Homemade Recipe for Canning Salsa

Learn how to can salsa with this homemade recipe using fresh tomatoes from the garden! This is truly the BEST recipe for canning salsa and one I have been making for 20 years. No matter how much I make, we seem to always run out. Included is the easiest way to can salsa using either pressure canning or a water bath.

Why I Love This Recipe for Canning Salsa

Growing up, my mom always had a garden and we spent many long days helping her preserve all those vegetables. So, it’s only natural that I would put my own children through the same torturous process I endured. This recipe for canning salsa has gone through many variations over the years but I think it is now absolute perfection. We love making massive batches of this homemade salsa every summer. 

What is the Easiest Way to Can Salsa?

The easiest way to can salsa is by using the supplies you already have on hand. Firstly, there’s no reason to spend a few hundred dollars purchasing new kitchen equipment for a recipe. If you have a large enough pot to use for water bath canning salsa, use that. If you need to buy something no matter what, I highly recommend a pressure canner. 
While water bath canning salsa can be done safely, the recipe and the process have to be exactly right or you could get very, very sick. Using a pressure canner significantly reduces your risk of getting sick from botulism with any recipe for canning salsa. Read more about the risks in this article.

Water Bath Method for Canning Salsa

For many, this method will be the easiest way to can homemade salsa because they already have a large pot. There are a few safety requirements to be sure the salsa tastes great, seals properly, and stays safe as it sits in your pantry over time. 

• Increase vinegar to 1 cup to increase the acidity levels of the salsa. This is necessary because the salsa will never go above 212 degrees in a boiling water bath. If there is not enough acidification in the salsa, it may lead to bacterial spores that cause botulism to germinate and grow. And botulism can make you very sick, or even possible paralysis and death.
• Use a wire rack on the bottom of the pot so the jars won’t break from direct contact with the bottom of the pan.
• Cover the jars with 1-2 inches of boiling water and bring the pot to a full boil before starting the 15-minute timer. 
• Let the jars sit in the hot water for 10 minutes after the pot is removed from the heat. After they leave the pot, let them sit for 24 hours before testing if each jar is sealed by tapping and pushing on the lid. 

Pressure Cooker Method for Canning Salsa

The pressuring canning salsa method is the safest option. The increased pressure inside the sealed canner creates a much hotter temperature. So, that higher temperature kills bacteria present and produces a much more reliable seal on the jar. 

• Follow the manufacturer’s directions on how much boiling water is needed at the bottom of the canner. Jars do not need to be covered with water. 
• Start the timer after the canner has reached the proper 5 pounds of pressure and keep an eye on the pressure gauge, adjusting the temperature as needed to keep it at 5 pounds. 
• Do not open the canner or manually remove the pressure until the gauge reads 0 pounds of pressure. Doing so will crack all the jars inside and cause severe burns when the scalding steam comes out.
• Let the jars sit for 24 hours after removing them from the canner. Then test if each jar is sealed by tapping and pushing on the lid. 

Recipe for Canning Salsa Steps

1. Prepare the salsa according to the recipe below. Salsa needs to be hot when it goes into the jars.
2. Sanitize the jars and lids by letting them sit in simmering water for a couple of minutes. Use tongs when touching them after they have been sanitized.
3. Fill the jars with hot salsa using a ladle and canning funnel. Leave ½” of space at the top. Wipe the rims of each jar using a clean, damp cloth. 
4. Place the lids and tops on each jar and hand tighten. Place in the canner. 
5. Process the jars according to the directions for either the pressure canner or water bath method listed in the recipe below. 
6. Rest the jars for 24 hours. Do not disturb them or the seal might break.
7. Test the seal on every jar by pushing down on the center of the lid and tapping it with your fingernail.

Supplies Needed to Can Salsa

No matter what recipe for canning salsa you use, there are some basic supplies you need before beginning: 

1. Quart or pint-sized canning jars – the size is dependent on how quickly you will use the salsa once opened. Pick the size that will be used within a few weeks.
2. Jar lids and screw tops – be sure the size you order matches the openings of your jars. There are either wide-mouth or regular jar openings.
3. Canning tools – these tools are essential for canning safely! It includes a funnel, jar lifter, magnetic lid lifter, and jar wrench.
4. Pressure canner or large canning pot –  pressure canning is the safest option for preserving salsa, but water bath canning in a large pot can also be used with a few modifications.

