How to Freeze Tomatoes – Without Blanching

Freezing whole tomatoes is an easy and quick method to preserve fresh tomatoes. If you have ever wondered How to Freeze Tomatoes, this is for you. Spoiler alert: no blanching necessary!

Growing up Italian meant that my parents made homemade passata and canned whole tomatoes every September. 

These preserved tomatoes were stored among the jars of pickled eggplants, marinated peppers, giardiniera, and of course, lupini beans in a well-stocked cold room referred to as a cantina in Italian.

If you were to look inside the reach-in freezer, you would find frozen cavatelli, cubes of basil pesto, containers of well packaged frozen roasted peppers, and greens like escarole, Swiss chard, rapini, etc., all from the backyard garden. 

You might be wondering, and rightly so, what about frozen tomatoes? 

Surprisingly, there were no tomatoes in the freezer.

This is a method I recently started practicing.

Not only can you freeze tomatoes, but you will instantly adopt this process of preserving them. 

If you are looking for the best way to freeze whole tomatoes, a way that is both fast and simple requires no blanching, and can conveniently be used in stews and soups, this is for you. All you need is a freezer bag, a straw and some freezer space. 

I think you are going to love this!  

Instructions

Let’s begin by choosing the freshest and firmest, blemish-free tomatoes. There is no set quantity for this procedure. Feel free to preserve as many or as few tomatoes as you want. 

Rub the tomatoes gently under cool running water to remove any dirt. Remove the stem.  As you can see, I am using plum tomatoes. 

Use a clean tea towel to dry the tomatoes, one by one thoroughly. 

Spread out the tomatoes on a baking sheet or pan in a single layer without touching each other. Place in the freezer for at least one hour.

Transfer to a zip lock freezer bag. Remember to label your bag with the date. 

Use the straw method to remove the air from the freezer bag. 

Place the bag in the freezer and use tomatoes when needed. 

That’s it! It really is that easy! 

Tips

• When partially freezing the tomatoes, use a baking sheet that fits in your freezer.
• Partially freezing the tomatoes before placing them in bags prevents them from sticking all together. This, in turn,  allows you to remove the exact amount you need.
• Properly sealed frozen tomatoes last up to 6 months.
• Any recipe that requires canned tomatoes can be replaced with these—no need to thaw. 
• All varieties of tomatoes can be frozen this way. 

Size of freezer bags

As you probably know, freezer bags come in a variety of sizes. Depending on the number of tomatoes you want to freeze and the amount of space available in your freezer, choose the size that meets your needs. 

Type of freezer bags

Since we are freezing our tomatoes, purchasing the right type of freezer bag is extremely important. This will ensure that the quality of the tomato is maintained throughout the time in the freezer. 

Using a vacuum sealer vs. a straw

If you have a vacuum sealer, you can definitely use it.

However, I find the special bags almost impossible to reuse. Since I only use a few frozen tomatoes at a time, I find it more convenient to use the straw method and a Ziplock bag and reuse the bag when I am done with it. 

How does a straw remove air from freezer bags?

Insert a straw in one corner of the bag. At the opposite end, start closing the bag, while pushing out some of the air. When you are closing in on the area where the straw is placed, suck out the air. Then quickly withdraw the straw while completely closing the ziplock bag. 

How to use frozen whole tomatoes

Remove the required amount of tomatoes from the Ziploc bag. Be sure to reseal the bag properly using the straw method before placing it back in the freezer.

If desired, the tomato skin can easily be removed by placing the frozen tomatoes in a bowl of warm water. After just a few minutes, the skin will peel right off. 

Recipes with frozen tomatoes

You can now substitute frozen tomatoes in any recipe that calls for canned tomatoes. There is no need to thaw. Some of my favorites include lentil soup, egg drop soup, this cod recipe and these green beans with tomatoes. You can also use them to make my mom’s no-cook pizza sauce! 

Recipe inspiration

I live in such a wonderful neighborhood. So much so that it feels like they are part of my extended family.

Since everyone in my neighborhood has backyard gardens and clotheslines, the conversations as we hang up our clothes often revolve around our kids and our gardens.

A few years ago, after my husband and I finished making our yearly homemade passata and canning whole tomatoes, my neighbor, Terry, shared her method of preserving tomatoes.

I have to say I love this freezer method of preserving tomatoes. 

Naturally, if you are looking at large quantities to preserve, you need to have a lot of freezer space. But for a small amount, this is truly a quick and efficient method.

Terry, thanks so much for sharing your freezer method for preserving tomatoes.

I finally got a chance to try it out and I must say I am a big fan!   

My freezer is now full of tomatoes, green beans and strawberries! 

Next on my to-do list is to make tomato jam… 

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have preserved tomatoes by freezing them, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the method.