Pre freezing tomatoes

by Jodi
(Medina, Ohio)

Is it possible to freeze tomatoes as they start getting ripe then can them at a later date?

_______________
answer:

Jodi: I have not done this myself. My only concern is that when you defrost the tomatoes they will not have the same consistency. They will be mushy. So I suppose it depends on how you intend to use them. For sauces it might work fine.

Maybe someone else who has done this will comment on this question.

________________

Some time later......

I've come back to edit this and say... I tried it and it works great! Really highly recommend freezing tomatoes for using in sauces.

Perfect if you are getting just a few tomatoes at a time and want to save them for when you have enough for a whole batch.

The plus is......when you thaw the tomatoes, no blanching needed to peel. So easy!

I've posted a new page just for Freezing Tomatoes

Comments for
Pre freezing tomatoes

Click here to add your own comments

Freezing tomatoes
by: Anonymous

Jodi, that is exactly what I do. I blanch the tomatoes, seed & skin them and then put them in a freezer bag. That way, when I have enough to begin a batch of something to can, I just take them out of the freezer bag and put them into the pan.

Freezing Tomatoes
by: Anonymous

I simply core them and then freeze them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. When solid, I toss them in a 2 gallon zippered freezer bag. When I have enough for a batch of something (usually a sauce of some kind, as I don't really use whole tomatoes), I fill the sink with warm water and let them thaw. The skin slip off very easily, almost more easily than the boiling water method since you aren't burning your hands! The peeled frozen tomatoes are less firm than the ones plunged in boiling water and then peeled, yes.

Freeze tomatoes to then make salsa?
by: Anonymous

Sounds like everyone thinks it will work ok to freeze tomatoes and then later make sauce.

Do you think frozen tomatoes could later be used to make canned salsa? I've never made homemade salsa before so I don't know how important the texture of the tomatoes is.

Freezing Tomatoes: Mom always has
by: Anonymous

Granted, she mainly uses hers for salsa and tomatoes that she puts into chili. She never bothered canning the plain tomatoes, just thawed and added to her chili.

For the salsa, she would blanch, skin, and seed them and then put them in the freezer until she had enough for a batch.

A tip, make sure you mark how many tomatoes you're putting in the freezer.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Simply Canning Home page