Preserve Your Tomatoes This Way for Long Freshness
Not sure how to keep those perfect tomatoes fresh for winter eating? Discover something lesser known here.
Tomatoes: A Beloved Summer Staple It’s common to receive or buy a large quantity of delicious tomatoes, only to find you can’t use them sufficiently. What if there was a way to preserve them for winter enjoyment? Let’s find out how.
Keeping Tomatoes Fresh All Year Round Typically, tomatoes are in season from May to July. Despite year-round availability through greenhouses and imports, the best flavor comes from consuming them during their natural season. In-season tomatoes are juicier and more flavorful, often lacking the watery taste of out-of-season varieties.
The nutritional benefits of seasonal produce Nutritionists recommend eating fruits and vegetables during their season to maximize the nutritional and taste benefits. Tomatoes ripened in the summer sun are much richer in nutrients than those ripened in greenhouses during the colder months. However, tomatoes generally don’t last long in the refrigerator, making them difficult to store for the winter. However, there is a proven method for preserving their quality and enjoying them out of season.
What You’s Need To start, gather fresh tomatoes, medium or large airtight glass jars, a jar, vinegar, salt, sugar and garlic. Let’s explore the steps to effectively preserving those summer tomatoes.
Tomato Preserving Process Start by boiling 2 liters of water in a saucepan. Meanwhile, pack 2.5 kg of tomatoes airtight into the airtight glass jars. Arrange the tomatoes so they fit together and stay in place, being careful not to crush them.
Garlic Preparation Finely chop 20 garlic cloves, ready to add to the jars.
Pour in the boiling water. Once the water boils, remove it from the heat and carefully pour it over the tomatoes in the jars. Place a spoon in the jar to prevent the glass from shattering due to the sudden change in temperature. Fill the jars to the brim, then cover them with lids and let them sit for at least 20 minutes.
Add the Vinegar, Sugar and Salt After 20 minutes, pour the water into the saucepan and add 100 ml of vinegar, 100 grams of sugar and 2 tablespoons of salt. Mix well, then bring to the boil again. Next, distribute the chopped garlic among the jars, mostly sitting on top of the tomatoes.
Final Steps Pour the boiling mixture into the jars, using the spoon to avoid breaking the glass. The hot liquid will help distribute the garlic evenly throughout the pot. Seal the jars well, then shake them gently to mix the contents well, aiming for an even distribution of garlic, similar to a snow globe effect.
Storing Jars Wrap sealed jars in a thick blanket to cool slowly. Once cooled, store them in a cool, dark place. This method allows you to enjoy tasty tomatoes even in winter.
