Tomatoes are a versatile fruit that can be used in a variety of dishes, from sauces to soups. While you can buy canned tomatoes, many people prefer to use fresh tomatoes. If you’re using fresh tomatoes, you’ll need to know how long to hot water bath them.
Hot water bathing is a process where the tomatoes are heated in boiling water for a period of time. This helps to kill any bacteria on the surface of the fruit and make them safe to eat. The length of time that you need to hot water bath tomatoes will vary depending on the type of tomato and the size of the batch.
Hot water bath canning is a great way to preserve tomatoes. The process is simple and only requires a few minutes of your time. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to hot water bath can tomatoes.
First, you will need to gather your supplies. You will need fresh tomatoes, canning jars, lids, and rings. You will also need a large pot or canner for boiling the jars.
Next, wash the tomatoes and remove any blemishes. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the seeds if desired.
Pack the tomatoes tightly into the canning jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace at the top of the jar.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pint jar (1 teaspoon per quart jar). You can also add other seasonings like garlic or herbs if desired.
Wipe the rims of the jars clean with a damp cloth and screw on the lids and rings finger-tight.
Place the jars in your large pot or canner and fill with enough water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and let boil for 45 minutes (for pints) or 60 minutes (for quarts).
After boiling, turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes before removing the lid from pot or canner (this allows pressure to equalize so that you don’t get burned when opening it).
Remove jars carefully with tongs and place on a towel or cooling rack until completely cooled. Once cooled, check that seals have formed by pressing down in center of lid; it should not spring up when pressed down.
How to Can Tomatoes in a Water Bath Canner

Credit: www.sustainablecooks.com
How Long Do Tomatoes Stay in Water Bath?
Tomatoes can stay in a water bath for up to 12 hours. If you are using a recipe that calls for longer than this, it is best to check with the recipe creator to see if there are any recommendations for how long to keep the tomatoes in the water bath.
How Long Do I Hot Water Bath Whole Tomatoes?
Hot water bath canning is a great way to preserve tomatoes. The high heat of the water bath kills any bacteria that may be present on the tomatoes, ensuring that your canned tomatoes will be safe to eat.
So, how long do you hot water bath whole tomatoes?
The answer depends on the acidity of your tomatoes. If your tomatoes are highly acidic, you can process them in a hot water bath for just 5 minutes. If your tomatoes are less acidic, you’ll need to process them for 10 minutes.
To determine the acidity of your tomatoes, use an acid test kit or pH meter. To be safe, always err on the side of processing for a longer time if you’re not sure whether your tomatoes are highly acidic or not.
Once you’ve processed your whole tomatoes in a hot water bath, remove them from the canner and let them cool completely before storing them in a cool, dark place.
How Long Do You Process Tomato Juice in a Hot Water Bath?
Tomato juice can be processed in a hot water bath for canning purposes. The exact processing time will vary depending on the type of tomatoes used, as well as their size and juiciness. For most types of tomatoes, the minimum processing time in a hot water bath should be 35 minutes.
If you are using very ripe or large tomatoes, you may need to process for 45 minutes or longer.
How Long Should You Hot Water Bath Tomato Sauce?
Tomato sauce can be safely hot water bath processed in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. For best quality, use ripe tomatoes and follow directions carefully.
Start with clean jars and lids.
Fill canner half full with water. Add jars to canner, making sure they are completely covered with water. Boil Waterbath Canner for 10 minutes to sterilize the jars and lids.
Keep heat on high throughout the process of preparing your tomato sauce recipe
Wash tomatoes thoroughly. Remove stems and any bad spots.
To peel or not to peel is up to you! If you choose to peel them, dip in boiling water for 30-60 seconds until skins loosen, then slip off skins. Coarsely chop peeled or unpeeled tomatoes
In a large saucepot, combine chopped tomatoes, onion, sweet pepper, garlic , sugar, salt, basil leaves , oregano leaves , black pepper , celery seed (if desired). Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend, stirring occasionally
Ladle hot sauce into prepared jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace . Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel; apply two-piece metal canning lids . Screw on jar bands until fit is fingertip tight
Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for the time specified in the table below based on whether you used raw pack or hot pack methods and your altitude
Raw Pack: Fill jars loosely with freshly prepared tomato sauce . Do not press down or add more tomato sauce than will fit comfortably within the 1/2 inch headspace guideline
Hot Pack: Fill each jar by ladling piping hot tomato sauce into it . Leave 1/2 inch headspace
Altitude (feet) – Processing Time (minutes)
0-1,000 – 35
1001-6 000 – 40
Conclusion
Hot water bathing tomatoes is a great way to preserve them for later use. It’s important to make sure that the water is hot enough, though, or else you risk not killing off any bacteria that may be present on the fruit. The general rule of thumb is to keep the water at around 190 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes.
This will ensure that your tomatoes are safe to eat and won’t spoil quickly.