The Best Way to Can Crushed Tomatoes at Home
Canning Tomatoes
When tomato season hits, it hits hard. We never plant just one or two tomato plants. Somehow we end up with a whole army of them, and before long the counters (and every flat surface in the kitchen) are covered in bowls of ripe tomatoes. Canning crushed tomatoes is one of the easiest ways to preserve that harvest so you can use it all year long. These jars are perfect for chili, goulash, spaghetti, soups, and any recipe that calls for store‑bought crushed tomatoes.
This guide walks you through exactly how to can crushed tomatoes using the water bath method. It’s simple, reliable, and pantry‑friendly. We follow the Ball Canning method for safe canning practices.
Why Can Crushed Tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes are incredibly versatile. They give you more texture than tomato sauce but break down easier than diced tomatoes. They’re perfect for:
- chili
- swiss steak
- goulash
- spaghetti sauce
- rustic tomato soup
Canning them yourself gives you better flavor, better texture, and no metallic aftertaste.
What Tomatoes Are Best for Canning
For crushed tomatoes, you want meaty, low‑water, canning varieties. They hold their texture and give you a thicker finished product.
Great choices include:
- Arkansas Traveler
- Beefsteak/Beefeater
- Roma
- San Marzano
If you’re planting them yourself, check the tag. It will tell you if the variety is good for canning, slicing or sauces.
What Size Jars Do You Can With?
Crushed tomatoes are chunky, so quart jars work best. They give you more volume and save space in your pantry. You can use pints if you prefer smaller portions, but quarts are the most practical for cooking. If you are canning strewed tomatoes, I recommend wide mouth jars as they are easier to get larger pieces out of.
Do You Need Lemon Juice?
Yes. Even though tomatoes feel acidic, modern varieties aren’t acidic enough for safe water bath canning. You must add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to every jar.
Use one of the following:
- 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice per quart
- ½ teaspoon citric acid per quart
This ensures the tomatoes stay shelf‑stable.
Troubleshooting
Why Are My Tomatoes Floating?
This is normal. Tomatoes naturally separate. Shake the jar before using.
Why Did My Jars Siphon?
This happens when jars cool too quickly. Let them rest in the canner for 5 minutes before removing.
Why Didn’t My Jars Seal?
Check for:
- Food on the rim
- Damaged lids
- Over‑tightened or under‑tightened rings
- Defect on lid
Reprocess within 24 hours or refrigerate and use.
What Do You Make With Your Canned Tomatoes?
You can make a rustic tomato soup, add them into chili, pasta sauce or put them into goulash. Wherever a recipe calls for crushed tomatoes, these work perfectly.
Canning Crushed Tomatoes (Easy Water Bath Method)
Equipment
Ingredients
- lemon juice or citric acid
- washed tomatoes
Instructions
Blanching Tomatoes
- Boil the lids to sterilize (until the water boils).
- Blanch the tomatoes using the strainer pot and place in a bowl or another pot (allow to cool, these can be hot!)
- Remove the stem and skin from the tomatoes.
- Cut into half or quarters and place into a 5 quart pan.
- Stir occasionally and mash with the potato masher.
- Once the tomatoes come to a boil, remove from heat.
Canning Tomatoes
- In in quart add 1/2 teaspoon citric acid or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice into each jar. If using pints, put in 1/4 teaspoon citric acid or 1 Tablespoon lemon juice into each jar.
- Fill the jars with the tomatoes, leaving a 1 inch head space.optional: You can add 1/2 teaspoon salt in pints or 1 teaspoon salt in quarts.
- Clean the top of the jars with a clean towel or wet cloth.
- Place the seal and band on the jar and tighten slightly.
- Place the jars in the canner with hot water and cover. (water should be 1" over top of jars)
- Allow the water to boil and keep in water bath for 35 minutes for pints and 45 minutes for quarts.
- Remove the jars and place on the counter to cool.
- Place a towel around the jars to allow them to slowly cool.
- Once cooled, write the date and what is in the jar on the lid with a sharpie marker.
Video
Notes
How Long Do Canned Crushed Tomatoes Last?
12–18 months for best quality.
