How to Can Diced Tomatoes at Home the Easy Way — Step-by-Step Water Bath Canning Guide

How to Can Diced Tomatoes at Home the Easy Way — Step-by-Step Water Bath Canning Guide
Looking to preserve your summer tomato harvest without all the fuss? In this DIY canning tutorial, Vin from the Useful Knowledge YouTube channel walks us through how to can diced tomatoes at home — the easy way, using a water bath canner and no pressure canning required!

Whether your tomatoes come from your garden or your mom’s backyard, this method is perfect for beginners and experienced canners alike. Let’s break down the process so you can stock your pantry with delicious, shelf-stable diced tomatoes all year long.

🥫 Why Can Diced Tomatoes?
Canned diced tomatoes are a staple in soups, stews, pasta sauces, chilis, and more. Instead of buying store-bought cans full of preservatives and additives, you can create your own natural version at home. Plus, canning is a fantastic way to use up small or oddly shaped tomatoes that are tricky to peel or preserve whole.

🍅 Step 1: Prep Your Tomatoes
Vin starts by chopping up a mix of garden-fresh tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Since the tomatoes are small, peeling them would be tedious, so he keeps the skins on — a time-saver and totally fine for this method!

Tip: You can cut tomatoes into large or small chunks depending on your preference.

Pro Tip: The skins will be strained out later when making sauces or soups using a food mill, so they don’t impact the final result.

🫙 Step 2: Sanitize Your Jars
Cleanliness is key when canning. Vin boils his quart jars for extra sanitation. This helps ensure the jars are sterilized and reduces the risk of spoilage.

Keep jars hot until ready to use to avoid cracking when adding hot contents.

🧂 Step 3: Fill and Season the Jars
Using a wide-mouth funnel, Vin packs diced tomatoes tightly into each jar.

Then, for safety and flavor:

Add ½ tsp of citric acid per quart (or 2 tbsp bottled lemon juice as a substitute).

Add ½ tsp pickling salt (optional for taste — can be replaced with fine-ground salt from a grinder).

Before sealing:

Wipe the jar rims with a damp paper towel to ensure a proper seal.

Place a sanitized lid on top and screw the ring on finger-tight (not too tight).

🔥 Step 4: Water Bath Canning Process
Vin uses a large canning pot that holds seven quart-sized jars, which you can find affordably at most home supply stores.

Here’s the process:

Add jars to the rack and lower into boiling water.

Make sure jars are covered with 1–2 inches of water.

Cover the pot with a lid and boil for 1 hour.

After boiling, remove jars with a jar lifter and place them on a towel to cool.

As jars cool, listen for the satisfying “plunk” sound of the lids sealing.

✅ Final Tips & Storage
Once cooled, check that all jars sealed properly (the lids should be concave and not flex when pressed).

Some prefer removing the rings for storage, but Vin keeps his on for stacking.

Skipping the peeling step is okay if you're planning to strain the tomatoes later during cooking.

“Canning is a great way to save your vegetables. I had a lot of tomatoes, but if I had green beans ready, I’d be canning those too.” – Vin

📦 Use Ideas for Your Canned Diced Tomatoes
🍝 Pasta sauce

🌶️ Chili

🍲 Soups and stews

🍕 Pizza sauce

🍛 Casseroles and curries