If you’re interested to know how I make tomato juice, then read on.

How to Make Homemade Tomato Juice

The reason why I prepare my own tomato juice instead of buying canned products in stores is because of the high sodium content in these commercially available products.

According to Yale University Prevention Research Center’s David Katz, MD, most tomato juice products have very high concentration of salt with one 8 oz. serving packing as much as 670mg of sodium.

So if you're ready to make your own tomato juice, here's a step by step guide.

​INGREDIENTS:

STEPS:

1) You need to choose ripe, juicy tomatoes. The riper and juicier they are, the more juice you can extract from them. Go for organic tomatoes so you don’t have to worry about pesticides.

2) ​Wash your tomatoes in running water and pat try using a paper towel.

3)​  Cut and core tomatoes. Remove any hard part like the stem and then cut the tomato into two equal halves.

​4) Fill a large pot (porcelain or stainless steel) with your chopped tomatoes. Press the tomatoes using a wooden spoon or masher to release the juice. Bring the pot to boil.

5) Constantly stir the juice so your mixture does not burn. Keep cooking until it is soupy.​

6) Add a pinch of sugar, salt and pepper. Add as little as possible first. You can always add more if needed after you do a taste test.

7) ​After 25 minutes, turn off the stove and let the mixture cool. Then once it’s cool enough, strain the juice. You can then place it in a container and keep it in your fridge. When you use a tightly sealed container, your tomato juice can last up to 7 days.

Alternatively, if you have a juicer, the process becomes easier and quicker. All you have to do is to cut and core the tomatoes. Put them into the shoot of your juicer (one by one) and push using the plunger. You can add celery to amp up the taste.

Recommended Juicers

Breville BJE200XL

Centrifugal Juicer

An affordable juicer that produces high quality juice and is easy to use. A little noisy though.

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Omega Vrt350 HD

Masticating Juicer

The best juicer on the market for juicing quality in our opinion. Powerful, quiet and very easy to use.

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Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Pro

Centrifugal Juicer

A great juicer if you are on a budget and want your juice extracted in less than a minute!

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Tips and Tricks for Juicing Tomato

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for juicing tomato:

1. It’s always best to drink whole fresh tomatoes because you get more benefits than when you cook them.​

2. If you want your juice to last longer than 7 days, you can put it inside your freezer. Just make sure you use a freezer-safe container.​

3. If you don’t like the taste of tomato, you can mix the juice with the extract of chopped carrots or chopped celery.​

Tomato Juice Substitutes

Tomato has long been considered one of the healthiest fruits around. However, some people cannot eat tomato or drink tomato juice for several reasons. For example, some may have GERD or hyperacidity.

​The high acid content in tomatoes can cause a painful reaction in the stomach so it’s not advisable for those who are already diagnosed with acid reflux and other similar problems. Others are allergic to tomatoes so obviously, they should not be consuming them.

If you’re looking for tomato juice substitutes, I can recommend the following:

Carrots are healthy and drinking a glass of carrot juice every morning ensures you get a boost in much-needed vitamins and minerals. Carotenoids are also great antioxidants to fight free radicals and slow down aging.

Beet juice can give you a boost of energy and promote better blood circulation. This juice is one of the best sources of antioxidants and nitrates to improve blood flow in the heart, brain and muscles.

Watermelon juice is great for keeping you refreshed on a summer day but it has a lot more to offer as well. It is a great substitute for tomatoes because it also contains lycopene. Moreover, it helps improve blood flow because of citrulline.

Final Thoughts

Making tomato juice is very easy especially if you have a juicer at home. Whether you want to prepare it for yourself or for every member in your household, you’re always assured of getting a lot of benefits when you make it instead of buying canned tomato juice.

ALSO SEE:  THE BEST 3 JUICERS UNDER $150​