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Freezing Tomatoes


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 858 Posts
July 22, 2006

Selecting High-Quality Tomatoes:

Tomatoes will not be solid once thawed, but they do freeze well for use as sauces, juice, pastes or purées. Select firm, ripe tomatoes with deep red color. When purchasing tomatoes, try to select fruits that are mature, but not fully ripe. You'll get the longest storage time if you finished ripening it at home. Look for varieties labeled "vine-ripened." Unlike some varieties, you can be sure these have been picked only after reaching maturity (tomatoes are often picked while still green because they are more resistant to crushing during transport).
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Tomatoes should feel smooth, firm and heavy for their size. Avoid tomatoes that show excessive cracking or bruising.

Preparing for Freezing:

Wash and dip in boiling water for 30 seconds to loosen skins. Core and peel. Tomatoes can also be frozen whole or in pieces with skin still intact.

Best Freezing Method(s):

Raw Tomatoes

Freeze whole or in pieces. Pack into suitable containers, leaving l-inch headspace. Seal, label and freeze.

Tomato Juice

Cut washed and cored tomatoes into quarters or eighths. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Press through a sieve. If desired, season with 1 teaspoon salt to each quart of juice. Pour into suitable containers leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Seal, label and freeze.

Stewed Tomatoes

Remove stem ends, peel and quarter ripe tomatoes. Cover and cook until tender (10 to 20 minutes depending on size). Place pan containing tomatoes in cold water to cool. Pack into suitable containers leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Seal, label and freeze.
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Suitable Packaging:

Freezer containers should be moisture and vapor resistant and should not be prone to cracking or breaking at low temperatures. Containers should provide protection against absorbing flavors or odors and should be easy to label. Suitable packaging for freezing tomatoes includes freezer grade-plastic bags, rigid plastic containers and glass containers.

Maximum Storage Time:

10 to 12 months at 0ºF.

Thawing:

Thaw tomato products in the refrigerator, stove top or defrost them in the microwave according to your manufacturer's recommendations.

Tips & Shortcuts:

If you need a tomato to ripen fast, store it in a paper bag or a covered bowl with an apple. Apples give off an ethylene gas that will speed up the ripening process. One bad tomato can quickly spoil the others. Discard tomatoes showing signs of mold before it spreads to other fruits.
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Refrigerating Tomatoes:

Tomatoes keep best when not stored in the refrigerator. Store them at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, until ripe enough for eating. Cooked tomatoes can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
 

Comments

By Sun (Guest Post)
August 10, 20060 found this helpful
Top Comment

I just core them and put them in a bag in the freezer. To remove the skins just run them under warm water after you remove them from the freezer and gently rub and the skins come right off.

 
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February 18, 2016

At the end of the season don't waste those unripe tomatoes. Freeze them for future use. This is a page about freezing green tomatoes.

Green Tomatoes

August 11, 2017

You can cut down the preparation time for freezing your garden tomatoes by freezing them whole. This is a page about freezing whole tomatoes.

Two beautiful red tomatoes.

August 28, 2012

Could you please tell me if it is possible to freeze the yellow cherry tomatoes, and what do you do?

By Sue

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August 14, 2011

This year, for the first time, I planted some some mountain gold tomatoes. Can I freeze these and if so how?

By Janice M

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September 24, 2010

To use up tomatoes, cook them gently, cool, and then freeze for winter stews, etc. Personally, I live on home grown tomatoes, zucchinis, onions, and mushrooms braised together as a side dish or topped with breadcrumbs and baked to have with a roast. In our family it's always cooked on Christmas day as another vegetable with the traditional roast.

Source: Paternal grandmother who many years ago taught me to cook (like 60).

By Jean from Maffra, Victoria, Australia

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May 11, 2006

My husband and I have a garden this year. We always have too many tomatoes to eat before they spoil. I don't really have the money to can them, but how would I go about freezing them to use in recipes throughout the year?

 
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April 25, 2016

I was given a box of red tomatoes and I don't want them to go bad. I would like to put them through a blender and then freeze them. Do I have to blanch them first?


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September 3, 2013

I want to make a fresh salsa, but need to freeze the ingredients as I get them. Once I have everything mixed together can I re-freeze everything in portion bags? I have a vacuum sealer that I plan on using for both processes. Ingredients will be fresh frozen tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro. The tomatoes and peppers are the only two items I will need to re-freeze once everything has been put together. Please help! I don't want soggy ingredients.

By Dona

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Patti McKenna
April 24, 2006

Most of us know that planting a garden is one of the cheapest ways to provide your family with fresh vegetables. My husband is the chief gardener in our household, and since it is his domain, he gets to decide what to plant.

Tomatoes on the Vine

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August 25, 2011

Can stewed tomatoes be frozen?

By Geri B

Answers

August 26, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

Yes, you can freeze the stewed tomatoes. But make sure you keep them in air tight container, and also if you defrost them once, don't freeze it again.

 
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October 24, 2011

How do you freeze tomatoes and turnips?

By Jewel T. from Danville, VA

Answers

October 25, 20110 found this helpful

When ever my mother had a few extra tomatoes she would wash them, remove the stem and toss them in a plastic bag in the freezer. Then when she wanted a couple for something she was cooking, she would remove however many she needed.

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Rinse them under warm water and the skin would rub off, then put them in whatever she was cooking and as she stirred them into the pan, she would break them up.

 
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September 2, 2011

How do I freeze tomatoes?

By Vander

Answers

September 7, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

I've been cutting mine in half, then putting them on cookie sheets to flash freeze. When frozen, just put them in a plastic freezer bag. This way they don't all stick together and you can take out what you need. These will have to be used for cooking, though, and not in salads as they don't retain their firmness.

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To thaw, just heat in a little water and the skins slip right off. I just used some in fresh tomato soup last night! Yum!

 
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August 14, 2011

Which is best method for freezing tomatoes, whole with the skin on or chopped up with skin on? I wondered how the texture would be if they are left whole, and then I try to chop them up upon thawing?

By Beth

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August 18, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

When I'm in a hurry, the skins are left on. I've frozen tomatoes for years, and prefer the skins OFF because the skins are tough after freezing. Blanching whole tomatoes for a few minutes in boiling water and plunging them into a sink of cold water removes the skins easily.

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It's also easier to chop the tomatoes before than when you're in a hurry and thawing them for a delectable dish. After the tomatoes thaw, they're soft in consistency.

 
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August 3, 2011

I have 30 tomato plants after a 30 year lapse without a garden. Can I freeze my tomatoes in any way? Please give me some helpful hints.

By Becky B.


Answers

August 4, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

Tomatoes are easy to freeze. You can simply wash them well, cut out any bad spots and the stem/core, and pop them in a freezer bag. When you are ready to use them, once thawed they will squeeze right out of the skins! You can then use them as you would use canned tomatoes.

 
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