The Best Homemade Ketchup Recipe - (2024)

Sick of buying ketchup at the store? Or maybe you just aren’t loving the store-bought kind, give this delicious homemade ketchup recipe a try. Homemade ketchup is so easy to make, and tastes amazing!

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The Best Homemade Ketchup Recipe - (1)

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How To Make Homemade Ketchup From Scratch

Contents hide

1 How To Make Homemade Ketchup From Scratch

1.1 What Is The Difference Between Ketchup And Catsup?

1.1.1 Who Invented Ketchup?

1.3 What You Need To Make Homemade Ketchup

1.4 Homemade Ketchup Recipe

1.4.1 Ingredients:

1.4.2 Directions:

1.5 How To Can Your Ketchup

1.6 To Steam Can Ketchup

1.7 How Long Does Homemade Ketchup Last

1.8 Canning And Preserving Videos:

Since we started making our own homemade ketchup from scratch we’ve stopped buying it at the store because it really can’t compare to homemade. Plus it’s so easy to make!

What Is The Difference Between Ketchup And Catsup?

Ketchup also called catsup arrived in recipes in the early 1800s as a delicious tomato-based condiment with vinegar and spices. Long story short the only difference is the name, they both are that thick tomato sauce we know and love here in the USA.

Who Invented Ketchup?

Ketchup was invented by Henry John Heinz, in 1876. Heinz invented ketchup by adapting a Chinese recipe for so-called Cat Sup, a thick sauce made from tomatoes, special seasoning, and starch.

Is Homemade Ketchup Better?

The debate for which one is better is best decided by you. Now I will be the first to admit that companies like Hunts or Heinz have created a delicious product, but now that I’ve had homemade ketchup? Not going back for anything. I love everything about our homemade ketchup recipe, and it’s so easy to adjust for those with allergies.

What You Need To Make Homemade Ketchup

To make this ketchup recipe you are going to need:

Homemade Ketchup Recipe

Now that you’ve got your supplies let’s get on to the recipe, to make this homemade ketchup recipe you’re going to need:

Ingredients:

6 oz Tomato Paste

1/2 Cup + 1/8 cup if you like it sweeter of Raw honey, regular (not high fructose Corn Syrup) Corn syrup

3 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 Cup white vinegar

1/4 Cup water

1 Teaspoon salt

1/4 Teaspoon onion powder

1/2 Teaspoons garlic powder

Directions:

Whisk ingredients together and bring your ketchup to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes.

Remove your ketchup from the heat and allow to cool covered with a lid. *if you were going to can it skip this step and go ahead and pour the ketchup into your canning jars.

Bottle your ketchup and refrigerate.

This recipe makes 1 pint of ketchup, or 2 1/2 pints.

How To Can Your Ketchup

  • Wash 2 half-pint Ball canning jars. Sterilize them with hot water and warm up the flat lids to seal them.

  • Fill up your canning pot with enough water to cover your ½ pint jars by 2”. Heat the water.

  • Heat the ketchup in your pan and ladle it into the hot jars leaving 1/2 inch head space.

  • Wipe the rims of your jars with a lint free cloth dipped in vinegar.

  • Place the flat lids and the rings on the jars tightening until just tight

  • Place the jars on the rack in a boiling water canner and process for 15 minutes.

  • Remove jars to several layers of towels on the counter to cool

  • Let the jars sit for 24 hours

  • Label and date the jars and store in a dry, cool, dark place.

To Steam Can Ketchup

Follow the directions of your steam canner.

Put water in your steam canner up to the bottom of the rack.

Start heating your canner.

Ladle hot ketchup into hot and sterile ½ pint canning jars

Wipe the jars rims with a lint free cloth dipped in vinegar.

Place the flad lids on the jars and follow with the rims.

Screw on the lids until just tight

Place jars on the rack in your canner and put on the lid.

Watch the dial readout until the canner gets to the level for your area.

Process for 15 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes to cool.

Remove jars with a canning jar grabber to several layers of towels to cool. Allow to remain for 24 hours undisturbed. Label the jars with what it is and when it was canned.

If any jars did not process then place them in the refrigerator or reprocess with a new lid.

The Best Homemade Ketchup Recipe - (2)

How Long Does Homemade Ketchup Last

Homemade Ketchup will last about three weeks in your refrigerator, or you can make a big batch and can it for later. This is our favorite way to make ketchup so we don’t have to keep making it every few weeks.

Before you go check out these other preserving and canning recipes:

  • The Best Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
  • Best Copycat Rotel Tomatoes and Chilies Recipe
  • How To Can Beef Stew For Beginners
  • 11 Must-Have Canning Supplies
  • The Best Homemade Ketchup Recipe
  • Reusable Canning Lids: Tattler Lids Review
  • Canning Green Beans
  • Canning Beef With A Pressure Canner
  • Canning Peaches
  • Canning Crushed Tomatoes
  • 7 Of The Best Preserving Pears Recipes
  • Pear Butter Recipe
  • Blueberry Preserves
  • Delicious Blackberry Preserves
  • Apple Orange Preserves
  • Cherry Pie Filling
  • Caramel Pear Pie Recipe
  • Food Preservation | 10 Best Ways Of Preserving Food At Home
  • Pickled Eggs Recipe
  • Zucchini Relish
  • Delicious Three Bean Salad
  • How To Make Sauerkraut
  • 6 Secrets To Making The Best Crisp Pickles
  • Homemade Dill Pickle Chips Recipe
  • The #1 Best Homemade Claussen Pickles Recipe You Are Here!
  • How To Grow A Kombucha Scoby
  • How To Make Kombucha Tea
  • How To Make Apple Cider Vinegar In 6 Easy Steps

Canning And Preserving Videos:

The Best Homemade Ketchup Recipe - (2024)

FAQs

What kind of tomato makes the best ketchup? ›

The more flavorful the tomato, the more flavorful the ketchup will be. You can use beefsteak, cherry or grape tomatoes for making homemade ketchup. Use fresh, not canned, tomatoes when making ketchup. However, paste tomatoes are highly recommended for making sauces, including ketchup.

Is it worth making your own ketchup? ›

Chances are you already have everything you need to make this, and I promise it will be worth it! Delicious – This easy ketchup recipe tastes fresh and better than anything that you can buy at the grocery store! It has no artificial ingredients or corn syrup, so it's healthier too!

How long will homemade ketchup last? ›

Pack and Store Your Homemade Ketchup

Ladle your ketchup directly into sterilized jars and store in fridge or freezer. Ketchup will keep 3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.

What is the number one ingredient in ketchup? ›

Ketchup is a popular condiment made from a combination of tomatoes, vinegar, sweeteners (such as sugar or corn syrup), salt, and various spices and flavorings. The main ingredient in ketchup is tomatoes, which provide vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin K.

What is the highest grade ketchup? ›

U.S. Grade A is the quality of tomato catsup that possesses a good color; that possesses a good consistency; that is practically free from defects; that possesses a good flavor; that possesses a good finish; that has a total solids content of not less than 33 percent, by weight; and that scores not less than 85 points ...

Why avoid Heinz tomato ketchup? ›

It contains high quantities of sugar, salt, fructose, preservatives and corn syrup. All of these ingredients when combined together have an adverse effect on the body. Here are some of the reasons why you must avoid this delicious condiment.

What is an unhealthy ingredient in ketchup? ›

Two ingredients of concern in ketchup are salt and sugar. Per tablespoon, ketchup contains 4 grams of sugar and 190 milligrams of sodium. Although 4 grams of sugar doesn't seem like a lot, much of it comes from added sugar, as opposed to the natural sugar found in tomatoes.

What are the disadvantages of tomato ketchup? ›

Tomato ketchup includes histamine, which can lead to a number of allergies in the body if consumed frequently. Depending on how much is consumed, it can also make a person throw up and have diarrhea. Salmonella exposure can induce diarrhea when tomatoes are consumed raw.

Is homemade ketchup better than store bought? ›

Because you are making it yourself, you get to use the freshest, highest quality ingredients. You don't even need to cook anything. Your homemade ketchup with the right mix of fresh herbs and spices will be way better than manufactured ketchup.

Is there a difference between ketchup and catsup? ›

As it turns out, they're the same thing!

The condiment made its way west via European merchants, taking with it Westernized pronunciations. Early recipes for ketchup (or catsup, if you like) incorporated a wide variety of ingredients like mushrooms, walnuts, and shellfish (hence the distinction tomato ketchup).

How do you thicken homemade ketchup? ›

But if you want a thicker texture, whisk two tablespoons of cornstarch into 1/4 cup of cold water. Once the ketchup has been run through the sieve twice, return the ketchup to the stove and bring to a low simmer. Slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the ketchup until you have the consistency you want.

How do you increase the shelf life of ketchup? ›

To extend the shelf life of ketchup, it needs to be pasteurized. In case of continuous ketchup manufacturing line, this is usually done in a heat exchanger which is fed by a continuous flow of product. After pasteurization, ketchup needs a holding time for a certain amount of time to kill the bacteria.

Why does ketchup have 57 on it? ›

The '57 varieties' label represents the variety of products that Heinz has, but the number was actually selected at random by founder Henry Heinz himself. He didn't have 57 varieties when the brand began. Instead, it was a clever way to create authenticity and attract customers.

What is ketchup and mayo called? ›

Fry sauce is a condiment often served with French fries or tostones (twice-fried plantain slices) in many places in the world. It is usually a combination of one part tomato ketchup and two parts mayonnaise.

What country invented ketchup? ›

Ketchup has a surprisingly long evolution that originated in China. The first version was based on pickled fish and looked more like a soy sauce – with a dark and thin texture. It was called “keh-jup” or “koe-cheup,” meaning “fish sauce.”

Why does Heinz tomato ketchup taste different? ›

That extra gram of sugar in Heinz is something that you can actually taste. Heinz ketchup is sweeter and more tomato-y, while Hunt's ketchup has a more vinegar-forward flavor.

What tomato has the most flavor? ›

The "tastiest" tomato is subjective and can vary depending on individual preferences and culinary uses. Some popular tomato varieties known for their flavor include the Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, San Marzano, and Sun Gold. Each tomato variety has its unique taste profile, sweetness, acidity, and texture.

Why is Heinz tomato ketchup so good? ›

Quality: Heinz uses high-quality ingredients in their ketchup, including ripe, red tomatoes and natural spices. They also use a special blend of vinegar to create a unique flavor profile.

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