How can you make marinara sauce your own?
If you're just starting to learn
the basics of canning, it's important to know that you shouldn't alter a canned recipe from how it was written because you could change the acidity, which impacts the food safety of the final product.
For this recipe, you could increase or decrease the fresh herbs, or swap in another fresh herb, such as thyme. If you like a spicier sauce, add a bit of crushed red pepper. If you really want to alter the recipe, make additions when you use the canned sauce on your pasta. Try adding Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers.
Can you use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled?
This is one of the few times that bottled lemon juice is a must. Bottled lemon juice has a standard acidity that is more reliable when canning. Having the right acidity is imperative for food safety when canning.
How should you can this marinara sauce recipe?
If you have another method for canning, feel free to use it with this recipe. We prefer steam canning over water-bath canning, especially when working with a large volume. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions and double-check that your method results in a food-safe seal.