Dip tomatoes in boiling water for about 1 minute or until the skins split to peel easier. Place the whole tomatoes on clean cookie sheets and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the tomatoes from the cookie sheets into freezer bags or other containers. Seal tightly and freeze.
Tomatoes can be frozen whole or diced, and raw or blanched.
Before freezing your fresh tomatoes, think about how you plan on using them as well as when you plan on using them. Raw tomatoes don't last as long as blanched tomatoes in the freezer.
Lay the tomatoes out on a flat freezer-proof sheet, in a single layer and not touching, and place in your freezer. Once they're fully frozen, transfer your tomatoes to sealable plastic bags and return to the freezer where they'll keep for six months or more.
Prepare a large saucepan of boiling water, as well as a large bowl filled with ice water. In batches, add the tomatoes to the boiling water in 2-minute intervals. Using a large slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes to the ice water and let sit for 1 minute. Place the tomatoes into large resealable bags and freeze!
After freezing and defrosting, the texture changes in a way that makes them less-than-ideal to eat raw. However, frozen tomatoes are excellent to use in soup, stew, sauce, chili, or for canning later.
You can freeze tomatoes with the stems on straight out of the garden unwashed. IF you are not planning to use them straight out of the bag once defrosted. I have done this. As you run the warm water over the frozen tomatoes, stem and peel them.
The process of freezing tomatoes requires no special equipment and is simle enough that even freezing tomatoes in small batches is worth the effort. Freezing tomatoes has some distinct advantages over other methods of preserving the harvest. And for those new to crop preservation, it is an easy way to get started.
Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they're thawed.
Peel and Freeze the Tomatoes
If desired, halve, slice, or chop tomatoes (you can also freeze whole tomatoes). Spoon the tomatoes into freezer containers or bags, leaving 1-inch headspace. Seal and label the container or bag. Freeze for up to 10 months.
Freezing tomatoes is the easiest way to keep ripe tomatoes until you're ready to use them. You don't have to peel them first—in fact, the act of freezing them itself makes the tomatoes insanely easy to peel! —and you can freeze as many or as few at a time as you like.
Drizzle with olive oil and roast for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Let cool and then freeze the tomatoes flat in gallon freezer bags or airtight containers. Frozen roasted tomatoes can be used just like canned tomatoes when thawed.
Pack tomatoes into two hot sterilised preserving jars (each 1 litre/4 cups), fitted with rubber rings. Combine juice, salt and sugar in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Slowly pour boiling juice over tomatoes until jars are filled to within 1cm of top; seal immediately with lids and clips.
Disadvantages to freezing tomatoes
Tomatoes lose their texture when thawed and get mushy. Freezing breaks down the pulp fibers (they contain water) and expands them when they freeze. The result is soft and watery. Freezing tomatoes reduces their flavor.
If you intend to make a sauce or a dish that would be better without the skins and seeds, be sure to remove those before freezing. First score and blanch the tomatoes, and then peel off the skin and squeeze out the seeds.
Tomatoes can be frozen whole, stewed, or as plain tomato sauce.
Make sure you keep the temperature of the freezer at 0°F or below to ensure proper freezing. Frozen tomatoes will retain their flavor for 12 months. This gives you plenty of time to thaw them to use in your favorite sauce, stew, or soup recipes.
1. Convenience Preservation: Freezing. If you don't have the time to can and have plenty of room in your freezer, freezing is the fastest and easiest way to preserve your tomatoes. And frozen tomatoes are not only faster and more convenient, they also taste fresher and have more nutrients than canned tomatoes do.
Can tomatoes be vacuum packaged? Yes, the whole tomato may be pre-frozen and then vacuum packaged and stored in the freezer.
Freezing Tomatoes For Winter or Canning (Simple!) Freezing whole tomatoes from your garden is easy! This is the simplest method – no blanching or cutting! It is simple and helps preserve your amazing bounty of ripe garden tomatoes for use in the winter or even for canning later in the fall when you have more time.
Freezing is a terrific method to lock in the seasonal flavor and nutrients of tomatoes over several months. Tomatoes contain potassium and lycopene which have multiple health benefits such as a reduced risk of developing certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Tomatoes can be preserved by canning, drying, freezing, or pickling. They can also be used in creating fruit spreads like jams, jellies and marmalades. Raw tomatoes or raw tomato products can be kept refrigerated (below 40 degrees Fahrenheit), but will spoil over time due to bacteria, yeasts, and molds.
High acid foods such as tomatoes and other fruit will keep their best quality up to 18 months; low acid foods such as meat and vegetables, 2 to 5 years.