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!
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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, 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, basil pesto cubes, containers of well-packaged frozen roasted peppers, and so much more!
You might be wondering, and rightly so, what about frozen tomatoes?
Surprisingly, there were no tomatoes in the freezer.
This is a method I started practicing about ten years ago.
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, which is 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!
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How to freeze tomatoes
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 thoroughly, one by one.
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.
If you have a vacuum sealer, you can definitely use it.
I prefer zip-top bags since they can be reused. I like using the straw method to remove the air—it’s quick and easy. Plus, since I only need a few tomatoes at a time, I can open the bag, take what I need, and reseal it without any hassle.
Place the bag in the freezer and use tomatoes as needed.
That’s it—simple and convenient!
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 altogether. 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.
FAQ
Yes, you can freeze various types of tomatoes, including Roma, beefsteak, cherry, and grape tomatoes. Choose ripe and fresh tomatoes for the best flavor.
No, blanching is not necessary when freezing tomatoes. You can freeze them directly after washing and, optionally, coring.
The best type of freezer bag for freezing tomatoes is a heavy-duty freezer bag. These are thicker and more durable than standard storage bags, providing better protection against freezer burns and punctures.
The straw method is a simple way to remove air from a freezer bag before sealing it. By sucking the air out with a straw, you create a vacuum-like effect, which helps preserve the food longer by reducing oxidation and freezer burn.
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.
You can easily remove the tomato skin by placing the frozen tomatoes in a bowl of warm water. After just a few minutes, the skin will peel right off.
Frozen tomatoes can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 to 12 months. While they remain safe to eat beyond that timeframe, their quality may decline.
Yes, you can add frozen tomatoes directly to soups, sauces, or stews. They will cook down as they heat, making them convenient for cooking.
How to use frozen tomatoes
Frozen tomatoes are versatile, especially for cooked dishes like soups, stews, and sauces. Since freezing affects their texture, these tomatoes are best in recipes where they’ll be cooked down. Here’s how you can use them:
- Soups: For soups like Italian Lentil Soup or this White Bean Soup, remove the tomato skins after freezing by running the tomatoes under warm water. Then, grate the tomatoes to create a smooth puree that will blend seamlessly into the broth, giving your soup a rich, velvety texture. This method works well for creamy tomato-based soups, where you want the tomatoes to break down entirely without chunks.
- Stews: In stewed recipes like this Italian Cod Recipe, chicken cacciatore, or my family recipe for Ciambotta, frozen tomatoes are ideal when roughly chopped. After defrosting, remove the skins, chop them into large pieces, and add them to the pot. As the tomatoes cook down, they’ll release their juices and thicken the broth while adding a touch of acidity and sweetness. This method gives you chunks of tomatoes that complement the other ingredients without overpowering them.
- Sauces: Frozen tomatoes are excellent for making sauces like marinara. After defrosting and peeling the tomatoes, grate them into a smooth sauce base. This helps the tomatoes break down quickly, producing a silky sauce perfect for pasta or pizza. They are great for making my mom’s no-cook San Marzano pizza sauce. You can also simmer the grated tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, and herbs to create a rich sauce that cooks faster than whole tomatoes.
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, parsley, green beans and strawberries!
Next on my to-do list is to make tomato jam and roasted tomatoes, but for now, since I still have a few garden tomatoes left, I am enjoying a marinated tomato salad.
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.
Ciao for now,
Maria
More ways to preserve tomatoes
★★★★★ 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.
Recipe
How to Freeze Tomatoes
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Ingredients
- 18 tomatoes fresh, firm and blemish-free tomatoes; freeze any amount
- water
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the tomatoes.
- Rub the tomatoes gently under cool running water to remove any dirt.
- Use a clean tea towel to thoroughly dry the tomatoes, one by one.
- 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.
- Use the straw method to remove the air from the freezer bag.
- Place the bag in the freezer.
Notes
- Total time includes time spent in the freezer.
- 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 6-12 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.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on September 16, 2020, and republished on September 6, 2024 with updated content. Thanks for sharing.
Nicola Mazzei
Hi, Could I use these tomatoes to make passata?
Maria
Thanks for your interest Nicola. Yes, you can. Enjoy!
Amy B
Thank you for the great idea! We have so many cherry tomatoes this year and they are delicious in recipes. My husband has been roasting them and putting them in the freezer for salsa.
Maria
My pleasure Amy! Enjoy! Thanks for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!
Wendy
Another tip, cut the button end (where the stem attached) off before freezing then skins will slip easier when cooking and can be fished out of your soup or stews etc. with tongs.
Maria
Thank you so much for sharing Wendy!
paul snesavage
My italia. n mothe would freeze tomato’s this way. She would let them thaw very slightly and slice them like fresh tomato’s for salads. If they thawed too much they could get mushy, I loved them in my salads.
Maria
Thanks for sharing Paul.
Carol Moyer
Love it. I will defiantly be freezing some this year. I will use my sealer using small bags with the amount I think I will use at a time. Will not be wasting my bigger bags. Using the cans, I usually don’t use it all because it’s more than what I want to use. I no longer can, because it is just me.
Maria
It really is a great method! Thanks for stopping by Carol!
Penny
This is actually what I did as well. I didn’t have room in my freezer to set a baking sheet as it’s smaller and it’s pretty full. So, just froze 2-3 in smaller bags.
Debbi J
I love this idea!!! Especially when we grow more tomatoes than our family needs for the season. Plus you process your own can tomatoes without the can😉all year round!AWESOME 👍🏽
Maria
Thank so much Debbi! They really are so convenient to have in the freezer. Enjoy!
cindy
I had a bunch of lg and cherry tomatoes so I removed blemishes, cut them up,put them in a pan with salt,pepper,celery. Cooked on stove top, cooled,juiced them twice put them in lg paper cup,put in freezer. Freeze until no running liquid. Remove and flatten on cookie sheet freeze solid. Remove and cut into sz you like.
Maria
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing Cindy!
Janet
How long did you cook them for and what temp?
Christine
I’ve been doing this method for years! Great way to use all my “here’s some tomatoes for you” neighbors. I have several large Ziploc bags full in the freezer and more tomatoes to process. They are great for soups and stews. Plus I never have problems with the skins as they just disintegrated into the sauce. I will also cut the tomatoes into quarters and freeze.
Maria
Thanks so much for sharing Christine! It really is a great method to preserve tomatoes.
Lynn
What about the skin on the tomatoes?????
Maria
Thanks for your interest Lynn. It really is up to you, whether or not you want to include it in your recipes. As mentioned in the post, once the tomatoes are frozen, 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. Enjoy!
Teresa rosati
Oh Mary! You are so considerate and thoughtful! I miss having a neighbour like you thanks 😊 big hug 🤗 to you and family good day my friend!
Maria
Thanks so much for sharing Terry! Hugs to you ♥