🍅 Canned Salsa & Whole Tomatoes
15 Quarts, 10 Hours, Toddler Running Around!
📌 In This Article
🍅 The Canning Day Story
"Today… Canned 15 quarts of salsa. 12 quarts and 4 1/2 gallons of whole tomatoes. 10 hours working with a toddler running around. Whew I'm exhausted but super proud of myself."
Some days are just epic. This was one of them. 15 quarts of salsa, 12 quarts of whole tomatoes, and 4 1/2 gallons of tomatoes. All in 10 hours — with a toddler running around!
I'm exhausted but so proud of what I accomplished. And I couldn't have done it without Grandma's peeling hack — it made the whole process so much easier!
💬 The day: "10 hours working with a toddler running around. Whew I'm exhausted but super proud of myself."
👵 Grandma's Peeling Hack – So Much Easier!
Grandma's Genius Tip
🍅"Fill the sink up with tomatoes and boil water to pour over them. Cover with a sun visor for 20 mins and rinse in cool water. The peels come right off!!!"
Fill Sink
With tomatoes
Pour Boiling Water
Over the tomatoes
Cover & Wait
20 minutes with sun visor
Rinse in cool water — peels come right off!
💬 The hack: "Fun tip my grandmother told me and I tried today: fill the sink up with tomatoes and boil water to pour over them. Cover with a sun visor for 20 mins and rinse in cool water. The peels come right off!!!"
🌶️ Salsa Recipe – 15 Quarts!
🌶️ Salsa Ingredients
- 🍅 10 cups tomatoes – Peeled and chopped
- 🧅 2 cups onion – Chopped
- 🫑 2 cups bell pepper – Chopped
- 🌶️ 1 cup jalapeño – Chopped
- 🧄 1 cup minced garlic
- 🌿 1 cup cilantro – Chopped
- 🍬 1/3 cup sugar
- 🍋 1 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 🧂 2 tbsp salt
💡 Pro tip: "I am not exactly a recipe follower lol I do what feels right but this is the recipe I used!"
🍅 Whole Tomatoes – 12 Quarts + 4.5 Gallons!
🍅 Whole Tomatoes
- 🍅 Fresh tomatoes – As many as you have!
- 🧂 Salt – Optional
- 🍋 Lemon juice – For acidity (1 tbsp per quart)
🔧 Equipment Needed
- 🔥 Water bath canner
- 🥫 Canning jars – Quarts and pints
- 🧴 Lids and rings – New lids for best results
- 🪣 Large pot – For boiling water
- 👵 Sun visor – For Grandma's peeling hack!
💡 Pro tip: "Grandma's peeling hack saves so much time and effort!"
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Grandma's Peeling Hack
- Fill the sink with tomatoes.
- Boil a large pot of water.
- Pour the boiling water over the tomatoes.
- Cover with a sun visor or lid for 20 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
- The peels will slide right off!
💡 Pro tip: "The peels come right off!!! So much easier than the way I've done it before!!!"
Step 2 – Prepare Your Equipment
- Prepare your water bath canner, jars, and lids.
- Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for 10 minutes.
- Keep jars hot until ready to fill.
💡 Pro tip: "Always start with hot, sterilized jars for a good seal!"
Part 1 – Salsa
Step 3 – Combine Salsa Ingredients
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, combine all salsa ingredients.
- Stir well to combine.
Step 4 – Cook the Salsa
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
💡 Pro tip: "Bring to boil. Simmer 20min. Separate into jars."
Step 5 – Jar the Salsa
- Ladle hot salsa into hot jars.
- Leave 1/2 inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover.
- Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth.
- Add lids and rings — finger-tight.
💡 Pro tip: "Wipe those rims clean! Any residue can prevent a good seal."
Step 6 – Process Salsa
- Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
- Adjust for altitude if necessary.
Part 2 – Whole Tomatoes
Step 7 – Prepare Tomatoes
- After peeling, core the tomatoes.
- Leave whole or halve if large.
- Add 1 tbsp lemon juice per quart jar.
Step 8 – Pack the Jars
- Pack whole tomatoes into hot jars.
