What to Do with a Tomato Harvest: 10 Delicious Recipes

What to Do With a Tomato Harvest?

Tomatoes are a summer staple, and for good reason. They’re delicious, nutritious, and versatile. But what do you do when you have a bumper crop of tomatoes? Here are a few ideas:

• Can them. Canning is a great way to preserve tomatoes for use throughout the year. You can can them whole, crushed, or in sauce.
• Make tomato soup. Tomato soup is a classic comfort food that’s perfect for a cold winter day. You can make it from fresh tomatoes or from canned tomatoes.
• Make salsa. Salsa is a great way to use up your extra tomatoes. You can make it with fresh or canned tomatoes, and you can add your own personal touches, such as different spices or herbs.
• Make tomato sauce. Tomato sauce is another great way to use up your extra tomatoes. You can use it for pasta, pizza, or other dishes.
• Dry them. You can dry tomatoes in the sun or in a food dehydrator. Dried tomatoes are great for adding to soups, stews, or salads.
• Freeze them. You can freeze tomatoes whole, crushed, or in sauce. Frozen tomatoes are great for adding to soups, stews, or chili.

No matter how you choose to use them, your extra tomatoes will be sure to come in handy. So enjoy your harvest!

What To Do With Tomato Harvest?	How To Do It	Benefits
Make tomato sauce	Wash and quarter tomatoes. Place tomatoes in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, and other desired spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft. Use a food processor or blender to puree the tomatoes. Pour the sauce into sterilized jars and store in the refrigerator or freezer.	Tomato sauce is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, such as pasta, pizza, and soups. It is also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Making your own tomato sauce is a great way to save money and control the ingredients in your food.
Dry tomatoes	Wash and dry tomatoes. Cut tomatoes in half or quarters. Place tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-6 hours, or until tomatoes are dry and leathery. Store dried tomatoes in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.	Dried tomatoes are a great way to enjoy tomatoes out of season. They can be used in salads, soups, stews, and other dishes. Dried tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Can tomatoes	Wash and dry tomatoes. Core and quarter tomatoes. Place tomatoes in a sterilized canning jar. Add a teaspoon of salt to each jar. Cover the tomatoes with boiling water. Process the jars in a pressure cooker for 45 minutes. Let the jars cool completely before storing.	Canned tomatoes are a great way to preserve tomatoes for long-term storage. They can be used in soups, stews, chili, and other dishes. Canned tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Tomatoes are a delicious and versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in many different ways. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, tomatoes can only be stored for a few days at room temperature. If you want to enjoy tomatoes throughout the year, you will need to store them properly.

This article will discuss how to store tomatoes so that they stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible. We will also provide tips on how to can tomatoes so that you can enjoy them even when they are out of season.

How to Store Tomatoes

There are a few different ways to store tomatoes, depending on how long you want to keep them.

• Short-term storage: If you only need to store tomatoes for a few days, you can simply place them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Tomatoes will keep for up to a week in this way.
• Long-term storage: If you want to store tomatoes for longer than a week, you will need to freeze or can them.

Freezing tomatoes: To freeze tomatoes, wash them and remove the stems. Cut the tomatoes into wedges or slices. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for several hours. Once the tomatoes are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen tomatoes will keep for up to 6 months.

Canning tomatoes: Canning is a great way to preserve tomatoes for long-term storage. To can tomatoes, you will need to blanch them, pack them into jars, and process them in a boiling water bath or pressure canner. Canned tomatoes will keep for up to a year.

Tips for Storing Tomatoes

Here are a few tips for storing tomatoes so that they stay fresh and delicious:

• Choose ripe, but not overripe, tomatoes for storage.
• Store tomatoes at room temperature for up to a week.
• If you need to store tomatoes for longer than a week, freeze or can them.
• Avoid storing tomatoes in plastic bags or containers. The plastic will trap moisture and cause the tomatoes to rot.
• Store tomatoes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

How to Can Tomatoes

Canning is a great way to preserve tomatoes for long-term storage. To can tomatoes, you will need to:

1. Choose the right tomatoes for canning.
2. Prepare the tomatoes for canning.
3. Can the tomatoes using the boiling water bath method or the pressure canning method.

Choose the right tomatoes for canning

Not all tomatoes are suitable for canning. The best tomatoes for canning are firm, ripe, and have a deep red color. Avoid tomatoes that are soft, bruised, or green.

Prepare the tomatoes for canning

Before you can tomatoes, you will need to wash them and remove the stems. You can then cut the tomatoes into wedges, slices, or halves. If you are canning whole tomatoes, you will need to core them first.

Can the tomatoes using the boiling water bath method

The boiling water bath method is the most common method for canning tomatoes. To can tomatoes using the boiling water bath method, you will need:

• A large pot or kettle
• A canning rack
• Jars with lids
• A jar lifter
• A funnel
• Hot water
• Salt
• Vinegar

1. Fill the pot or kettle with water and bring it to a boil.
2. Place the canning rack in the pot.
3. Place the jars on the canning rack.
4. Fill the jars with the tomatoes, leaving 1 inch of headspace at the top.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar to each jar.
6. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean cloth.
7. Place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands finger-tight.
8. Lower the jars into the boiling water bath.
9. Boil the jars for 40 minutes.
10. Remove the jars from the boiling water bath and place them on a towel-lined counter.
11. Let the jars cool completely.
12. Once the jars are cool, check the seals. The lids should be concave and not move when you press on them.

