Canning tomatoes is a great way to preserve summer’s bounty for use all year long. Canned tomatoes are versatile, delicious, and can be used in everything from soups and chilies to sauces and salsas. While water bath canning is the traditional method for canning tomatoes, using an Instant Pot is a safe alternative that can save time and energy in the kitchen. In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of canning tomatoes in an Instant Pot, provide steps for canning whole and crushed tomatoes, and offer tips for getting the best results. With the convenience of an electric pressure cooker, you can quickly and easily can batches of tomatoes at home.
Benefits of Canning Tomatoes in an Instant Pot
Canning tomatoes in an Instant Pot has several advantages over water bath canning:
- Faster processing time – Pressure canning tomatoes takes less time than a traditional water bath. Instant Pots allow you to safely can low-acid foods like tomatoes quickly.
- Energy efficient – Canning in an Instant Pot uses less energy than boiling a large pot of water for the time needed to process tomatoes. Pressure canning is an energy efficient way to preserve foods.
- Less mess and monitoring – With a water bath, you have to monitor the pot to ensure the water stays at a simmer and doesn’t boil over. With an Instant Pot, you simply lock the lid and turn it on.
- Space saving – Having an electric pressure cooker means you don’t need extra pots and burners to boil and sterilize jars.
- Consistent results – The controlled heat of an Instant Pot leads to even cooking and sealing of jars for reliably shelf-stable canned tomatoes.
The key is that pressure canning allows the internal temperature to get hot enough to kill bacteria, yeasts, and molds that cause food spoilage. This makes it safe for low-acid foods like tomatoes. Using an Instant Pot gives you the benefits of pressure canning with the ease of the push-button electric appliance.
Equipment Needed
To can tomatoes in an Instant Pot, you’ll need the following equipment:
- Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (6-quart or 8-quart size recommended)
- Canning rack – this fits in the bottom of your Instant Pot to elevate jars off the bottom
- Wide mouth mason jars & lids – go with pint or quart sized jars
- Canning funnel
- Jar lifter
- Lid wand
- Bubble remover & headspace measuring tool
You’ll also need common kitchen tools like a knife, cutting board, ladle, and vegetable peeler. Ball and Kerr are two trusted brands for mason jars and accessories. Make sure your jars, lids, and seals are in good condition for safe canning.
Choosing Tomatoes for Canning
The best tomatoes for canning are ripe but still firm. Overripe tomatoes will break down too much during the canning process. Underripe tomatoes won’t have enough flavor. Look for tomatoes free of bruises, cracks, or soft spots.
Good varieties for canning include:
- Roma – Low moisture with meaty flesh, great for sauce or paste
- Beefsteak – Juicy and fewer seeds, nice canned whole or crushed
- Cherry and grape – Sweet bite-sized tomatoes, perfect for salsas
You can use heirloom tomatoes as well. Avoid extremely soft or juicy tomatoes if canning whole. The riper the tomatoes, the more acidic they will be. Make sure to use tested canning recipes for safety.
Preparing Tomatoes for Canning
Start with firm, unblemished tomatoes at their peak of ripeness. To prepare for Instant Pot canning:
- Wash tomatoes and peel skin if desired. To peel, blanch in boiling water for 1 minute or until skin cracks.
- Remove cores and any bruised or bad spots.
- Leave whole or cut as desired. Cut larger tomatoes in halves or quarters.
- Crush or puree if making crushed tomatoes or sauce.
Work in batches to keep cut and peeled tomatoes in their prime before canning. Acidify tomatoes if needed by adding 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice or 1/2 teaspoon citric acid per quart.
How to Can Whole Tomatoes in an Instant Pot
Follow these steps for perfectly canned whole tomatoes ready for soups, stews, and sauces.
- Wash and sterilize all canning jars, lids, and equipment. Keep jars in hot water until ready to use.
- Prep tomatoes and add citric acid or lemon juice if needed. Ladle raw tomatoes and juice into hot jars leaving 1-inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace as needed. Wipe rims clean.
- Apply lids and rings finger tight.
- Place rack in Instant Pot and add 2 cups water. Arrange sealed jars on rack using jar lifter.
- Lock lid, ensure valve is sealed, and set to high pressure for 25 minutes for pints or 30 minutes for quarts.
- Allow natural release, about 30 minutes. Carefully remove jars when pressure is fully released.
- Let jars seal and cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours.
