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adding and changing herbs and spices in stewed tomatos

13 years ago

Hi again,

As i stare at my just canned tomatos i am wondering, i used the herb mix, lemon juice and salt like the recipe called for. Can i add things like fresh chopped or dried garlic, onions, and even olives? would that change the bwb time? can my stewed tomatos be safe?? would i have to use my new Presto pressure canner??

Yoshi

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Comments (7)

readinglady
13 years ago
You can't add fresh anything, so fresh garlic, onions and most definitely olives are out. Olives are low-acid AND fatty. Besides, they're so easy to add when the mixture is heated it's kind of a waste of space.

Dried herbs and spices or dehydrated garlic or onions can be added as you wish.

Carol
yoshi4696
Original Author
13 years ago
thank u
yoshi
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digdirt2
13 years ago
i used the herb mix, lemon juice and salt like the recipe called for. Can i add things like fresh chopped or dried garlic, onions, and even olives? would that change the bwb time? can my stewed tomatos be safe?? would i have to use my new Presto pressure canner??
Yoshi

Can I ask what recipe you used for making your "stewed tomatoes" that allowed them to be processed in a BWB? What herb mix are you referring to?

The approved recipe for Stewed Tomatoes (p. 69 BBB) requires pressure canning - pints 15 mins. and quarts 20 @ 10 lbs. and always has.

Dave
readinglady
13 years ago
You're right, Dave. I missed that.

Carol
yoshi4696
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry again.
I guess i renamed the recipe. It is not Stewed Tomatoes it is Crushed Tomatoes from the Ball complete book of Home Preserving.
On pages 354-369 Tomato Processing in a Boil-Water canner recipes are given and i made the crushed tomatoes on pg357. I added the Italian Spice Blend from pg359(dried herbs and spices).So then in theses recipes i can only use dried spices not fresh and no veges, but i can use most dried spices and dried veges,dried mushrumes, dried etc or am i taking it over board to the next level?
yoshi
digdirt2
13 years ago
Crushed Tomatoes from the Ball complete book of Home Preserving.

Ahh makes a big difference! ;) Yes that is a safe recipe and very different from Stewed Tomatoes. And the separation, the floating, you saw is common. You can gently shake the jar or just ignore it and they will settle all on their own with some time.

So then in theses recipes i can only use dried spices not fresh and no veges, but i can use most dried spices and dried veges,dried mushrumes, dried etc or am i taking it over board to the next level?

You can use dried spices, yes. They don't change the pH. Just do it carefully as the dried spices will intensify during storage. Too much can ruin the whole jar.

Dried vegetables is another matter. They DO change the pH and they can also change the density. They have to be rehydrated before adding them and you need to rehydrate them in vinegar or bottled lemon juice, not in water, and they can be used only in very small amounts.

Don't make assumptions about recipes without checking first. That can easily get you into trouble. ;)

Dave
yoshi4696
Original Author
13 years ago
oooooh, thank you so much.
I am soooo glad i came across this website
My tomatoes are the best (Balls Tomatoes)no matter the cost (within reason) i will now go today and get 20lbs of tomatoes and go crazy i am so pleased with the outcome.
I opened a jar last night (just couldnt wait)and you are right the tast will intensify over time it is strong now so i will use less herbs for the ones i will not eat now. we all were just eating them out of the jar.
thanks again and have a good morning i know i will.
Off to the market
yoshi

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