- Add 1 tsp salt per quart (optional).
- Add hot water to cover tomatoes.
- Leave 1 inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles, wipe rims, add lids and rings.
⚠️ Important: "Tomatoes must be pressure canned or have added acid for water bath canning."
Step 9 – Process Tomatoes
- Process in a boiling water bath for 45 minutes for quarts, 35 minutes for pints.
- Adjust for altitude if necessary.
Step 10 – Cool and Store
- Remove jars and cool on a dishtowel for 24 hours.
- Check seals — the lid should be concave and not flex.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
💡 Pro tip: "Listen for that satisfying 'pop' — that's the sound of a perfect seal!"
🥫 How to Store
- 🏠 Pantry: Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place
- 🧊 Refrigerator after opening: Use within 1 week
- 🔥 Best used in: Tacos, chili, soups, and more
💡 Pro tip: "Label your jars with the date so you know when they were canned."
💡 Pro Tips
- 👵 Grandma's peeling hack: Boiling water + sun visor = peels slide right off!
- 🍅 Use ripe tomatoes: The best flavor comes from ripe, in-season tomatoes.
- 🌶️ Adjust heat: Add more or fewer jalapeños to taste.
- 🧂 Don't skip the vinegar: It adds tang and helps with preservation.
- 🫙 Use new lids: Old lids may not seal properly.
- 🏷️ Label everything: Date and contents on every jar.
- 👶 Can with a toddler: Keep them busy with a task — it helps!
💡 Pro tip: "10 hours working with a toddler running around. Whew I'm exhausted but super proud of myself."
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I use this salsa for canning?
Yes! This recipe is designed for water bath canning.
❓ How long does canned salsa last?
Up to 1 year when properly canned and stored.
❓ Can I use a pressure canner for tomatoes?
Yes, but water bath canning works with added acid.
❓ Why add lemon juice?
It increases acidity for safe water bath canning.
❓ Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes, but it may affect the flavor.
❓ How many jars did this make?
15 quarts of salsa, 12 quarts of tomatoes, and 4.5 gallons!
❓ What if I don't have a sun visor?
Any lid or towel works to trap the steam.
❓ Is Grandma's peeling hack safe?
Yes! It's a classic method used for generations.
❓ Can I double the recipe?
Yes, but you may need a larger pot.
❓ Will I ever buy store-bought salsa again?
Probably not! Homemade is so much better!
📄 Printable Recipe Card
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║ CANNED SALSA & WHOLE TOMATOES ║
║ 15 Quarts, 10 Hours, Toddler Running Around! ║
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YIELD: 15 quarts salsa + 12 quarts tomatoes + 4.5 gallons
TIME: 10 hours | PROCESS: 15-45 min
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SALSA INGREDIENTS
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- 10 cups tomatoes (peeled, chopped)
- 2 cups onion (chopped)
- 2 cups bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 cup jalapeño (chopped)
- 1 cup minced garlic
- 1 cup cilantro (chopped)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp salt
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WHOLE TOMATOES
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- Fresh tomatoes
- 1 tbsp lemon juice per quart
- 1 tsp salt per quart (optional)
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INSTRUCTIONS
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GRANDMA'S PEELING HACK:
1. Fill sink with tomatoes. Pour boiling water over.
2. Cover with sun visor for 20 minutes.
3. Rinse in cool water — peels slide right off!
SALSA:
1. Combine all salsa ingredients in a large pot.
2. Bring to a boil. Simmer 20 minutes.
3. Ladle into hot jars, leave 1/2" headspace.
4. Process in water bath for 15 minutes.
WHOLE TOMATOES:
1. Peel and core tomatoes.
2. Pack into hot jars with lemon juice and salt.
3. Add hot water to cover. Leave 1" headspace.
4. Process in water bath: 45 min (quarts), 35 min (pints).
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GRANDMA'S TIP! 👵
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"Fill the sink up with tomatoes and boil water to pour
over them. Cover with a sun visor for 20 mins and rinse
in cool water. The peels come right off!!!" ❤️
© CanningRebels — Canned Salsa & Whole Tomatoes
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