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Learning how to freeze tomatoes is easier than you think! You can freeze them with or without skins, chopped, juiced, or even stewed.
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Did you know freezing tomatoes for year-round use comes with lots of options for preparation?
You can peel or keep their skins, freeze them whole, chop them up, or even juice them.
We’ll also share tips for freezing cherry tomatoes!
What Are the Best Tomatoes to Freeze?
When preserving tomatoes, the first step is knowing how to select which ones are suitable for freezing.
Make sure your tomatoes are ripe, firm, and deep red in color. Avoid those with signs of mold, decay, or pests.
The tomato variety is also a consideration when freezing tomatoes!
Paste tomato varieties, such as Roma tomatoes, hold their shape well and can still be sliced after thawing, making them perfect for salads. Slicing varieties like beefsteak tomatoes, however, lose their firmness when thawed, so they’re best for stews and soups.
How to Freeze Tomatoes with Peels
Can you freeze tomatoes whole?
Absolutely! The process is also straightforward:
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Place the tomatoes in a freezer-safe bag, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date. You can freeze whole, unpeeled tomatoes for up to 6 months.
Can I freeze tomatoes unpeeled and sliced?
Yes, if you want to save on prep work, you can cut the tomatoes into fourths before freezing them.
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core, then cut into fourths.
- Place them on a baking sheet, skin side down, and freeze for 1 hour.
- Once solid, transfer the tomatoes to your freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
How to Freeze Peeled Tomatoes
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Blanch the tomatoes for 1 minute or until the skins split.
- Transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- Drain and flash-freeze before transferring to your freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
How to Freeze Chopped Tomatoes
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Chop the tomatoes and transfer to your freezer-safe bags, spreading them flat and removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
How to Freeze Tomato Juice
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core, then cut into fourths.
- Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes and press through a sieve.
- Pour into freezer-safe containers, allowing 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace for expansion.
- Seal and label with the date.
How to Freeze Stewed Tomatoes
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Blanch the tomatoes for 1 minute or until the skins split.
- Slice the tomatoes into quarters, then place them in a saucepan. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
- Place the pan in cold water to stop the cooling process.
- Pour into freezer-safe containers, allowing 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace for expansion.
- Seal and label with the date.
Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?
Yes, you can freeze cherry or grape tomatoes, but because they’re small, their skins tend to peel off easily as they thaw.
How to freeze tomatoes (cherry variety):
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Freeze for 2 to 3 hours or until solid.
- Transfer the frozen cherry tomatoes to freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date. For the best quality, they’re best used within 4 months!
How Long Do Tomatoes Last in the Freezer?
Frozen tomatoes are best used within 4 to 6 months. Just be sure your freezer is set to 0°F or below.
To avoid freezer burn, check if your freezer containers are airtight. Also, flash-freeze the tomatoes first to keep them from sticking together.
FAQ About Freezing Tomatoes
What is the best way to freeze tomatoes?
Freezing whole tomatoes is a quick and hassle-free freezing method! Just bag them, remove excess air, and seal.
Can you freeze tomatoes whole without blanching?
Yes, unlike other vegetables, you can freeze tomatoes whole without blanching in boiling water. Some people just prefer blanching because it makes it easier to remove the tomato skins.
Can you freeze tomatoes in Ziploc?
Of course! You can freeze raw tomatoes in Ziploc freezer bags. Just press out as much air as possible before sealing.
How to thaw frozen tomatoes?
You can thaw the frozen tomatoes in the fridge overnight or run them under cold water to release the skins, and then set them out at room temperature.
What to do with frozen whole tomatoes?
Since frozen whole tomatoes don’t retain the same texture as fresh ones, they are better suited for sauces and soups, where they can be used similarly to tomato sauce. Try them in our popular Jollof spaghetti!
How to Freeze Tomatoes
Ingredients
Instructions
HOW TO FREEZE TOMATOES WITH PEELS
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Place the tomatoes in a freezer-safe bag, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date. You can freeze whole, unpeeled tomatoes for up to 6 months.
HOW TO FREEZE SLICED TOMATOES WITH PEELS
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core, then cut into fourths.
- Place them on a baking sheet, skin side down, and freeze for 1 hour.
- Once solid, transfer the tomatoes to your freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
HOW TO FREEZE PEELED TOMATOES
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Blanch the tomatoes for 1 minute or until the skins split.
- Transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- Drain and flash-freeze before transferring to your freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
HOW TO FREEZE CHOPPED TOMATOES
- Rinse the tomatoes under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Chop the tomatoes and transfer to your freezer-safe bags, spreading them flat and removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date.
HOW TO FREEZE TOMATO JUICE
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core, then cut into fourths.
- Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes and press through a sieve.
- Pour into freezer-safe containers, allowing 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace for expansion.
- Seal and label with the date.
HOW TO FREEZE STEWED TOMATOES
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Remove the stem and core.
- Blanch the tomatoes for 1 minute or until the skins split.
- Slice the tomatoes into quarters, then place them in a saucepan. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
- Place the pan in cold water to stop the cooling process.
- Pour into freezer-safe containers, allowing 1/2 to 1 inch of headspace for expansion.
- Seal and label with the date.
HOW TO FREEZE CHERRY TOMATOES
- Rinse the tomatoes, then pat them dry.
- Spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Freeze for 2 to 3 hours or until solid.
- Transfer the frozen cherry tomatoes to freezer-safe bags, removing the excess air.
- Seal and label with the date. For the best quality, they’re best used within 4 months!
Notes
- For the best quality, freeze the tomatoes as quickly as possible by keeping the freezer temperature at 0°F or below.
- Because tomatoes don’t thaw well and become soft, use them in cooked dishes!
- Blanching is optional. You can simply run the frozen tomatoes under cold water, and the skins will slip right off.
Conclusion
You just learned how to freeze tomatoes!
And the best part? You can freeze tomatoes whole. Easy peasy.
There’s no need to peel or blanch them first. But once thawed, they’ll be soft, so use them just like canned tomatoes.
Their skins also come off easily under running water.
This makes them perfect for sauces, soups, and stews!
Now that you know how to freeze tomatoes, here are other helpful reads related to frozen food and food storage:
- How to Freeze Zucchini
- How to Freeze Dry Peaches
- How to Freeze Corn
- How to Freeze Bananas
- How to Freeze Strawberries
PIN FOR LATER!