Freezing Fresh Tomatoes from the Garden
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My garden did really well this year, and my nine tomato plants produced lots and lots of tomatoes. Many people wonder if you can freeze fresh tomatoes from the garden. Yes, you can! If you have never frozen tomatoes before, it is actually very easy. There are a couple of ways you can freeze tomatoes.
Can You Freeze Tomatoes Without Cooking Them?
Yes, you can freeze tomatoes without cooking them. The easiest way to freeze tomatoes is to just freeze them whole.
If you are going to freeze whole tomatoes, there is no need to even peel them first. Just fill your kitchen sink with water and then give them a good rinse. Remove any tomatoes that are blemished in any way. You can cut off any bad spots and use those tomatoes right away, but don’t freeze them.
Related Article: Grow Big Tomatoes in Pots: Tips and Tricks for a Bountiful Harvest
Place the washed and dried tomatoes on a cookie sheet and then place them in the freezer until they are frozen. It is best to freeze tomatoes that are similar sized together, as they will be easier to store later.
After the tomatoes are frozen, remove them from the freezer and then place them in gallon sized ziploc bags. If your tomatoes are similar sized, your bags should lay relatively flat and you should be able to stack them on top of each other.
Your frozen tomatoes can be stored in the freezer for 6-12 months. When you remove them from the freezer, when they start to thaw you will be able to easily slip the skins of the tomatoes off of them without having to peel them.
Related Article: Types of Tomato Plants: A Guide to Different Varieties
How to Defrost Whole Tomatoes
It is very easy to defrost whole tomatoes. I just set the gallon sized ziploc bags of tomatoes I took out of the freezer in the kitchen sink to thaw. I let them sit in there overnight. Now they won’t be very pretty when they are thawed, but It will be easy to remove the peels.
Just give each tomato a little squeeze, and then the insides of the tomato should pop right out of the skins. Place the tomatoes into a measuring cup to use for your recipe. They will have the consistency of stewed tomatoes.
Note: I just pulled some frozen tomatoes out of my freezer that had been in there for 2 years!! I thawed them out and then used them to make my favorite homemade salsa recipe. The salsa turned out GREAT.
Related Article: Can Tomatoes Survive Frost?
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I really appreciate your wonderful explanation. This tip is really usefulāš
Thank you.