How to Freeze Whole Tomatoes for Later Use

Keep tomatoes for later use by freezing.

While store-bought tomatoes can last up to three to five days depending on their ripeness, freezing extends the time you can reserve your tomatoes for later use by up to eight months. Use ripe and firm tomatoes, but keep in mind that when frozen tomatoes thaw they lose their shape. This makes them perfect for adding to stews, crock pot recipes or for seasoning.

Things You'll Need

• Cookie sheet
• Large pot
• Freezer containers or bags

Instructions

1. Wash tomatoes with running cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel.

2. Remove the stem scar from the tomatoes.

3. Place tomatoes in a pot of boiling water for one minute. Boiling causes the tomato skin to split to facilitate peeling. Cool in a bowl of ice water. Peel the skin and core.

   Skip this step if you want to freeze the tomatoes without peeling, and core them without boiling.

4. Place the tomatoes on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for two hours or until frozen.

5. Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and put the tomatoes into freezer bags.

6. Label the freezer bags "tomatoes" and date them. Store in the freezer.

References

• National Center for Home Food Preservation: Freezing Tomatoes
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Freezing Raw Tomatoes (With or Without Their Skins)
• ANR University of California; Tomatoes: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy; Tracy Parnell, et al.; March 2004

Resources

• National Center for Home Food Preservation