Do you have a Vitamix? I just was gifted one, and it came at the perfect time: just when I was about to can 150 pounds of tomatoes. Tomato season is about done in my parts, so I could have said this earlier, but for future reference, if you have one of these splendiferous blenders you can cut your tomato saucing time in half. This is starting to sound like a commercial, but...No peeling! No straining!
I chopped my tomatoes into big chunks, and, as you can see below, they were huge. I did chop out some cores that seemed a big woody. Put them all in the blender, seeds, skins and all, and turn it on, quickly go from 1 to 10, and then to high, until all the seeds are gone, about a minute or less. Each batch gets tossed into a big stockpot on a low flame to heat, while you continue the process. Proceed with your usual tomato saucing/canning techniques.
That's how I canned 150 pounds of tomatoes this year by myself!
Color me jealous! I'm pretty pleased with my new food mill, but a vitamix? Blissful! Someday!
ReplyDeleteAnd that tomato is the biggest thing I've seen! Wowsa.
What all did you do with 150#?
Meg, your tomato fest was what prompted me to finally post this! I made sauce with all the tomatoes, half straight up sauce and half roasted tomato sauce. A woman I know gave me all the tomatoes in exchange for canning them, we split the finished product half and half. God, I love to barter!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of tomatoes! My mom cans mine, and we swap- I dont wanna sound like a wimp or anything, but tomatoes tear up my (ridiculously delicate) hands like nothing else. I did employ the VitaMix to rough chop some toms for a batch of jam, and for watermellon puree for jelly, and it worked great! I know how easy it is to sound like a commercial!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the final texture like? I use the strainer attachment for my KitchenAid--it removes seeds and skin, but make a strained sauce, not a puree. One thing I like about it is that I can run the discarded seeds/skins through the machine a time or two and get even more juice out of it and wind up with very little waste. It's more fun to use than a Vitamix, IMO. Kids love it.
ReplyDeleteNow that is what I'm talking about!
ReplyDeleteRebecca - I know! Way too much, but it was offered and I couldn't say no. Pretty nice that your mom does yours! I'm sure she gets some pretty good stuff in return.
ReplyDeleteChris - The final texture is just like tomato sauce. I can't really tell the difference. It doesn't make it thicker or thinner. I did have to boil it down (just like a conventional sauce recipe) to the consistency I prefer. I've wanted a KitchenAid for a long time, but still don't have one. The only reason the Vitamix came into my life is because my mother decided I had to have one. Lucky me! I think they are both amazing machines, and I'd love to have both. Maybe one day. One thing I'll say: the Vitamix is not very kid-friendly. It's pretty loud!
Eve - It really made this huge job attainable. Really.
I have so few gadgets and appliances, but I do have one of these. It was a gift and I never use it. Now I have a plan. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've definitely got to get mine back from my mom...my big beautiful vintage baby. I think by time I get around to trying tomato sauce there will be no local tomatoes to use.
ReplyDeleteDenise - I'm like you, very little gadgets and stuff. People go crazy over these things!
ReplyDeleteAngela - There's always next year!