Can the tomatoes using the pressure canner method

The pressure canning method is a more effective way to can tomatoes than the boiling water bath method. To can tomatoes using the pressure canner method, you will need:

• A pressure canner
• Jars with lids
• A jar lifter
• A funnel
• Hot water
• Salt
• Vinegar

1. Fill the pressure can

How to Make Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is a versatile and delicious condiment that can be used on pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more. It’s also a great way to use up a bumper crop of tomatoes.

To make tomato sauce, you will need:

• 6 pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
2. Add the tomatoes and water to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and the sauce has thickened.
3. Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until smooth.
4. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for later use.

Tips for Making Tomato Sauce

• Choose ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best flavor.
• If you don’t have time to peel and seed the tomatoes, you can use canned crushed tomatoes instead.
• To make a quick and easy tomato sauce, use a jar of marinara sauce and add your own fresh herbs and spices.
• Tomato sauce can be frozen for later use. Simply let it cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers.

Variations on Tomato Sauce

There are endless variations on tomato sauce. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add some red wine to the sauce for a more complex flavor.
• Stir in some Parmesan cheese or goat cheese for a creamy touch.
• Add some chopped fresh basil, oregano, or thyme for extra flavor.
• Use different types of tomatoes, such as cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or heirloom tomatoes.
• Top your pasta with tomato sauce and your favorite toppings, such as Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, or crumbled sausage.

How to Make Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is a warm and comforting soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It’s also a great way to use up a bumper crop of tomatoes.

To make tomato soup, you will need:

• 6 pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
2. Add the tomatoes and water to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and the soup has thickened.
3. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
4. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for later use.

Tips for Making Tomato Soup

• Choose ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best flavor.
• If you don’t have time to peel and seed the tomatoes, you can use canned crushed tomatoes instead.
• To make a quick and easy tomato soup, use a jar of marinara sauce and add your own fresh herbs and spices.
• Tomato soup can be frozen for later use. Simply let it cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers.

Variations on Tomato Soup

There are endless variations on tomato soup. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Add some red wine to the soup for a more complex flavor.
• Stir in some Parmesan cheese or goat cheese for a creamy touch.
• Add some chopped fresh basil, oregano, or thyme for extra flavor.
• Use different types of tomatoes, such as cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or heirloom tomatoes.
• Top your soup with croutons, shredded cheese, or sour cream.

Tomatoes are a versatile and delicious fruit that can be used in a variety of dishes. Whether you’re making tomato sauce, tomato soup,

What to do with a tomato harvest?

• Can I freeze tomatoes? Yes, you can freeze tomatoes. To freeze tomatoes, wash and dry them, then remove the cores and cut them into small pieces. Place the pieces in a freezer-safe container or bag, and freeze for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to use them, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or in the microwave on low power.
• Can I can tomatoes? Yes, you can can tomatoes. To can tomatoes, wash and sterilize the jars and lids, then pack the tomatoes into the jars. Add a boiling water bath to the jars, and process them for the appropriate amount of time. For more information on canning tomatoes, please see the USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning.
• Can I dry tomatoes? Yes, you can dry tomatoes. To dry tomatoes, wash and dry them, then slice them thinly. Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in a low oven (200-250 degrees F) until they are dry and leathery. Store the dried tomatoes in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Can I make tomato sauce with my harvest? Yes, you can make tomato sauce with your harvest. To make tomato sauce, wash and quarter the tomatoes, then place them in a large pot with some olive oil. Bring the pot to a simmer, and cook the tomatoes for 30-45 minutes, or until they are soft and mushy. Add salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings, and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. Puree the sauce in a blender or food processor, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• Can I make tomato soup with my harvest? Yes, you can make tomato soup with your harvest. To make tomato soup, follow the steps for making tomato sauce, but add some chicken broth or vegetable broth to the pot. Bring the soup to a simmer, and cook for 30-45 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and tender. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor, and season with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Serve the soup hot with a garnish of fresh basil or parsley.
• Can I make salsa with my harvest? Yes, you can make salsa with your harvest. To make salsa, wash and chop the tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Add the vegetables to a bowl, and season with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Stir to combine, and serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Can I make bruschetta with my harvest? Yes, you can make bruschetta with your harvest. To make bruschetta, slice the tomatoes thinly, and drizzle them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Toast some baguette slices, and top them with the tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

there are many things you can do with your tomato harvest. You can can them, freeze them, make sauces or salsas, or simply eat them fresh. No matter how you choose to enjoy them, tomatoes are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal.

Here are a few key takeaways from this article:

• Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• They are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes.
• There are many ways to preserve tomatoes for later use.
• Tomatoes are a delicious and healthy addition to any diet.

So next time you have a bumper crop of tomatoes, don’t let them go to waste. Use them to make delicious and nutritious dishes that your family will love.