Do I Have To Peel Tomatoes For Salsa?

Yes, you need to remove the tomato peel in anyl recipe for canning salsa. Otherwise, you end up with a salsa filled with tough, unpleasant pieces of tomato skins that are hard to eat. You can easily remove them by roasting them in the oven, quickly boiling them in water, or by using a food strainer. All three methods are easy and described below:

Roasting Tomatoes To Remove Skin

Turn the oven to broil and place the rack so it is about 6 inches below the broiler. Slice the tomatoes in half and place them cut-side down and close together on a baking sheet. Broil until the skins blacken – about 10 minutes, then allow to cool before easily pinching off the skins.

I love to roast my tomatoes in my homemade salsa recipe. It makes removing the peels a breeze, and it creates a bit of a sweeter and smokier end result. If you don’t want that flavor addition, then skip down to the boiling method.

Boiling Tomatoes To Remove Skin

Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stove and have a large bowl of ice water ready on the side. Slice a shallow “X” on the bottom of each tomato then drop them into the boiling water for 45 seconds. Remove from the water and put them immediately into the ice bath. The skins will fall right off when you pick them up and slide your fingers across the surface. While a bit labor intensive, it’s what most people use when preparing a recipe for canning salsa.

Using A Food Strainer To Remove Tomato Skins

A Victorio Food Strainer is the fastest way to remove tomato skins from a large batch of fresh tomatoes when making a recipe for canning salsa. There is no need to roast or boil them first. Use a salsa screen on your food strainer, cut tomatoes in half, put them in the top, and turn the crank. The skin-free, crushed tomatoes come out the slide, while the seeds and skins go out the end into a garbage bowl.

I use my Victorio Food Strainer for all my favorite canned goods: salsa, applesauce, tomato sauce, and jellies. If you are an avid canner, you need this massive time saver in your life! It runs around $80 – $100 but the amount of time it saves is worth it.

Recipe for Canning Salsa FAQs

Do You Have To Cook Salsa Before Canning?

Yes, for two reasons. First, if you cold pack your salsa, it will take nearly two hours in your pressure cooker to come to a boil, let alone process. Second, if you cold pack your salsa, half of your finished jar of salsa will be water. You need to cook any recipe for canning salsa first to remove the excess water.

Does Canning Salsa Change The Flavor?

Canning salsa cooks the raw ingredients, which mellows their flavors a bit, which isn’t a bad thing. Cooking fresh salsa takes the bitterness out of the onions and spicy peppers, as well as reduces the heat of those peppers. Keep this in mind as you decide how much heat to add to your recipe for canning salsa. Moreover, your uncooked salsa should taste spicier than what you want your finished canned product to be.

Do you have to put vinegar in canned salsa?

If you do not use vinegar in your recipe for canning salsa, you must replace it with bottled (not fresh) lemon or lime juice. Because yes, the acid helps in the flavor, but more importantly, it creates a safe salsa to can. If there is not enough acidification in the salsa, it may lead to bacterial spores that cause botulism to germinate and grow. And botulism can make you very sick, or possible paralysis and death. The water bath method requires twice the amount of vinegar. 

How to thicken salsa for canning

If this recipe for canning salsa isn’t thick enough for your tastes after it boils down, you can either keep boiling it (recommended) or add a can or two of tomato paste. This second option will add a different flavor to the finished homemade salsa so be cautious with this choice

Is this jar of homemade salsa sealed properly and safe to eat?

Test the seal on every finished jar of salsa after it has sat at room temperature for 24 hours. Push down on the center of the lid. If it pops up, it is not sealed. Next, tap the center of each lid with your fingernail. If it has a low, dull pitch, it is not sealed. You can reprocess the jar with a fresh lid or put it in the refrigerator to eat immediately.

Watch How to Can Salsa

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