STANDARD TOMATO SAUCE
 
      Canned Tomato Sauce
Yield:
- 
Thin sauce: ~5 pounds tomatoes per quart 
- 
Thick sauce: ~6 ½ pounds tomatoes per quart 
Ingredients
- 
Fresh, ripe tomatoes (washed, stemmed, blemishes removed) 
- 
Bottled lemon juice or citric acid (for acidification, see below) 
- 
1 teaspoon salt per quart (optional) 
Acidification (Required for Safety)
- 
Per Quart Jar: Add 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid 
- 
Per Pint Jar: Add 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or ¼ teaspoon citric acid 
Preparation
- 
Prepare Juice: Wash tomatoes, prepare, and press as for tomato juice (removing skins and seeds with a sieve or food mill). 
- 
Cook Sauce: Place juice in a large, wide saucepan. - 
For thin sauce: simmer until reduced by about one-third. 
- 
For thick sauce: simmer until reduced by about one-half. 
 
- 
- 
Stir frequently to avoid scorching. 
Packing
- 
Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid directly to jars (see Acidification above). 
- 
Add 1 teaspoon salt per quart, if desired. 
- 
Fill jars with hot sauce, leaving ¼-inch headspace. 
- 
Wipe rims, adjust lids, and prepare for processing. 
Finishing
- 
Process jars in a boiling-water canner or pressure canner according to USDA-recommended times for tomato sauce. 
- 
Adjust for jar size and altitude. 
⚠️ Safety Note: Acidification is mandatory for tomato sauce, even when pressure canning.
| Style of Pack | Jar Size | Process Time | 0-1,000 ft | Above 1,000 ft | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Pints or Quarts | 20 min | 5 lb | 10 lb | 
| Hot | Pints or Quarts | 15 min | 10 lb | 15 lb | 
| Hot | Pints or Quarts | 10 min | 15 lb | Not recommended | 
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