Canning jars in NYC
Where is the best place to buy them in bulk? I just received 25 pounds of tomatoes last minute, and need to pack them away. Looking for somewhere in the city. I am also interested in your best internet suppliers, but won't have time for this particular project to wait for an order to come in. I need a brick and mortar place in the 5 boroughs.
Thanks!
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13 Comments:
fishes eddy and zabar's are two places that come to mind. you could also probably find them at kmart {penn station and astor place} or the targets in brooklyn or the bronx.
cybercita at 11:17AM on 09/11/09
25 lbs of tomatoes is not going to yield that many that you need bulk. They are sold in dozens, I would buy a dozen only for 25 pounds.
If you have a nice quality tomato you might get 8 or 9 quarts crushed less for sauce and about 9-11 whole. You still need just a dozen. Find a hardware store. I am sure chelsea market has something in there.
JerzeeTomato at 1:36PM on 09/11/09
Not gonna crush them or make sauce. Going to blanch and peel and pack them whole, with basil. I was thinking of doing pint sized jars. I like eating spaghetti with canned tomatoes, and one pint at a time is plenty for a couple servings. I've got lots of other stuff that needs to be canned, so I was hoping to get a few dozen jars.
simon at 1:49PM on 09/11/09
You have to can them in some water. I do my own this way. I set up a few pots with boiling water and I drop them in then pull them to a ice bath when they havea few blisters. Then I stop adding and start peeling and packing jars. jars should have in them some salt, citric acid/lemon juice (if you want the color to stay nice) and a few fresh basil leaves. I pack my jars then ladle in some of that hot boiling blanching liquid to top the jars off. Then you clean the tops of the jars (for better sealing), lid them and process for about 25 mins. The ping is the thing. Sit them on your counter on some dish towels and wait for the ping. No ping is a reproccess.
Pints are fine then you will need about 2 dozen. I would , my opinion do some quarts because you are going to have company simon and you will have to open all those jars. Hell I put up a few half gallons every year usually about 12 or so.
JerzeeTomato at 3:10PM on 09/11/09
You can also freeze them (they will come out particularly watery, but of course there's no more actual water than with canning) and they will taste fresh. No need to blanch. Wash, core, take out some seeds if you want, put into quart freezer bags and squish to remove air. (I squish them together, rather than trying to maintain their integrity as whole tomatoes) When they thaw the skins will come off in sections.
lemonfair at 3:29PM on 09/11/09
@jerz - thanks for the tips. aside from the citric acid that's pretty much how I've done it before, just never on this scale. where do you get your jars?
simon at 3:41PM on 09/11/09
I get mine at the Ace Hardware or Walmart if I need them for gift giving. I havea large collection of canning jars some near 100 years old those I do not give away. This year I only bought wide mouth pints for pickles which I made and gave away. I did not can tomatoes this year because I went to Bova foods and bought cases of 6in1 in the #10 can for my pasta sauce making needs this winter. I just did not feel like canning.
Enjoy it simon its food for your soul. I am very proud of you !!!!!
JerzeeTomato at 6:56PM on 09/11/09
Haha, thanks jerz. Does $19 for 1 doz quart jars seem reasonable? $14 for pints?
simon at 8:13PM on 09/11/09
@simon -- $19 sounds high to me but then again you're in manhattan.... i usually get them in my local supermarket for $10-12. agway has them for $14..... hunt up an old hardware store somewhere ... canal st.? if such a thing exists anymore....
don't forget to add a pinch of salt to the T's.... there's nothing like poppin' the lid off of one of those jars while there's a blizzard happening outside... (or inside, for that matter)... and the basil.... yes, the basil.....
pooch at 9:16PM on 09/11/09
OMG your kidding, 8 bucks is normal, 12 bucks is high, 19 bucks is insane
JerzeeTomato at 11:47PM on 09/11/09
@simon - $19 for a dozen quart jars in NYC is on the high side but it's not insane. I usually buy mine by the case at Fishs Eddy; I find their prices slightly lower than Brooklyn Kitchen, my other source (which is closer to my house). I've never seen them at a hardware store like people often mention, and the last time I checked Kmart at Astor Place didn't have anything, but maybe Target if you're near one? I always think of it this way: sure, I could probably find them somewhere really out of the way for $5/dozen cheaper, but once I factor in subway fare and my time, the closer source seems like a better deal.
producestories at 3:24PM on 09/13/09
Hey guys, sorry for the delayed response. And thank you for all your input, I managed to find them in my neighborhood for $16. Got it all done in about five hours, and yielded 14 quarts!
Out of the whole box there were only four bad tomatoes. I shouldn't have to buy whole peeled tomato with basil until next summer :)
Thanks again, and happy end of summer
simon at 6:58PM on 09/14/09
Hey Simon - where'd you find them? What store. I haven't been able to find anything and the internet seems so expensive when one takes into account shipping. Jerz has me psyched on the pickle thing and I'm dying to try it, but have no source for the actual jars.
chisai at 9:04PM on 09/20/09