With the abundance of summer tomatoes that most of us have from our gardens, I’m going to go over the steps for how to freeze tomatoes to preserve them. It’s a great way to always have fresh tomatoes for recipes like soups, chili’s, and sauces.

pile of fresh tomatoes sitting next to a basket filled with more

With only a few steps you will have a freezer full of summer tomatoes ready to be used. What better way to enjoy your harvest throughout the whole year then following the easiest and fastest way to preserve your tomatoes.

fresh tomatoes laid out on a white and grey dish towel with a basket sitting next to them with more tomatoes in it

Can You Freeze Tomatoes?

Yes, freezing tomatoes is a great way to preserve them and their flavor to use for future recipes. The freezing process will make the tomatoes lose their shape and texture so they will be good for recipes like soups, sauces, stews, chili’s, and salsas. Here is a great chunky salsa recipe if you want to preserve your tomatoes another way!

Can You Freeze Tomatoes Without Blanching Them First?

Yes, you can freeze tomatoes without blanching them. You can either cut them up first and place them in a container or freezer bag or you can freeze them whole.

Just keep in mind they are all going to freeze together so cutting them up first will be harder to use small amounts if needed. You can freeze a handful of smaller freezer bags as well so they are serving size ready for recipes.

dozens of summer tomatoes laying on a white and grey striped dish towel next to a basket

What Is The Best Way To Freeze Fresh Tomatoes?

The best way to freeze tomatoes is to blanch them, remove the skin, and freeze them whole. You can cut them up in any size you need after thawing them. It takes very little time and will save you the hassle of trying to get the skin off later. They will be prepped and ready for any recipe like soups, stews, chili’s, and sauces.

7 pitted and scored tomatoes in a glass bowl sitting on top of a white and grey dish towel

Tips For Freezing Tomatoes

Remove the stems and score them all prior to adding them to the boiling water. Once they enter the water they will begin to soften very quickly so you want to get them all in at the same time.
Once you remove them from the boiling water, place them in a bowl of ice water. This will help the skin slip right off.
If you want to freeze smaller amounts, use separate freezer bags.

a basket filled with summer tomatoes sitting next to dozens of tomatoes laying on a white and grey dish towel

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dozens of fresh tomatoes laying on a white and grey dish towel sitting next to a basket filled with more tomatoes

Links For Materials You Might Need

pile of fresh tomatoes on a white and grey dish towel with a pear knife and two mixing bowls sitting next to them

Steps For How To Preserve And Freezing Tomatoes

Step 1

Get a large pot of water boiling and add 1 tsp. salt. Gather your tomatoes and rinse them if desired. Using your pear knife, cut out the stem and core of the tomato pointing your knife downward toward the middle of the tomato.

a pear knife pitting and removing a stem of a tomato

Step 2

Score your tomato in four areas with your pear knife going down from the area you removed the stem. This will allow the skin to slip right off after blanching it.

hand holding scored tomato with the stem removed

Step 3

Carefully place your scored tomatoes into the boiling water using your slotted spoon and let boil for 1 minute. Remove tomatoes from pot and place in large bowl of ice water until fully cooled.

blanched tomatoes in a large glass bowl of ice water

Step 4

Peel off the skin of the tomatoes and place in a colander with a bowl under it to let the excess water drain out of them. Place the tomatoes in a freezer bag, remove any air, and keep in freezer for up to 12 months. Anything longer than that and they might lose flavor.

white colander with blanched tomatoes in it with skins removed

How To Freeze Tomatoes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Simple and easy way to preserve your summer tomatoes!

Materials

Fresh picked tomatoes
1 tsp salt

Tools

Large pot
Colander
3 mixing bowls
Slotted spoon
Pear knife
Reusable freezer bags

Instructions

Get a large pot of water boiling and add 1 tsp. salt. Gather your tomatoes and rinse them if desired. Using your pear knife, cut out the stem and core of the tomato pointing your knife downward toward the middle of the tomato.
Score your tomato in four areas with your pear knife going down from the area you removed the stem. This will allow the skin to slip right off after blanching it.
Carefully place your scored tomatoes into the boiling water using your slotted spoon and let boil for 1 minute. Remove tomatoes from pot and place in large bowl of ice water until fully cooled.
Peel off the skin of the tomatoes and place in a colander with a bowl under it to let the excess water drain out of them. Place the tomatoes in a freezer bag, remove any air, and keep in freezer for up to 12 months. Anything longer than that and they might lose flavor.

Notes

Remove the stems and score all the tomatoes prior to adding them to the boiling water. Once they enter the water they will begin to soften very quickly so you want to get them all in at the same time.

You can make multiple batches of tomatoes with the same salted water.

Once you remove the tomatoes from the boiling water, place them in a bowl of ice water. This will help the skin slip right off.

If you want to freeze smaller amounts, use separate freezer bags.

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Thanks for reading and tag me on Instagram if you preserve and freeze tomatoes!

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Until next time,

Ellen