Is there anything more summery than a basket of fresh, homegrown tomatoes? If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, or even a few plants on your patio, you’re probably looking for ways to preserve the harvest.
Tomatoes are one of the most popular fruits (yes, fruit!) to preserve. These are perfect for canning because they retain their flavor and texture so well. But which variety should you choose?
If you haven’t started your tomato plants yet or thinking of adding a few varieties best suited for canning, here are a few of our favorites.
Benefits of Canning Tomatoes
Canning tomatoes is a great way to enjoy their fresh flavor all year long. The canning process involves sealing tomatoes in airtight jars or containers, preventing bacteria from spoiling the fruit.
Not only do canned tomatoes make a great addition to soups and stews, but you can also use them in sauces, salsas, and even drinks. Preserved tomatoes are also more versatile than fresh ones because they can be stored for long periods without losing their flavor or texture.
Canning tomatoes is a simple process that can be done at home with little equipment. You need some mason jars, a pot for boiling the tomatoes, and a canning kit.
Which Tomatoes are Best for Canning?
The best tomatoes for canning are those with thicker skin and fewer seeds. These varieties will hold up better to the canning process and have a more pleasant texture when canned. A denser flesh also means fewer watery or mushy tomatoes.
Here are a few of our favorite varieties of tomatoes for canning:
1) Atkinson Tomatoes
The Atkinson tomato is a small, round variety from heirloom seeds. These tomatoes are perfect for canning because they have a very dense flesh with few seeds. Atkinson tomatoes also have a slightly tart flavor that makes them ideal for sauces and salsas.
Typically grown in USDA zones 11-12, they’re a perfect option for those in tropical climates.
2) Roma VF Tomatoes
Another heirloom variety, this open-pollinated tomato is perfect for canning and preserving. Roma VF tomatoes are meaty with few seeds and a slightly sweet flavor. Its high amount of flesh and low seed count make it perfect for canning into sauces or purees.
It yields in higher yield with less waste, making it an excellent option for those looking to preserve a lot of tomatoes at once.
Roma VF tomatoes are best grown in USDA zones 3-11, typically maturing in about 80 days.
3) San Marzano Tomatoes
The epitome of Italian cuisine, San Marzano tomatoes are a must-have for any tomato lover. These bright red tomatoes are slightly elongated with a pointy end. They have a very dense flesh with few seeds and a sweet yet acidic flavor.
Italian cuisines burst in flavor, and a lot of that comes from the San Marzano tomatoes. Because of their popularity, these tomatoes are now grown all over the world. These tomatoes hint of extra sweetness in flavor, with its characteristic acidity that makes them perfect for canning into sauce or pizza sauce.
You can easily distinguish a San Marzano tomato from its pointed tips, teardrop shape, and distinct red color.
San Marzano tomatoes take approximately 80-85 days to mature and are best grown in USDA zones 5-10. It blooms earlier than most other varieties, so keep that in mind when planting.
4) Red Pear Tomatoes
For many people, the taste of summer is embodied in a jar of home-canned tomatoes. While many different types of tomatoes can be used for canning, some varieties are better suited to the process than others.
For instance, red pear tomatoes are a good choice for canning because they are small and uniform in size. This makes them easy to pack into jars, and their small size also means that they will cook evenly.
In addition, red pear tomatoes have indeterminate vines, shooting up vertically and continuing to produce fruit until the first frost. These tomatoes do well in vertical gardens, making them suitable for small spaces.
Red pear tomatoes are best grown in USDA zones 3-10, typically maturing in about 75 days. Their short maturity time means that they can be grown in a wide range of climates.
5) Gladiator Tomatoes
These indeterminate tomatoes are a good option for those looking for a high yield. This variety grows to about four feet tall and matures in just 72 days. The fruit is large and cylindrical, with a deep red color.
Gladiator tomatoes are ideal for making sauce, ketchup, and salsa when it comes to canning. They have a thick flesh that breaks down easily, making them perfect for cooking down into a delicious, rich sauce. Hardy in 4 -10, this variety is simple to grow in most climates.
Best tomatoes for canning: Final Thoughts
Preserving the tomato harvest is a great way to enjoy the taste of summer all year long. There are many different ways to preserve tomatoes, but canning is one of the easiest and most popular methods.
Canning is simply the process of heating food to a temperature that destroys harmful bacteria and then sealing it in a sterile jar or container. It’s true that most tomatoes can be canned, but some others taste and preserves better than others. Check our list above of the best tomatoes for canning to find a suitable variety for you.
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