How To Jar Tomatoes In 6 Simple Steps Slideshow

Clean Tomatoes

Wash well. Slice in half and scoop out most of the seeds (if they are large, cut in half again or into chunks.) Toss into a colander to drain.

Prepare the Jars

Wrap the jars in newspaper (to prevent banging around in the pot). Place the jars in the biggest pot you have — it must be deep enough to fully submerge the jars. Only if your pot is tall enough can you add a rack on top of your jars and add a second layer. Do not stack jars without a rack.

Drop Jars Into Boiling Water

Fill the pot with water 1 inch above the jars. Bring to a boil and continue for 30 minutes. Then shut off the heat, keeping the jars in the water to cool completely before removing.

Picking Tomatoes

Pick tomatoes when ripe. Leave in a cool, dry place to deepen in flavor and mature for a couple of days. Once they are nice and soft and deep red, it's time to jar.
 

Storage

Store jars in a cool dark place for up to a year and a half. Enjoy your tomatoes all year round.

Jarring

In a clean jar, pack in your tomatoes nice and tight using a wooden spoon to push out all the air between the tomatoes. This process is very important — be thorough. When jars are full to the top, add a pinch of salt and tightly close the lid.