Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (2024)

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Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (1)

My family loves salsa; we eat it on everything from eggs to tacos. My boys can polish off a quart of salsa and a couple of bags of tortilla chips in no time flat. Sometimes I like to serve a salsa that has a little extra nutrition, you know, to counter the bags of tortilla chips. That’s when I pull out ourblack bean and corn salsarecipe.

Normally I just make black bean and corn salsa as we want it but this summer I decided to can some with our garden tomatoes, onions and peppers. The texture is a not the same as making it fresh but it’s still very good and will be very convenient this winter.

You need a pressure canner to can any kind of beans or any kind of corn – in any quantities. If you don’t have a pressure canner click over to my fresh black bean and corn salsa recipe.

I know other sites have black bean and corn salsa recipes that say it’s okay to just do a water bath, big sites that should know better, but you can’t. With the addition of both corn and beans it’s just not safe to can this salsa in the water bath canner. Also, a pressure canner is a wonderful tool and will save you time and money in the long run.

Black bean and corn salsa can be made from mostly your garden ingredients and things you probably already have on hand. I’m a use what you have kind of cook, so if it has tomatoes, black beans, corn, onion, peppers, and lime, it’s black bean and corn salsa to me.

You can also use store bought ingredients and different quantities based on what your family likes.

Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (2)

Making the Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe

The process to make black bean and corns salsa without buying canned beans, corn, or tomato products is a two day process. But it’s not like it takes all day each day. There’s just things you’ll want to do the day before you can the salsa, like freeze the tomatoes and soak the beans.

  • I like to freeze our tomatoes when we first pick them. When they thaw the skin comes right off. You can see my tomato canning process in action here. You can use fresh tomatoes but you’ll need to blanch them to remove the skins. Freezing the tomatoes is just easier.
  • Soak 1 pound of black beans overnight. The next day, drain the water and rinse. Put the beans in a pot of fresh water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • While the beans are simmering, mix the following in a large bowl.
    • 8 cups corn
    • 1/2 cuplime juice
    • 1/3 cup olive oil
    • 1/4 cupred wine vinegar
    • 4 tsp salt
    • 2 tsp black pepper
    • 5 lbstomatoes – chopped
    • 9jalapenos – chopped (optional)
    • 2red onion – chopped (you can use white)
    • 1cup cilantro– chopped
  • Drain the beans and add them to your salsa mixture.
  • Mix well.
Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (3)

How to Can Black Bean and Corn Salsa

  1. Put on a pot (or tea kettle) of water to boil. OR heat up the tomato water from the thawed tomatoes.
  2. Prepare canning jars by checking for cracks and washing in hot soapy water. You don’t need to sterilize jars when you use a pressure canner. But you can if you feel like it.
  3. Prepare lids by washing and drying (Ball®no longer recommends placing lids in boiled water to prepare them) I like to use reusable caning lidswhen canning things for my family to cut the cost.
  4. Fill jars halfway with mixture. Do NOT pack the mixture down.
  5. Add boiling water (or tomato water) to the jars leaving a 1″ headspace.
  6. Put lids and and bands on the filled jars and process according the directions that came with your pressure canner for beans. For me it is for 1 hr and 15 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure for pints.

What if I don’t have a pressure canner?

If you don’t have a pressure canner but still want the convenience of ready made black bean and corn salsa you have a couple of different options.

One, you could usehome canned tomato salsa and add properly canned black beans and canned corn (pressure canned or store bought) when you serve it.

Two, you can make the black bean and corn salsa recipe but instead of simmering the black beans for only 30 minutes, cook them completely. Then put the salsa in wide mouth pint size jars and freeze them. If you are leery of freezing in glass containers I have some tips for you here.

Yield: approx. 12 pints

Canning black bean and corn salsa is a great way to preserve the summer harvest and makes a great side for parties and cooking out.

Prep Time1 hour

Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes

Additional Time12 hours

Total Time14 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried black beans
  • 8 cups corn
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 5 lbs tomatoes – chopped
  • 9 jalapenos – chopped (optional)
  • 2 red onion – chopped (you can use white)
  • 1 cup cilantro – chopped

Instructions

    1. I like to freeze our tomatoes when we first pick them. When they thaw the skin comes right off. You can see mytomato canning process in action here. You can use fresh tomatoes but you'll need to blanch them to remove the skins. Freezing the tomatoes is just easier.
    2. Soak 1 pound of black beans overnight. The next day, drain the water and rinse. Put the beans in a pot of fresh water and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
    3. While the beans are simmering, mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl.
    4. After the beans have simmered for 30 minutes, drain the water and add to bowl of salsa ingredients.
    5. Put on a pot (or tea kettle) of water to boil. Or heat the tomato water from the thawed tomatoes (this is what I use)
    6. Prepare canning jars by checking for cracks and washing in hot soapy water. You don't need to sterilize jars when you use a pressure canner. But you can if you feel like it.
    7. Prepare lids by washing and drying (Ball®no longer recommends placing lids in boiled water to prepare them)
    8. Put mixture in clean jars, filling each jar about halfway. Do NOT pack the mixture down.
    9. Add boiling water (or tomato water) to the jars leaving a 1" headspace.
    10. Put lids and and bands on the filled jars and process according the directions that came with yourpressure cannerfor beans. For me it is for 1 hr and 15 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

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    Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (6)

    The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables

    If you you’re looking for more preserving inspiration, I know you’ll love The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables. In this book I share how to can, dehydrate, freeze and ferment almost every vegetable. I also share 100 favorite recipes for preserving the vegetables in fun way that will save you time and money later. Get your copy here. Get your copy here.

    Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (7)

    What are you canning this summer? Feel free to leave links in the comments so we can all check them out.

    Canning Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe - The Safe Way (2024)

    FAQs

    How to safely can homemade salsa? ›

    Fill hot, clean pint jars with hot salsa, leaving 1⁄2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust head- space if needed. Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp paper towel. Put on pre- treated lids and screw on metal bands until you begin to feel resist- ance, then turn the band until it is firmly tightened.

    Is canning salsa safe? ›

    Salsa safe canning tips

    Salsa needs added acid to ensure product safety. Tomato varieties and colors can be mixed and matched for salsa but you still need added acid to make sure the product will be safe.

    Do you have to add lemon juice when canning salsa? ›

    Acidic Ingredients

    The acid ingredients in salsa help preserve it. You must add acid to canned salsa because the natural acidity may not be high enough. Commonly used acids are vinegar and bottled lemon juice. Lemon juice is more acidic than vinegar and has less effect on flavor.

    How much vinegar to add to salsa for canning? ›

    Add one of the following for acidification:Pint JarsQuart Jars
    Bottled Lemon Juice1 tablespoon2 tablespoons
    Citric Acid¼ teaspoon½ teaspoon
    Vinegar (5 percent acidity)2 tablespoons4 tablespoons
    1 more row
    Aug 11, 2020

    How do I know if my canned salsa is safe? ›

    Home-canned and store-bought food might be contaminated with toxins or harmful germs if:
    1. the container is leaking, bulging, or swollen;
    2. the container looks damaged, cracked, or abnormal;
    3. the container spurts liquid or foam when opened; or.
    4. the food is discolored, moldy, or smells bad.
    Jun 5, 2023

    Is water bath canning salsa safe? ›

    Yes, you can and should water bath salsa as it creates a tight vacuum seal that ensures pathogens do not enter the jar. Also, it takes care of those microbes that are not affected by acid levels.

    Can bacteria grow in a jar of salsa? ›

    It's not recommended to consume salsa that's been left out overnight as bacteria can grow rapidly at room temperature. If you have left out your salsa, you should toss it.

    How long is canned salsa safe? ›

    According to the USDA, you can expect your salsa to be safe for over a year. Higher-acid canned goods typically are safe to consume for up to 18 months, which is slightly less than low-acid ones, which should be safe for two to five years.

    How long does salsa need to be in a water bath? ›

    Water must cover jars by 1 inch. Adjust heat to medium-high, cover canner, and bring water to a rolling boil. Process pint jars and half pint jars for 20 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat and remove cover.

    Do you have to boil salsa before canning? ›

    Yes, for two reasons. First, if you cold pack your salsa, it will take nearly two hours in your pressure cooker to come to a boil, let alone process. Second, if you cold pack your salsa, half of your finished jar of salsa will be water. You need to cook any recipe for canning salsa first to remove the excess water.

    What happens if you forgot to put lemon juice in canned tomatoes? ›

    Tomatoes by their nature are high in acid!! They will be fine. clarification from a canning company.

    Can I use lime juice instead of vinegar when canning salsa? ›

    You CAN substitute some of the vinegar for bottled lemon or lime juice (this will affect the overall flavor). DO NOT USE FRESH LEMON OR LIME JUICE; it is not acidic enough. Dried spices won't affect pH, so you can also experiment with those, but the amount of vegetables and tomatoes and acidity need to stay the same.

    Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in canning salsa? ›

    Lime juice can be used instead of lemon juice. Lemon or lime juice can be used instead of vinegar. However, vinegar cannot be used instead of lemon or lime juice. Use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.

    Why is my homemade salsa bitter? ›

    As tomatoes ripen, their sugars start to convert to acids, resulting in a bitter taste. It's important to use fresh, firm tomatoes for your salsa to avoid any bitterness. Additionally, removing the tomato seeds can help reduce bitterness, as they can contain bitter compounds.

    How do you thicken homemade salsa for canning? ›

    For a fresh salsa (pico de gallo) straining the juice from the tomatoes seems to work really well. But for the thickness I was going for the key was experimenting with Tomato Paste/Cooking the salsa. I am able to get a much thicker salsa that I enjoy much more.

    How do you preserve homemade salsa in jars? ›

    Instructions
    1. Remove the skins from the tomatoes. To do this, make an “X” in the bottom of the tomatoes, then place in boiling water for 60 seconds. ...
    2. Make the salsa. ...
    3. Prepare cans to be sealed. ...
    4. Process using a water bath. ...
    5. Add the jars to the water bath and cover with a lid. ...
    6. Let the jars sit for 24 hours.
    Jul 3, 2019

    Do you have to cook homemade salsa before canning? ›

    Yes, for two reasons. First, if you cold pack your salsa, it will take nearly two hours in your pressure cooker to come to a boil, let alone process. Second, if you cold pack your salsa, half of your finished jar of salsa will be water. You need to cook any recipe for canning salsa first to remove the excess water.

    Can you safely can salsa in quart jars? ›

    In all the years I've been canning foods, I've never had an issue as long as I follow all the steps. Disclaimer: While canning salsa in quart jars is common and done safely and successfully by many people, there is no “official” recommendation for canning salsa in quarts.

    Is it better to can or freeze homemade salsa? ›

    Canning is a great option, but there's a bit of a learning curve involved there. Thankfully, salsa freezes well if you follow a few simple guidelines. Freezing salsa works best if you make cooked salsa, as opposed to pico de gallo which is uncooked.

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