Canning tomatoes...questions---HELP!

[Lady TS]

I just did my first load of tomatoes all by myself and I think I messed it up. :/

I washed, peeled and cored the tomatoes and packed them in jars and squished them in so the juice came out and filled in the gaps up to 1/2" from the top. Then put them in the boiling-water canner and brought it to a boil and gently boiled them(lid on) for 45 mins. Took them out. Then I was looking at the instructions and it says whole or halved tomatoes packed in WATER 45mins. Whole or halved tomatoes packed in juice or w/o added liquid is 85mins. :/ I think I should have done them 85 mins. :/

So....do I need to reprocess them? (Probably...)

To reprocess them, do I need to open up the jars and put new lids on them, or do I just put them in the water w/their original lids on and boil them for 85 minutes?


Oy-----canning is not a family-friendly activity. Everyone is grumpy because I'm trying to not be available and just get this DONE!

[kklibrarian]

Did they seal? If they sealed, and you aren't planning on keeping them for years and using them only in the event of nuclear holocaust but rather eating them sometime in the next 6 months or so, then I'd say go ahead and don't reprocess. If they haven't sealed yet, try and reprocess them. You shouldn't need to change the lids or anything. Just put them back in a hot water bath for the entire recommended 85 minutes.

Blessings,
Kelly

[Lady TS]

Most, but not all, were sealed within an hour after I took them out.

I went ahead and did them again for 85 mins. Better safe than sorry.