A weekly produce guide to what’s in season at farmers’ markets and in CSA shares in the Mid-Atlantic region (and lots of other places). Mid-August is peak tomato season here in Virginia and this week’s post is all about how to can and preserve tomatoes.
This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2022.
After a week away from my backyard garden, I harvested 31 pounds of tomatoes. First, I cooked a big batch of pomodoro sauce (recipe possibly forthcoming). We had some for dinner and froze the rest. And then, when I’d worked up the courage, I made a batch of canned crushed tomatoes with the remaining 25 pounds.
Since the height of tomato season is so brief and wonderful, I decided to dedicate this week’s post to preserving and canning tomatoes. Even if hot water bath canning isn’t your thing, oven drying and freezing are simpler preservation techniques. Head below for recipes, ideas, and resources.
Canned Tomatoes
These are my favorite, most time tested canning recipes that I turn to year after year.
- Canned Crushed Heirloom Tomatoes
- Tomato Water Cocktails
- Tomato Lime Jam
- Our Best Tomato Canning Posts from Well Preserved
- Restaurant-Style Canned Salsa from Local Kitchen
- Peachy Tomato Salsa from the Washington Post
- Canned Marinara Marissa McLellan for Simple Bites
- Whole Peeled Tomatoes from Food in Jars
Other Ways to Preserve Tomatoes
Here’s a selection of other ways to preserve and save the flavor of tomatoes.
- Homemade Tomato Paste from the Kitchn
- Frozen Whole Tomatoes from the Kitchn
- Oven-Dried Tomatoes from Food and Wine
- Oven Roasted Roma Tomatoes from Food in Jars
- Tomato Skin Salt from Food52
Sauces and Stews that Freeze Well
You don’t need to can everything. Tomatoes can be roasted, made into sauces or soups, and then and then frozen. If you do plan to use your freezer, be sure to label everything clearly. I’ve also added a fresh tomato Bloody Maria recipe – this isn’t really “preserving” the tomatoes, but it is an unexpected way to use up a bunch of them.
These tomato shots are GORGEOUS, woman.
Thank you Ashlae! I really appreciate the compliment, especially from someone whose work I love!
These photos are STUNNING, Elizabeth! Each and every one is gorgeous. And I love tomatoes; so happy that they’re now in season. <3 xoxo
Thank you kindly, Abby. I’m starting to wonder what I’ve gotten myself into photographing vegetables every week. Glad to know the imagery continues to resonate with you. Thanks, as always, for dropping by!
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for this great post. So many of these I’m itching to try.