Freezing Fresh Tomatoes
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,482
I normally don't freeze them but cook them into spaghetti sauce, salsa and this year trying out a veggie tomato soup. As I have a very large stock pot I'd blanch enough tomatoes to fill a gallon ice cream bucket and throw them into the freezer until I had enough to fill another one plus some. Have made enough soup to last me a couple years so on to adding to my spaghetti sauce group.
But I also what I call fast freeze my peppers, carrots, celery,green beans, onions, strawberries and raspberries on a cookie sheet until frozen, then move them to a freezer bag, suck out the air using a plastic straw as I don't have one of those fancy machines that do it for you. When I go to make up a batch of soup for winter, I just have to pull out whatever veggie I want and its already chopped up so half the work is done for me. I also make enough soup to fill 2 half gallon freezer containers so I have one for that week and put the other one in the freezer for later. I'm up to 5 soups I make up for winter time.
But I also what I call fast freeze my peppers, carrots, celery,green beans, onions, strawberries and raspberries on a cookie sheet until frozen, then move them to a freezer bag, suck out the air using a plastic straw as I don't have one of those fancy machines that do it for you. When I go to make up a batch of soup for winter, I just have to pull out whatever veggie I want and its already chopped up so half the work is done for me. I also make enough soup to fill 2 half gallon freezer containers so I have one for that week and put the other one in the freezer for later. I'm up to 5 soups I make up for winter time.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Gaylord, MN
Posts: 4,013
My favorite way to freeze tomatoes is to wash and core them, put in my blender and then put in bags. They are all ready to put into whatever I am making. Sometimes I will throw onions, peppers or whatever in the blender with the tomatoes.
Last edited by Karamarie; 09-14-2019 at 05:08 AM. Reason: Adds.
#13
for the last several years all I've done is wash and quarter them, and put them in a gallon freezer bag, and squish a bit to get the air out. I started doing it when I didn't have time to process them due to my work schedule. Then I'd take out 10-15 bags, let them defrost and then do up a batch of sauce and can it.
Now I've just been taking them out and making a single batch as needed. I'm not putting up near as much as I once did, found with just DH and I, we didn't go through it much and it's a lot of work to do to give away. I'd rather give away jams and jellys, not tomato sauce. My kids love it, but they live 1600 miles away so not practical.
If you are water bath canning, you need the extra acid to make sure the acid level is high enough, but it serves no purpose when freezing. Salt is only for taste.
Now I've just been taking them out and making a single batch as needed. I'm not putting up near as much as I once did, found with just DH and I, we didn't go through it much and it's a lot of work to do to give away. I'd rather give away jams and jellys, not tomato sauce. My kids love it, but they live 1600 miles away so not practical.
If you are water bath canning, you need the extra acid to make sure the acid level is high enough, but it serves no purpose when freezing. Salt is only for taste.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
I washed my tomatoes and put them into the freezer. When I get them out, I will run some hot water over them and slip the skins off, cut out the stem end, and they are ready to pop into the stew.
#15
I wash and dry my whole tomatoes and freeze them on a cookie sheet, then put them in a basket to keep in the freezer. Run hot water over them for a few seconds and the skins come off. They are not good to use as fresh tomatoes, but work well anywhere you would use stewed tomatoes.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
~ C
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
I do the same as QuiltE, core and freeze whole.
I do slip the skins off once they start to defrost. Then I uses as needed for my recipe. Generally it is spaghetti sauce, but I will use them in soups too.
Last year I got about 50 pounds of cherry tomatoes and mini peppers. I cut the tops off the peppers as that is where most the seeds are, then I cooked them with the whole cherry tomatoes and made a sauce. I froze it in 2-4 cup containers. Used it in soups, spaghetti sauce and stews over the winter.
I do slip the skins off once they start to defrost. Then I uses as needed for my recipe. Generally it is spaghetti sauce, but I will use them in soups too.
Last year I got about 50 pounds of cherry tomatoes and mini peppers. I cut the tops off the peppers as that is where most the seeds are, then I cooked them with the whole cherry tomatoes and made a sauce. I froze it in 2-4 cup containers. Used it in soups, spaghetti sauce and stews over the winter.
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
OK...so I had breakfast and some time to think about it. I'm going to dehydrate my tomatoes instead of freezing them this time. I love the idea of freezing, but I have no more room in my freezer. I like dried tomatoes too. They're almost as easy, just core, cut an X on the bottom and dip into boiling water to remove the skins. Place on dehydrator trays and wait. That's it.
~ C
~ C
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,410
I put fresh tomatoes in a food processor until rough cut and then freeze. I can stack a pile of vacuum freezer bags on a shelf in the freezer. I use them for any food I would use canned tomatoes to make.
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10-04-2011 12:04 PM