How To Make Pickled Tomatoes

Tomato is one of the most consumed foods in the world. Whether in sauces, pasta, or even the famous ketchup , tomatoes have become a key ingredient in thousands of preparations and recipes. If you want to keep your tomatoes longer, we suggest trying these tips for making canned tomatoes at home.

Canned and preserved tomatoes have been marketed for many years, either to facilitate the preparation of sauces or just to preserve their texture and their characteristic flavor.

What is the problem with industrialized canned tomatoes?

Tomato sauces and canned tomatoes sold on the market are an ideal option when we are short of time and looking for practicality. They can be stored in the closet and have a high durability.

How to make pickled tomatoes?

Believe it or not,  making your own canned tomatoes at home is very simple. Follow this procedure:

• First, boil the tomatoes for a few minutes. What we want is to smooth the skin so it’s easier to peel them off.
  • Trick: A very simple trick for peeling tomatoes is to make an “X” cut at the bottom before boiling. This will allow the skin to soften better and evenly.
• Just after boiling the tomatoes for about two minutes (ripe tomatoes require less time), remove them from the water and place them in a bowl of very cold water to stop cooking and remove the skin. An excellent and quick option is to add ice to the water.
  • The colder the water, the more effective the process. This will help the foods retain their color and shine, but also preserve their flavor much more.

• It is not necessary to remove the seeds. Cut the peeled tomatoes into quarters and place them in a glass jar with a lid. You can press the tomatoes a little bit to make them more compact.
• Once all the tomatoes are in the jar, fill with water to the top of the container and add a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of sugar. This, in addition to giving flavor, will help in its conservation.

How to end the process

• Clean the rim of the bottle and close it very well. It is best to use special bottles for these preparations, which come with a ring around the rim to prevent the passage of water.
• Once closed, place the jars in a pot of boiling water. This pot should be big enough to accommodate the containers and the water to cover them.
• Once they are completely submerged, simmer for 45 minutes.

• Afterwards, remove them from the water and let them stand for at least 24 hours.
• Finally, once the 24 hours have passed, keep the jars at room temperature in a cool place where the sun cannot reach them directly. So you’ll have canned tomatoes for a year.

Why is it so good to make pickled tomatoes?

Canning food is a great option to maintain its freshness. Tomatoes, peppers, olives and many other foods are stored with this technique to provide practicality, comfort and several additional advantages:

• Glass is a hygienic material.
• Does not interfere with the flavor of the foods it contains.
• It does not allow oxygen or gas to enter, making it virtually impossible for food to become oxidized or damaged.
• Thanks to the previous point, it helps to preserve food for a much longer period of time.
• It is heat and cold resistant;  therefore, it allows you to store many different preparations.
• It is convenient to store and use.
• There is no development of microorganisms or agents that can harm the food.
• Maintains aroma and freshness.

Now that you know how to conserve your tomatoes, be sure to put into practice these ideas that will certainly make your daily life in the kitchen easier.