If you’re a pizza lover, then you know that the key to a delicious homemade pizza is a perfect pizza sauce. And what better way to ensure you always have a supply of your favorite sauce on hand than by canning it? Canning pizza sauce allows you to make a large batch and store it for future use, so you can easily whip up a fresh, tasty pizza at a moment’s notice.
To create the perfect pizza sauce for canning, you’ll want to start with the freshest and ripest tomatoes you can find. You can use Roma tomatoes for a thicker sauce, or opt for plum or cherry tomatoes for a sweeter sauce. It’s important to use high-quality tomatoes because the flavor of the sauce will largely depend on the quality of the tomatoes.
Once you have your tomatoes, you’ll need to prepare them by blanching and peeling them. This involves dropping the tomatoes into boiling water for about 30 seconds, and then transferring them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. The skins should then slip off easily.
Next, it’s time to cook the tomatoes down into a sauce. You can add in other ingredients such as onions, garlic, and herbs to enhance the flavor of the sauce. Some popular spices to add to pizza sauce include oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes for a little heat. Cook the sauce down until it reaches your desired consistency, and then it’s ready to be canned.
When it comes to canning pizza sauce, it’s important to follow the proper canning procedures to ensure the safety and quality of the sauce. Fill sterilized jars with the hot sauce, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace at the top. Wipe the rims of the jars to remove any residue, and then place the lids and bands on the jars. The jars should then be processed in a water bath canner for the recommended time based on your altitude.
Once the jars have been processed and cooled, be sure to check the seals to ensure they are airtight. Any jars with unsealed lids should be refrigerated and used within a few days. The properly sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Having a supply of homemade pizza sauce on hand means that you can always enjoy a delicious pizza whenever the craving strikes. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own sauce and preserving it for future use. So, gather your tomatoes and spices, and get to work creating the perfect pizza sauce for canning. Your future self will thank you when you’re enjoying a fresh, homemade pizza in no time at all.