I used my split tomatoes to can whatever I was canning. I didn't know there was a concern. After dipping them in boiling water to remove skins, I'd have to cut the split part out but otherwise I used them just like "good" tomatoes.

Is there a reason not to?

Val

I was thinking entry point for bacteria. But long-cooking should take care of that. Just wanted to check with the experts. Not using any split ones that touched the ground (vines sagging), though if skin is not split I do wash them off and use those (peeling them anyway).

I use them too exactly as you have described.
Washed, split part cut away and in cooked recipes.

Deanna

I have always read that perfect produce should be used for all canning. I am really squeamish about using tomatoes with bad spots or splits, so I freeze them instead and then use them in a pasta sauce that gets boiled for hours.

Annie's is only cooked at a boil for 10 minutes. Makes me nervous to use less-than-perfect veggies. But, I am a nervous canner!

I'll be interested to hear what other have to say on this matter.

I use them in long cooked or long processed canning such as pressure canned stewed tomatoes or sauce. But I won't use them in things like salsa that has the potential double risk of short processing AND eaten fresh from the jar.

Dave

I'm just thinking out loud here but since I don't live on a farm where I can grow huge amounts of tomatoes so that I can pick out the best ones, I'm kind of stuck using what I do grow.

Some years I wouldn't be able to can anything if I didn't use the split tomatoes. It would be heaven for me if I had enough land that I could grow everything I wanted to :-)

One can only dream - Val

Thanks Dave. I was thinking of making salsa b/c I haven't made any this year and have lots of peppers too. But spaghetti sauce it is (I definitely wouldn't raw-pack!). They're small (2oz each or so), I hate to spend the time peeling them but have so many I feel like I can't waste them on compost.

How about roasting? Or putting in the slow cooker and then through the food mill?