Sauce Day, Part 2: What You’ll Need Before the Tomatoes Hit the Pot

There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about Sauce Day.

The tomatoes are waiting. The jars are lined up. Someone turns on a little music, the kitchen starts getting warm, and before long, everybody has a job.

But here’s something we’ve learned: a good Sauce Day actually begins before Sauce Day.

A little preparation makes the whole day easier — and a lot more enjoyable.

So before we start cooking tomatoes, filling jars, and making the kitchen smell absolutely wonderful, let’s gather everything we’ll need.

Start with the Tomatoes

Naturally, the star of Sauce Day is the tomatoes.

If your garden is producing faster than you can possibly keep up, you don’t have to wait until you have enough ripe tomatoes all at once. Gather them as they ripen and prepare them for Sauce Day. We like the idea of labeling bags simply:

Tomatoes for Sauce Day

There’s something about seeing those bags accumulate that makes Sauce Day feel like an event before it even begins.

And if you don’t grow enough tomatoes of your own? A local farm stand, farmers market, or generous gardening friend may become your best friend this time of year.

Choose ripe, flavorful tomatoes. This is not the day for pretty tomatoes. This is the day for good tomatoes.

Gather Your Kitchen Equipment

Before Sauce Day, pull everything out and make sure you have what you need:

• A large stock pot
• Colander
• Large mixing bowls
• Wooden spoon
• Ladle
• Canning funnel
• Canning tongs or jar lifter
• Clean kitchen towels
• Mason jars
• New canning lids and bands
• Large water-bath canner or a large stock pot with a canning rack

This is also a good time to inspect your jars. Check the rims for chips or cracks and make sure everything is clean and ready to go.

There is nothing quite like discovering halfway through Sauce Day that you’re short three jars.

Ask us how we know.

Gather the Simple Ingredients

One of the things we love about preserving tomatoes is that the ingredient list doesn’t have to be complicated.

Along with your tomatoes, gather:

• Salt
• Olive oil, if using
• Fresh garlic
• Fresh basil or your favorite Italian herbs

You’ll also want to make sure you have the proper acidifying ingredient required for safely canning your tomatoes according to the tested canning recipe you’re following.

We’ll talk more about that when we get to the actual canning process.

Don’t Forget the Things That Make It Sauce Day

Technically, you could stop with tomatoes, jars, and kitchen equipment.

But that’s not really what Sauce Day is about.

Pick a playlist.

Plan something easy for lunch.

Put out plenty of towels.

Clear the counters.

Invite someone into the kitchen with you.

Give the kids or grandkids a job.

Make coffee.

Take pictures.

Because someday, someone may remember the smell of tomatoes simmering on the stove and the sound of everyone talking over one another in the kitchen far more clearly than they remember how many jars you canned.

That’s the part we’re really preserving.

Your Sauce Day Gathering List

A few days before Sauce Day, do one last check:

• Tomatoes gathered and ready
• Mason jars inspected
• New lids and bands on hand
• Large stock pot ready
• Water-bath canner and rack ready
• Colander and mixing bowls
• Ladle and canning funnel
• Jar lifter/canning tongs
• Plenty of clean kitchen towels
• Salt and seasonings
• Garlic and fresh herbs
• Acidifying ingredient required by your tested canning recipe
• Counter space cleared
• Easy lunch planned
• Sauce Day playlist ready
• Camera nearby for the moments worth remembering

From the Porch

There was a time when putting food by wasn’t a hobby or a nostalgic nod to the past. It was simply part of the rhythm of home.

Families planted. They harvested. They preserved what they could. And often, they did it together.

Maybe that’s part of what draws us back to traditions like Sauce Day.

Yes, we’ll end the day with jars lined up on the counter.

But we’ll have something else, too.

A warm kitchen. A shared job. A story someone will tell later.

Because around here, we’re learning that we are living tomorrow’s memories today.

And sometimes, those memories begin with nothing more complicated than a basket of ripe tomatoes.

Next in the Sauce Day Series: It’s finally Sauce Day. We’ll roll up our sleeves and turn all those tomatoes into jars ready for the pantry.

Want to Start Your Own Tomato Sauce Day?

Maybe our family won’t be the only one starting a new tradition this summer.

I’ve created a free Family Tomato Sauce Day printable with the supplies, ingredients and basic steps we’ll be using as we prepare for our first Sauce Day.

If you’ve got tomatoes piling up on the kitchen counter—or you’ve simply been looking for a reason to gather a few people you love—perhaps this is your year to begin, too.

Download a Free Family Tomato Sauce Day Printable – click the photo

Print it, tuck it into your recipe binder, and make it your own.

And if this becomes something your family looks forward to every August?

Well, that’s how traditions begin.

A Note About Canning Safety: The canning information in this resource is based on research-tested home food preservation guidance from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and USDA. Home-canning recommendations can change and processing requirements may vary based on jar size, canning method, and elevation. Always review and follow the current official instructions before canning.

National Center for Home Food Preservation — Standard Tomato Sauce