One thing I love to can in my family's recipe for tomato sauce, or pasta sauce as we call it. While I can't share my family recipe I can share how to can any of your favorite recipes!
Directions:
Prepare a boiling water canner.
Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
Add ¼ tsp Ball® Citric Acid or 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice to each hot jar.
Ladle hot sauce into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool.
Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool.
Check for seal after 24 hours. Lids should not flex up and down when the center is pressed.
Canning Tomato Sauce

Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Inactive Time
1 day
Total Time
1 day 55 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/4 tsp Ball Citric Acid
Instructions
- Prepare a boiling water canner.
- Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
- Add ¼ tsp Ball® Citric Acid or 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice to each hot jar.
- Ladle hot sauce into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight. Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool.
- Check for seal after 24 hours. Lids should not flex up and down when the center is pressed.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size
1 gramsAmount Per Serving Unsaturated Fat 0g
Where is the tomato sauce recipe?
I didn’t share mine because it’s a family recipe. But there are many great ones online.
how very generous of you.
So you put the lemon juice in the bottom of hot jar and then the tomato sauce on top of the lemon juice?
Yes if you are canning them. If I have room I will also just freeze the jars, in that case I don’t use the lemon juice.
You say bottled lemon juice here. Can I use fresh lemons and measure out what I need? What does the lemon juice do?