- Check seals, label, and store jars in a cool, dark place up to 1 year.
Tips for Whole Tomatoes
– Use raw packed whole tomatoes for the freshest flavor. No need to hot pack before jarring.
– Make sure tomatoes are acidified and headspace is correct for safe processing.
– Letting jars seal naturally results in a better vacuum seal versus quick release.
How to Can Crushed Tomatoes in an Instant Pot
Follow this process for versatile crushed tomatoes perfect for sauces, stews, chilis and more.
- Wash and sterilize all canning jars, lids, and equipment. Keep jars in hot water until ready to use.
- Prep tomatoes by peeling, coring, and quartering. Add citric acid or lemon juice if needed.
- Crush tomatoes to desired consistency using a food mill, strainer or blender.
- Bring crushed tomato mixture to a boil. Fill hot jars leaving 1/2-inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace. Wipe rims clean.
- Apply lids and rings finger tight.
- Place rack in Instant Pot and add 2 cups water. Place sealed jars on rack.
- Lock lid, ensure valve is sealed, and process pints for 15 minutes or quarts for 25 minutes at high pressure.
- Allow natural release, about 30 minutes. Remove jars when pressure is fully released.
- Let jars seal and cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours.
- Check seals, label, and store in a cool, dark place up to 1 year.
Tips for Crushed Tomatoes
– Hot pack crushed tomatoes by bringing to a boil before filling jars. This helps remove air.
– Make sure crushed tomatoes are acidified properly for safe canning.
– Letting pressure come down naturally prevents siphoning and improves sealing.
Tips for Canning Tomatoes in an Instant Pot
Here are some additional tips for safely canning perfect tomatoes in your Instant Pot:
– Use new lids and rings each year for the best seals. Reuse jars.
– Check processing time based on your altitude. Extend time for higher elevations.
– Don’t overload your Instant Pot. For most models, 16 pint jars or 7 quart jars max.
– Ensure proper headspace in jars for expansion. 1-inch for whole, 1/2-inch for crushed.
– Let jars seal and rest undisturbed overnight. Don’t retighten rings after processing.
– Label jars with contents and date. Store in a cool, dark place up to 1 year.
– If any jars don’t seal, refrigerate and use within 2 weeks. Reprocess unsealed jars within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to can tomatoes in an Instant Pot?
Yes, using a tested canning recipe, you can safely can tomatoes in an Instant Pot. The key is achieving the correct pressure, temperature and timing to kill dangerous bacteria. Always use scientifically tested recipes from trusted sources.
Do you have to add lemon juice when canning tomatoes?
Tomatoes tend to be borderline in acidity so it is recommended to add an acidifier like lemon juice or citric acid when canning. This helps create the safe pH conditions for boiling water bath or pressure canning tomatoes.
How long do canned tomatoes last?
Home canned tomatoes stored properly in a cool, dry place will maintain best quality for 12-18 months. Over time, color, texture, and flavor may deteriorate but the tomatoes will remain safe to eat as long as the seal is intact.
Can you double or triple Instant Pot canning recipes?
It’s not recommended to can larger batches of food than tested for your model Instant Pot. Doubling or tripling ingredients can affect safe heat distribution. Instead, can in multiple smaller batches based on recipe instructions.
What are signs of spoiled canned tomatoes?
If canned tomatoes are past their prime, look for mold, bad odor, mushy texture, or spurting liquid when jars are opened. If a seal is broken or food is severely deteriorated, it is best to discard the jar.
Choosing a Tomato Canning Recipe
Here are some highly rated, lab tested recipes to try for canning tomatoes in your Instant Pot:
Whole Tomatoes
| Recipe Source | Prep Style | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| National Center for Home Food Preservation | Raw Pack | 25 min quarts |
| Ball Canning | Raw Pack | 25 min quarts |
| Bernardin | Hot or Raw Pack | 40 min quarts |
Crushed Tomatoes
| Recipe Source | Prep Style | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Canning | Hot Pack | 35 min quarts |
| Bernardin | Hot Pack | 40 min quarts |
| Healthy Canning | Hot Pack | 25 min pints |
Conclusion
Canning tomatoes is made safe and simple with an Instant Pot. Follow proper pressure canning methods to enjoy quality homemade canned tomatoes all year long. With minimal time and effort, you can turn summer’s fresh bounty into canned tomatoes ready to enjoy for months to come.