Knowledgebase

Tomato paste canning safety question #892729

Asked February 17, 2025, 1:59 PM EST

I forgot to remove the air bubbles in my tomato paste before I canned it. I followed the salt and acid recommendations, processed with a water bath, and the jars are sealed. Will air bubbles compromise the safety of my food or is it okay to eat if sealed and no signs of spoilage when I open them?

Multnomah County Oregon

Expert Response

You are ok.  I doubt if there are many air bubbles in tomato paste.  Just check the jars when you open them that you don't have mold or other signs of spoilage.  Leaving air bubbles in can affect the head space when they boil up during processing and leave too large a head space that might result in higher incident of spoilage.  Much more important when canning things like fruits where air traps between the pieces than in a thick product like tomato paste where the air is mostly cooked out before you put it in the jars.  

Thanks for using Ask Extension

Nellie Oehler
An Ask Extension Expert Replied February 18, 2025, 2:56 PM EST

Loading ...