Ladies, I'm interested in canning my own tomatos this year but I do not have a garden. Wondering if any of you know good prices on tomatos and what kind I should buy in order to can? Do I really need a canner? I think M2M has a good tomato sauce canning recipe... anyone still have it?

What else are you canning? Any good hints for a beginner?

I use roma tomatoes but I do not know what a good price would be. Sorry.

Yes you need a water bath canner.

The best tip when starting canning is go on craigs list or go to thrift stores to get jars. It cost a lot to get started canning but once you have everything it will out last you.

The best book is "Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving" IMO. It give you tons of info or you can call your state extention office.

Have fun but be careful, very easy to get hooked!

Before I had a canner I used a roasting pan with towels on the bottom and it worked out fine.

How did you do them? In the oven?

You don't need a high pressure canner - the ones that are super expensive! A water bath canner can be found at a lot of garage sales, or new for $30. Jars are good to find on Craigslist, and run $8 a doz new. You can reuse the rings and jars, but should use new lids every time. I prefer to use name brand jars (Ball, Kerr, etc), but some folks use old mayo jars. You want to run your finger around the rim - if there are chips or sharp spots, the jar isn't good to can with anymore - won't keep a seal.

The main thing is to take your time - it's not a fast process and not to be rushed!

As for where to get tomatoes, don't bother with the grocery store. Talk to folks out in rural areas who have gardens or folks who do farm markets. I personally grow more than I need and have a list of people who want to buy tomatoes from me. Last year a friend of mine was buying them for $15 a bushel, which is close to 50lbs or more. One bushel makes about 20 some quarts of total canned tomato (juice and all). Roma or paste tomatoes make the best canning kind - they are more meat than juice.

I can most anything I can can without a pressure cooker (tried it last year, didn't like it).

I took pictures of my jamming, I'll work on a how to thread for that....maybe I'll try to remember to do a tomato canning thing or something

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