Greetings! I made this fermented salsa last summer. It was quite good and kept well in the refrigerator. I am wondering how it would be to can it? I...
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Canning fermented salsa #913157
Asked August 07, 2025, 6:04 PM EDT
Greetings! I made this fermented salsa last summer. It was quite good and kept well in the refrigerator. I am wondering how it would be to can it? I realize the probiotics would be killed, but I’m really looking for shelf life that is not in my refrigerator. Also, would canning change the quality of the salsa? Could you advise me?
5 cups husked, chopped tomatillos
1-½ cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
½ cup seeded, minced jalapeño peppers
4 cups peeled, chopped onions
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup loosely packed chopped cilantro (about 1 bunch)
1/4 cup loosely packed minced fresh oregano, or 1 tablespoon dried oregano
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin, or more to taste
about 3 tablespoons fine sea salt
Clean and prepare a 1 gallon fermentation crock or a 4-liter glass, bail-top jar for fermenting. Make sure it's perfectly clean!
Chop the ingredients one at a time in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Combine all the prepared vegetables in a large bowl, and stir to fully mix everything.
Add the cumin 2.5 tablespoons of the salt, and mix to combine. Taste the salsa. It should taste distinctly salty, but not unpleasantly so. If the salsa seems bland, add the remaining half-tablespoon salt. Adjust seasonings as desired.
Add the tomatillo salsa to the crock or jar. With a clean spoon, press the ingredients down to release some of the juices. Press the solids under the juices, and weight the ferment.
Seal the crock or jar, and leave the tomatillo salsa at room temperature out of direct sun, for 2 to 4 days. Check the ferment daily. Look for bubbles and other signs of fermentation, give the ferment a little shake and swirl to keep everything fermenting evenly, burp the lid to release any pent-up carbon dioxide in the jar and taste the development of the tomatillo salsa (clean spoon please).
When you like the taste of the salsa or after 4 days, transfer the fermented salsa to smaller jars for cold storage in the refrigerator, where it will keep for at least 4 months.
Polk CountyOregon
Expert Response
I am not aware of any research based recipes for canning fermented salsa. I would suggest that you freeze your salsa in small containers after it is fully fermented. It is never a good idea to guess processing times on home canned products.
Hope that helps. If you have other questions you might like to call the OSU Extension Food Preservation Safety Help line. Certified Master Food Preservers are available to personally answer your questions M-F from 9 am-4pm. The number is <personal data hidden>.