How to Freeze Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

How to Freeze Tomatoes? ›

I mix all my tomatoes together.

Use a paring knife to remove the woody core from the top of each tomato. Bag the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes in a gallon-sized zip-top freezer bag. Force out as much air as possible and tightly seal the bag.

Did you know that you can freeze raw tomatoes with and without their skins? Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing.

“The best choice for canning previously frozen tomatoes is to make a well-cooked product, such as a stewed or crushed tomato product, or made into tomato juice or sauce,” Blakeslee said. Canning frozen tomatoes by whole or quarters is not recommended.

Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature on your counter for up to 1 week. Alternatively, store tomatoes in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, place tomatoes in a storage bin, then store them in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

How Long They'll Last. Make sure you keep the temperature of the freezer at 0°F or below to ensure proper freezing. Frozen tomatoes will retain their flavor for 12 months. This gives you plenty of time to thaw them to use in your favorite sauce, stew, or soup recipes.

So, can you vacuum seal tomatoes? Absolutely. It not only extends their life from days to months, and it's a game-changer for your kitchen routine. Remember the key steps to sealing farm fresh tomatoes: prep those tomatoes well, blanch if needed, and choose between freezing before or after sealing.

There are disadvantages to favoring the convenience of freezing however. Resulting tomatoes are typically mushy, and many tomatoes lose some of their round flavor when ice crystals form.

Can you freeze tomatoes in a Ziploc bag? ›

At its simplest, freezing tomatoes takes little more than airtight containment and space in the freezer. Vacuum sealers are terrific and as much or as little effort can be invested in preparing the tomatoes before packaging, but a ziploc bag and a dream will get you there. Freezing is convenient.

Freezing tomatoes is the easiest way to keep ripe tomatoes until you're ready to use them. You don't have to peel them first—in fact, the act of freezing them itself makes the tomatoes insanely easy to peel! —and you can freeze as many or as few at a time as you like.

Whole tomatoes tend to crack and collapse when they thaw. To successfully freeze fresh raw tomatoes, you can: Slice tomatoes into at least 1/2-inch slices.

Freezing tomatoes is so easy that you'll be surprised. You can choose to dice, slice, or freeze them whole, with or without their skin. The biggest issue might be the room in your freezer after you save all those tomatoes for winter recipes.

However, frozen tomatoes do work well in sauces and stews. As you simmer the sauce or stew all that extra water will evaporate, leaving you with fresh tomato taste. Alternatively, you could consider cooking the tomatoes into a tomato sauce, and then freezing that.

You don't need a greenhouse to beat the cold. Several inexpensive materials can be used to protect young tomato plants including old-fashioned glass cloches, milk jugs and soda bottles. For even more protection, consider using walls of water, which can be purchased at many garden centers or ordered online.

Wash the tomatoes (no need to dry), place in plastic bags and freeze until ready to use. When ready, remove tomatoes from bags and place in a sink full of hot water. Peel – the skin should slip off easily.