Many households across the country enjoy canning sliced green tomatoes. Canning green tomatoes for frying allows this summertime treat to be enjoyed year round. One unable to appreciate canning green tomatoes until the dead of winter.

There are two things my closest friends know about me, I was born in the wrong era and I love southern cooking. Actually, I love comfort foods, which so happens to cover many southern dishes.

Give me a plate of collards with bacon, fried tomatoes and fried pasture raised chicken and you’ve got one extremely happy individual. It is about the love of food, all food, which allows me to crave some deep fried foods.

Consuming freshly fried green tomatoes is reserved for the summer months. However, because canning sliced green tomatoes is an option we can now enjoy this treat throughout the year. Actually, the process for cooking an already “cooked” item makes the process much quicker than frying a fresh item.

The flavor found in canned unripe green tomatoes is very much similar to the cooked version. There is not a growing season which goes by that this item is not preserved. My only regret? That I am not able to preserve more than a few jars each year!

Canning Sliced Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes are very different from red variety. The texture and slightly tart flavor puts this green fruit into a league of its own.

Aside from canning sliced green tomatoes there are a plethora of options to preserve this item.

• pickled green tomatoes
• green tomato chutney
• homemade tomato pie
• green tomato sauce

Ingredients

• 6 pounds medium green tomatoes
• bottled lemon juice
• boiling water

Equipment

• hot water bath canner
• jar funnel
• jar lifter
• air bubble remover
• 7 wide mouth pint jars

Instructions

1. The first thing you want to do is wash tomatoes extremely well. Remove the core and the blossom end.
2. Evenly slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch slices.
3. In a kettle, bring water to a boil.
4. Add the sliced tomatoes to wide mouth jars, stacking them as to fit as many slices as possible into each jar. Make sure to leave a 1-inch headspace.
5. Next, add 1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice to each jar.
6. Once the water has begun boiling, fill jars leaving a 1/2-inch head space.
7. Gently slide the air bubble remover along the inside of the jar removing any trapped air bubbles. Add additional boiling water as needed, making sure to leave a 1/2-inch headspace.
8. With a clean towel, wipe jar rim to dry.
9. Add warmed lids and rings to finger tight.
10. Process jars boiling water bath canner or a pressure canner according to the altitude in which you reside, see the chart below.

Processing Time for Hot Water Bath Canning

Processing Time for a Dial Gage Pressure Canner

Processing Time for a Dial Gauge Pressure Canner

Please note, the weight required is 15 pounds regardless of where you reside from sea level.

A Few Tips

1. In October 2019 the NCHFP released information stating, the processing time for canning green tomatoes is the same as red variety.
2. Pressure canning green tomatoes is not a shorter process time than what is stated for the hot water bath method.

My Book

Learn more about the Farm Girl’s Guide to Preserving the Harvest and what makes it different than other preserving books.

Printable Recipe Card

Frying Canned Green Tomatoes

At the end of the growing season you will be left with green tomatoes, what to do with them is the ultimate question. Canning green tomatoes for frying is a treat and one which should be enjoyed year round. How can you go wrong when buttermilk, bread crumbs, corn meal, eggs, and flour are involved?

• 2 jars canned green tomatoes
• pinch or two of salt and pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Heat the oil in a skill onto medium heat.
2. In a bowl mix flour, salt and black pepper.
3. Next mix the breadcrumbs and cornmeal in another bowl.
4. Using a third bowl beat the eggs and buttermilk together.
5. Dip the slices into the following bowls in this order: flour mixture, buttermilk-egg mixture, and then the breadcrumb-cornmeal mixture.
6. Fry the breaded green tomatoes for 3 to 5 minutes on each side until brown.

More Green Tomato Recipes

• Canning Tomatillo Salsa Verde
• Canning Pomodori Verdi- A Green Tomato Pasta Sauce
• Heirloom Tomato Pie- Can Make a Green Tomato Pie
• Canning Green Cherry Tomatoes
• Canning Tomato Jam- Use Green Tomatoes for Green Tomato Jam

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