How to Freeze Tomatoes (Best Way to Preserve Fresh Tomatoes)
Learn how to freeze tomatoes so you can enjoy fresh garden flavor all year long. This easy method works with most tomato varieties and creates the perfect base for homemade tomato sauce, soups, chili, stews and other cooked recipes.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 25.52kcal
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs tomatoes any variety, at prime ripeness
Instructions
- Wash tomatoes under cool running water, lightly scrubbing them with your fingers or a gentle vegetable brush.
- Using a paring knife, remove the stem and core from the tops of the ripe tomatoes in a cone shape. Using a sharp knife, score a line into each tomato just enough to break the skin, going from one side of the cored circle all the way down and up to the opposite side of the circle. (This will make removing the skins a piece of cake when we get to that step.)
- Prepare a large saucepan of boiling water, as well as a large bowl filled with ice water. In batches, add the tomatoes to the boiling water in 2-minute intervals.
- Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes to the ice water and let sit for 1 minute.
- Using the slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes from the ice water to a flat work surface. Remove the tomato skins, they will just slip off because you scored them ahead then discard. They will peel off the tomatoes like butter.
- Place the tomatoes into large plastic freezer bags in a single layer and be sure to remove as much excess air from the bag as possible. Seal the bag. Now they are ready to deep freeze! To help avoid freezer burn, double pack them into airtight containers.
- Use frozen tomatoes in homemade tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, soups, chili, stews and other cooked recipes.
Notes
- Tomatoes maintain their best quality for about 6 months but can be frozen for up to 12 months.
- For best results, freeze tomatoes at peak ripeness.
- Frozen tomatoes will soften after thawing and are best used in cooked recipes such as tomato sauce, soups, chili and stews.
- Cherry and grape tomatoes can be frozen without blanching or peeling.
- If desired, tomatoes can be frozen whole with the skins on and peeled after thawing.
Nutrition
Calories: 25.52kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.51g | Protein: 1.25g | Fat: 0.28g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 7.09mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 3.73g
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