Don't put the seeds in a jar until dry. Place them on a plate in a sunny place.

that doesnt make sense. How do you save your tomato seeds, oldfarmer? You have to put them in a jar so all the crud can eat the jel from the seeds then they go on a plate.

I'm not sure what you mean by crud eating jel but if you put them on a plate, the stuff surrounding the seed will dry and can be brushed or scraped from the seed. What exactly do you mean by "crud" and "jel?"

eeewwwww! maggots? crud? bleh!

Tomato tissue will attract maggots. I found some on a piece of tomato that did not get thrown away the other day.
I am not convinced fermentation works. I bought some tomato seeds from e-bay, where the trader boasted of her fermentation methods & I could not get any of hers to germinate. Of all the tomato seeds I have, these were the only ones that did not germinate. I also got some melon seeds that were fermented, & none germinated. It attracts pests, including mosquitoes, & smells. I am just cleaning & drying mine this year.

Geez why make it so tough. Pick out some of the slop that conatins the seed, spread it out thin and let it dry. It's that easy.

I tried puttting the fresh tomato seeds in a folded paper towel, then damped the paper towel. And left it alone, just checking the dampness once or every 2 days.

After 2 wks, a sprout came out.

I tried puttting the fresh tomato seeds in a folded paper towel, then damped the paper towel. And left it alone, just checking the dampness once or every 2 days.

After 2 wks, a sprout came out.