrounded by your loved ones. #ahostinghome #easter #easter2021
Continuing off my Insta Stories the other day... W Continuing off my Insta Stories the other day... What is it about being a new mom that has you obsessed with making things with your baby’s hand and foot prints? 😍👶🏼🤷🏼‍♀️ Here I go again trying to keep up with all the moms on Pinterest! Today on the blog I’m sharing some super cute Easter keepsake craft ideas for your weekend. ➡️ ahostinghome.com or click the link in my profile bio. ✨🥕🐰 p.s. If you try them make sure to tag me!! I want to see those baby prints! 💛 I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter weekend! #ahostinghome
Celebrating John’s first year of holidays is som Celebrating John’s first year of holidays is something that I have loved and looked forward to so much. While we will be teaching John the real meaning behind Easter as he grows, I think celebrating with a fun Easter basket each year will be a great way to kick off the Spring season. I remember growing up my mom always had Easter baskets waiting for us in the morning, with candy filled eggs, fun activities, and little seasonal toys / treats. My parents would hide those plastic eggs in our yard, and we’d hunt (and re-hunt) them for hours. It’s those memories and traditions that I cherish and hope to start with John this year. I had so much fun this week putting together a little basket for John’s first Easter. I shared all the details on what’s inside as well as a lot of other baby Easter basket ideas over on the blog today if you’re in need of last minute inspiration! ➡️ ahostinghome.com or click the link in my profile bio. ✨ #ahostinghome

// also linking John Robert’s Easter basket via @liketoknow.it ➡️ http://liketk.it/3bPFu @liketoknow.it #liketkit @liketoknow.it.family #LTKbaby #LTKfamily #LTKkids
Dearest Layne, today may be your birthday, but I p Dearest Layne, today may be your birthday, but I pray that you know it isn't the only day I celebrate you or think of you. I love and miss you so much, little man. More than I could possibly put into words. I'm so proud of you. 💛 Today I celebrate your 38 minutes of life here on earth and praise God for your eternal life in the place we all long to be. I can't thank you enough for making me a momma. I can't wait to see you again one day. 🦋 Happy 2nd Birthday in heaven, my sweet baby Layne.

A letter to Layne on his 2nd birthday ➡️ ahostinghome.com or click the link in my profile bio. 🦋💛 #ahostinghome
I love when a shopping trip turns into a major str I love when a shopping trip turns into a major stroke of inspiration! We picked up these new beautiful stoneware dishes over the weekend, and I immediately felt so inspired to create a sweet and simple Spring tablescape with them. The lemon jars and greenery in my dough bowl give off a fresh Spring feel. Meanwhile, with the subtle touches of the season with the rabbit linen napkins and the garden label place cards, I think it’s really the perfect look for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any other meal with your loved ones that you want to make a little more special this Spring. Sharing the details for this tablescape over on the blog ➡️ ahostinghome.com or click the link in my profile bio ✨ #ahostinghome 

// linking my new stoneware dishes and more of this tablescape via @liketoknow.it ➡️ http://liketk.it/3bcDF #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.home #LTKhome
hello Spring,☀️👋🏼 so nice of you to join hello Spring,☀️👋🏼 so nice of you to join us. Leave the pollen at home and let’s make some memories. I don’t know about you but I am always SO excited at the start of a new season. I’m looking forward to our master bathroom / shower (hopefully 🤪) being finished — and a bunch of other DIY projects I have planned (and promise not to leave Rob in charge of 😂) to refresh our home this year. I’m also so excited for sunny days and warmer weather to start getting outside with this babe! ☀️👶🏼🦋 What are you looking forward to this Spring? I’ll be back tomorrow to share a simple spring tablescape in my dining room featuring some new dishes that I snagged while shopping this weekend! #ahostinghome
Can someone please tell me how this little nugget Can someone please tell me how this little nugget is 5 MONTHS OLD today!? 🌈🦋 John Robert is a spunky firecracker who would rather stand (and run) than practice sitting still. He loves his snuggle puppy (and real puppy, Willie 🐶), anything Sophie the giraffe, and rolling over to try to get out of tummy time. He’s currently kicking my butt sleep training and knows he has his mama wrapped around his little fingers! I love this sweet little man more than anything. 💛👶🏼 #ahostinghome @thecathynugent

// linked John’s outfit via @liketoknow.it ➡️ http://liketk.it/3aTzD @liketoknow.it #liketkit @liketoknow.it.family #LTKbaby #LTKfamily #LTKkids #ltkseasonal #competition #ltkspring
Coming to y’all from baby jail — and when you’re a mom to a baby, 💩 happens. (No literally.) I’m all about making my life easier, and the @_mollieollie_ Mimmo Caddy has been one of my favorite new baby items because it keeps everything I need in one place. No more running around the house or back and forth to the nursery to grab baby essentials (and interrupting valuable play time!) It’s super durable, keeps its shape even when empty, and it’s made of a soft chemical-free felt material that makes it safe to hold all your baby’s essentials. Not to mention, POCKETS for all the things. 😍 I think what I’m most excited for though is how it’s going to make car diaper changes on our road trips this summer SO much easier. (Who else hates public restrooms? 🙋🏼‍♀️)

Showing y’all an up close look (and what I keep in it!) in Stories today! Visit the link in my profile bio and use the code 10hosting for 10% off your own Mimmo Caddy! ✨👶🏼 

// sponsored #mollieollie #ahostinghome
John Robert slept in his own room in his crib last John Robert slept in his own room in his crib last night for the first time (other than for naps) and I bawled like a baby as I prayed over him and rocked him to sleep. (&& then we saw each other again 2 hours later because #4monthsleepregression 😅) I know everyone tells you they grow up fast, but I feel like the past 4.5 months have gone by in a blink of an eye. I found myself SO upset already thinking of things I wish I had gotten to do in his newborn stage and wondering if I’m soaking up enough of the tiny precious moments I get with him everyday. (But really is that even possible?) Before I know it this room will be a big boy room, and then before I know it again he’ll be grown and on his own. I can’t wait to watch him grow up and experience life with him but oh gosh, I want him to stay this little forever. Andddd Here I go again... 😭🤧 #ahostinghome

// linking John Robert’s nursery via @liketoknow.it ➡️ http://liketk.it/3a6bT @liketoknow.it #liketkit @liketoknow.it.home @liketoknow.it.family #LTKbaby #LTKhome

CATEGORIES

  • Baby & Family
  • Coffee with Cathy
  • DIY
  • Fall
  • Home & Home Decor
  • Hosting
  • Recipes
  • Spring & Summer
  • Videos
  • Weddings
  • Winter

Follow A Hosting Home

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube