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 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 are the secret spices in Heinz ketchup? ›

The tangy-sweet sauce contains vinegar, onions, garlic, some kind of sweetener, and seasonings like mustard powder, cumin, allspice and cinnamon. However, if you were to make a batch at home with those ingredients, your ketchup still probably wouldn't taste like the stuff you get at the diner.

Is it worth making homemade ketchup? ›

I make my own, because it provides more control of ingredients. Yes, it's well worth it! I use tomato paste mixed with vinegar, lemon juice, cajun seasoning, garlic powder and maple syrup. It's simple and much better than anything you can buy.

How do you thicken tomato sauce for ketchup? ›

5 Ways to Thicken Tomato Sauce
  1. Cook It Down.
  2. Add Tomato Paste.
  3. Add Cream.
  4. Add Cheese.
  5. Use a Roux or a Slurry.
Jul 19, 2023

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 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 does Heinz Tomato Ketchup have 57 on it? ›

Heinz's lucky number. According to the company's website, in 1896, the founder was inspired by an advertisem*nt he saw for “21 styles of shoes.” He considered 57 to be magical and lucky, so he came up with the slogan “57 Varieties” despite the fact the company offered more than 60 products at the time.

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.

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).

Is homemade ketchup cheaper than store-bought? ›

As someone that has made my own ketchup and tomato sauces at home, I challenge the “cheap” part of that. I've always found it more expensive to make my own, not less. That doesn't mean it's not worth it to buy the ingredients I need (if I could grow them myself, that might make a big difference in cost, but I can't).

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 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.

Why is my homemade tomato sauce so watery? ›

What Causes Watery Tomato Sauce? Enzymes! Fresh tomatoes are filled with enzymes that break down and eat through thickening agents. You need to deactivate those enzymes before you do anything else.

What is the thickening agent in ketchup? ›

With the second processing method high-pressure hom*ogenisation is not used and thickening agents such as xanthan gum, pectin or starch (including modified starches) are used to obtain the required viscosity in the finished ketchup.

Why is my tomato ketchup watery? ›

Contra the previous answers: when using fresh tomatoes, one key to avoiding watery tomato sauce (and sauces based on many other kinds of vegetable purees) is to bring to close to a boil quickly at the start. Fresh tomatoes contain natural enzymes which will break down pectin and other other thickening components.

What is ketchup mostly made of? ›

Tomato ketchup is made from tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar, with seasonings and spices. The spices and flavors vary, but commonly include onions, allspice, coriander, cloves, cumin, garlic, and mustard, and sometimes include celery, cinnamon, or ginger.

Why avoid Heinz 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 are the five main ingredients of ketchup? ›

Ketchup recipes vary, but it's made from a core set of ingredients including tomatoes, sugar, salt, and vinegar. This explains the sweet but tangy flavor it packs. Spices like allspice, cloves, coriander, and even cinnamon or ginger may be added too.

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.

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