What happens when it’s the end of summer and your tomato plant is growing massive amounts of the ruby-hued fruit? Eat as many BLTs as possible, and then freeze the rest for later!
During the days of yesteryear, the only way folks could enjoy tomatoes outside of their season was by canning them when they were fresh and ripe, but that’s not the case today. Freezing tomatoes is the best way to preserve their flavor to use in tomato recipes for months to come, and it’s even easier than you think!
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But before you start freezing every tomato plucked from the vine, let’s get one thing straight: tomatoes aren’t going to emerge from the deep freeze as plump and pretty as when they went in. These aren’t tomatoes you’ll want to eat raw by the slice or sprinkle into salads; they’ll come out soft and watery from the freezer. Instead, they’re the tomatoes to toss into comforting soups, hearty chili recipes, pasta dishes, and tangy marinara sauce. In fact, frozen tomatoes are fair game in most any recipe that calls for canned tomatoes. So rather than stocking your pantry with cans from the supermarket, take advantage of extra in-season tomatoes and pack your freezer full. Ahead, you’ll find all the tips you need for freezing tomatoes to enjoy all year long.
What’s the best way to freeze tomatoes?
You can freeze all different types of tomatoes, from petite cherry tomatoes to meaty beefsteaks and pretty heirlooms. But before you freeze them, make sure the tomatoes are fully ripe so that they taste their very best. There are several ways to freeze tomatoes, but the easiest is freezing them whole. All you have to do is wash and dry the tomatoes. At this point, you may want to hull the tomatoes to remove the woody stem and core if you plan to use the tomatoes whole in months to come. Next, store the tomatoes in a zip-top bag and force out as much air as possible before lying them flat in the freezer. Yep, it’s that easy! If you plan to use the frozen tomatoes a few at a time, freeze them in portions so you can pull out a bag whenever the time arises. You can also cut tomatoes in hunks, big or small, or cook them down a bit before freezing; these methods are especially smart when you’re tight on freezer space!
How long can you keep tomatoes in the freezer?
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Tomatoes will last in the freezer for about six months. After that, they start to lose their flavor and might become freezer burnt. When you’re ready to use your frozen tomatoes, just let them thaw at room temperature. Once they’ve defrosted, the skins peel right off!
Does freezing tomatoes change the flavor?
While the freezer does impact a tomato’s texture, it doesn’t ruin its vibrant, acidic flavor. Some diehard canners will argue that canning tomatoes preserves more of the fresh flavor, and they may be right. But freezing tomatoes is a great alternative, and it’s so much easier! There’s no waiting until you have a bunch of tomatoes and you don’t have to spend a whole day canning. Even if you’re short on time or just have a small handful of tomatoes to store, you can prep them and get them into the freezer fast.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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