What if you have less to can than the recipe calls for?

11 years ago

I'm sure this question has come up before, but I couldn't think of a way to formulate a search that brougt up any discussions that would help me. Basically, I want to can my tomato sauce this year, having only frozen it in the past. I say sauce, but really what I prefer is basically cooked down, unseasoned puree. I can season it specific to my tastes when it comes cooking time.

So anyhow, this will be my first time canning. First thing that comes up is that I don't have 40 lbs of tomatoes sitting around, and if I try to wait for my plants to produce that amount the older ones will be rotting. So can you can with fewer jars than the recipe calls for? I did purchase a new pressure canner, should be arriving soon. And I have read the beginning of the Ball Blue Book, but if it addressed this question I missed it.

If you can't can with fewer jars, then how do you save up your tomatoes to get enough to can? Any help would be appreciated!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

digdirt2
11 years ago
You may can with as many jars as you wish. So if you only have enough to prepare 1/2 of the recipe just cut all the ingredients in half and then follow the rest of the instructions. The processing time is the same.

But just to be sure I'm not accidentally misleading by misunderstanding what you are asking you can you be more specific about the recipe you are using?

And the thickness makes a difference in the processing time and size of jars used. For example tomato paste is done in 1/2 pints and for a longer time than tomato sauce is.

Neither plain tomato sauce nor plain tomato paste require pressure canning.

For those of us who prefer to only work with full or doubled recipes we just freeze the whole tomatoes until we have enough to do the full batch.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: NCHFP - Canning Standard Tomato Sauce
sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author
11 years ago
Ok, thanks! I was referring to plain or as the link you gave says "standard" tomato sauce. It looks like thick or thin sauce gets processed the same time? I don't have a pot big enough to water bath can in, and I love pickles too, so the pressure canner was an investment for the future. I also like salsa and other things that can be canned, this is my jumping off point. Um, actually, can you explain what's going on in table 3 of that link? It says pint or quarts, but then has 3 process times...

I didn't have an actual recipe, that was going to be step 2, but you've saved me having to look. :) I just figured if all the recipes for sauces with stuff in them called for 30+ lbs of tomatoes per batch then I was going to need at least that much for what I want to do. When you freeze the tomatoes, how do you procede then? Thaw, strain, cook? Thanks a lot!
Related Discussions
Just got a call less than 5mins ago.
Q
Comments (3)
marymcp they serve the whole East Valley and can deliver free chipped wood in a lot more cities than Mesa. Think more like Apache Junction to Phoenix. If they have a full truck and a job to do in your city I'm sure they would be happy to deliver anywhere in the East Valley. Their customers do come first though. It took two weeks before they had a load they could deliver to my house. They saved me hundreds of dollars and charged me nothing. Hope they can do the same for you. amadioranch they don't sell mulch or deliver for a fee. But they will deliver for free if they have it and you are near where they are going or along the way.
...See More
Anyone have experience with less than full sun?
Q
Comments (10)
For 8 summers I had a vegetable garden along the east wall of my parents' house in the Chicago suburbs. Morning sun only. I had room for 5 tomatoes: one cherry and whatever beefsteaks we could find seedlings for. The tomatoes were grown at the back of the plot, right next to the brick wall. The limited sun didn't seem to be a problem. Since the weather was quite dry during that period and I'd been taught to prune to one stem, damp foliage wasn't a problem (did have Septoria leaf spot on a plant one year). Squirrels stealing the lower fruit (for the moisture) were the worst problem. === A few years back, there was a poster here named Dave who had a shady Minnesota backyard (neighbors' large trees he couldn't prune). IIRC, he planted in containers which he stuck in the brightest spots he could find, scattered across his backyard. He was much more successful than anyone would have believed. His tomatoes got less sun than mine had in Illinois, so probably 4-5 hours of direct sun. === When I first moved here, I replaced the Previous Owners' hostas in front of the house with a row of daylilies. They were shaded most of the morning by the house and from at least 12:30 by large maples. Daylilies are supposed to have at least 6 hours of direct sun to bloom well, and mine got 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Oops. But they bloomed fine. "Well, it's bright shade," I said. I didn't know there was such a thing as "bright shade," but there is, and it makes a difference. So if you don't have an area with enough direct sun, look for an area which gets as much direct sun as possible, and some bright shade.
...See More
Anyone have trees that Flower profusely with Less than 6 hours of sun?
Q
Comments (22)
Steve, I heat with oil.... Laura, I hope this lights works for you...I have had lights in the past and my electricity bill was just too high to use ;lamps and space heaters all winter. I had to choose space heaters...The answer to everything would be to hope that my neighbors huge tree dies or move... Many here are right though, since I grow just for fragrance, I can grow anything that others might not care to eat or grow..If I get fruit, that is a benefit.. My Lemon and limes seem to do great with the sunlight I get although I have seen them all flowers more abundantly in greenhouses...But, I'll will take anything at this point..Even ONE orange blossom can fill an entire area with fragrance! Please, will you keep us updated on the lights, cost, and how they affect growth for you? If you have to deal; with spindly growth and bugs..? Thanks everyone for you ideas and names of trees that do all with such little direct sunlight )
...See More
need help! I have less than a week to decide!
Q
Comments (6)
I have agreeable grey in my bathroom and really like it. I also have BM Revere Pewter in my bedroom and like that as well. You really need to get a sample paint can and actually paint some on your wall to get a feel for what it looks like in your room. It's very difficult to tell from a sheet sample in my opinion. Greys and blues are very difficult colors as they vary a lot once they are actually painted on the wall.
...See More
digdirt2
11 years ago
Um, actually, can you explain what's going on in table 3 of that link? It says pint or quarts, but then has 3 process times...

That chart is for gauged canners only and list 3 different times depending on the pressure reading you use - the higher the pressure used, the shorter the time required. 20 min @ 5lb. or 15 min at 10 lb. Your choice.

I don't have a pot big enough to water bath can in, and I love pickles too, so the pressure canner was an investment for the future.

So you ordered a PC that is deep enough to use as a BWB canner too right? You'd never want to PC pickles. :)

When you freeze the tomatoes, how do you procede then? Thaw, strain, cook? Thanks a lot!

Wash, core (optional), bag, freeze. Then thaw, slip off peels, core if you didn't already, drain, and cook.

Dave
dgkritch
11 years ago
Yeah, what Dave said except for:

"That chart is for gauged canners only and list 3 different times depending on the pressure reading you use - the higher the pressure used, the shorter the time required. 20 min @ 5lb. or 15 min at 10 lb. Your choice.

It's for Weighted Gauge canners.....
Just a typographical ommision, I'm sure! (smile!)

Deanna
sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author
11 years ago
Ah, so, I get it. I actually ordered the part for the adjustable weighted gauge, but had forgotten. Now that table makes sense. Haven't looked at recipes for pickles yet, good to know! I guess the canner is deep enough, it's 16 quarts, but if not I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. :) however thi all works out, it will be good to be able to free up room in the freezer for things that need freezing. Once I get the 40 lbs of tomatoes out... ;)

What if you have less to can than the recipe calls for?

Comments (5)

digdirt2

sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author

Related Discussions

digdirt2

dgkritch

sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

What if you have less to can than the recipe calls for?

Comments (5)

digdirt2

sunnibel7 Md 7Original Author

Related Discussions

digdirt2

dgkritch

sunnibel7 Md 7Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author

sunnibel7 Md 7
Original Author