Making homemade pizza sauce is a rewarding and satisfying experience. Not only does it taste better than store-bought sauce, but it also allows you to control the ingredients and make it exactly to your taste. And if you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes from your garden, making and canning pizza sauce is a great way to preserve the harvest for year-round use.
When it comes to canning homemade pizza sauce, there are a few essential tools and ingredients that you’ll need to ensure the process goes smoothly and safely. Here are the canning essentials for making and canning homemade pizza sauce.
Fresh tomatoes – The base of any good pizza sauce is fresh, ripe tomatoes. Using tomatoes that are in season and at their peak of flavor will result in the best-tasting sauce. You can use any variety of tomatoes, but Roma or San Marzano tomatoes are often preferred for their rich flavor and low water content.
Herbs and spices – To give the sauce that classic pizza flavor, you’ll need to add some herbs and spices. Common additions include garlic, oregano, basil, and thyme. You can also add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat if you like.
Onions and garlic – Onions and garlic are essential for adding depth of flavor to the sauce. Sauteing them before adding the tomatoes can also help to bring out their sweetness.
Canning jars – To safely preserve your homemade pizza sauce, you’ll need canning jars with lids and bands. Make sure to use jars specifically designed for canning, as they are made to withstand the high heat of the canning process.
Canning pot – A large pot with a rack or basket for holding the jars is essential for the water bath canning process. This pot should be large enough to hold several jars and deep enough to cover them with at least 1-2 inches of water.
Canning funnel – A canning funnel makes filling the jars with hot sauce much easier and less messy. It’s especially helpful if you are working with a large batch of sauce.
Ladle – A ladle is necessary for transferring the hot sauce into the jars without making a mess. It’s also helpful for adding the sauce to the pot for heating and canning.
Once you have gathered all of the essential tools and ingredients, the process of making and canning homemade pizza sauce is relatively straightforward. The key is to follow a trusted recipe and to properly sterilize and seal the jars to ensure that the sauce is safe to store at room temperature.
By having these canning essentials on hand, you can enjoy the delicious taste of homemade pizza sauce all year round and make the most of your tomato harvest. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing exactly what’s in your sauce and the pride of having preserved the flavors of summer for the months ahead.