Can You Freeze Tomatoes? Yes, and Here's the Best Way to Do It
It's the end of summer and your tomato plant is somehow still producing pounds of the ruby-hued fruit. So what do you do? 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 a great way to preserve their flavor to use in tomato recipes for months to come, and it's way easier than canning.
Before you start freezing every tomato plucked from the vine, let's get one thing straight: tomatoes aren't going to emerge from the freezer as plump and pretty as when they went in. You'll still get a fresh tomato flavor, but frozen tomatoes will have a soft, squishy texture once they're thawed. That means, skip the salads and use them for comforting soups, hearty chili recipes, pasta dishes, and tangy marinara sauce! You can use frozen tomatoes for almost any recipe that calls for canned tomatoes, so stock your freezer full during peak season to last you all year long. Ahead, you'll find all the tips you need for freezing tomatoes.
How 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!
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.
How to Thaw Frozen Tomatoes
There are few different ways to thaw frozen tomatoes, and the best option depends on how you're using them. If you're making a soup or sauce, you can usually just drop the tomatoes in straight from frozen. The simmering liquid will thaw them quickly! If you need thawed tomatoes for a recipe, transfer the frozen tomatoes to your fridge the night before you need them. They'll thaw slowly and will be ready to go when the time comes. You can also place the frozen tomatoes on your countertop and allow them to thaw at room temperature for an hour or so. If you need thawed tomatoes even quicker, place the tomatoes in a zip-top bag (if they aren't already in one!) and run warm water over the bag until the tomatoes are thawed. Be sure to keep the tomatoes in the bag; running water directly over the tomatoes can cause them to become extra soggy and water-logged. Remember, these tomatoes aren't going to be the sliceable beauties they were going in the freezer, so find a recipe where their texture won't matter as much.
How Long Do Frozen Tomatoes Last in the Freezer?
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!
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