Can You Freeze Tomatoes?
Yes, you can freeze tomatoes for up to 12 months. They become soft and watery when thawed, making them unsuitable for fresh eating but excellent for sauces, soups, stews, and cooked dishes. You can freeze them whole, chopped, or as puree.
Key Takeaways
- Freezing tomatoes is an excellent way to preserve a summer garden harvest.
- Cherry and grape tomatoes freeze whole particularly well and can be used directly in cooked dishes.
- Frozen raw tomatoes are very soft when thawed; plan to use them immediately in cooking.
Explanation
Freezing tomatoes is an excellent way to preserve a summer garden harvest. The high water content means texture changes dramatically, but flavor remains good for cooking purposes. Frozen tomatoes work beautifully in any recipe where they will be cooked.
The easiest method is to freeze tomatoes whole: wash, dry, remove stems, and place on a baking sheet to freeze individually before transferring to bags. The skins slip off easily when held under running water while still frozen.
For convenience, you can also blanch, peel, and chop tomatoes before freezing, or cook them into sauce or puree first. Frozen tomato sauce is ready to use directly in recipes without additional processing.
Things to Know
- Cherry and grape tomatoes freeze whole particularly well and can be used directly in cooked dishes.
- Frozen raw tomatoes are very soft when thawed; plan to use them immediately in cooking.
- Tomato paste can be frozen in tablespoon dollops for easy portioning.