How To Freeze Tomatoes For Later
This post is all about how to freeze tomatoes for later.
If your garden is producing tomatoes faster than you can use them, freezing them is probably the easiest way to preserve the extras.
There is no canner to pull out.
No jars to sterilize.
And you don’t even have to peel the tomatoes first.
You can literally wash fresh tomatoes, remove the cores, freeze them and deal with them later.
This is one of my favorite tricks during the busiest part of garden season.
Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to turn every basket of tomatoes into sauce the day you pick them.
Freezing buys you time.
Then, when the garden slows down, you can pull those beautiful summer tomatoes from the freezer and turn them into homemade sauce, soup, chili and more.
Why Freeze Fresh Tomatoes?
Freezing tomatoes is one of the simplest ways to preserve a big tomato harvest.
I especially love this method when I don’t have enough tomatoes for a full batch of sauce yet.
Instead of letting a handful of ripe tomatoes sit on the counter until I have more, I can freeze them.
Then I just keep adding tomatoes to the freezer as they ripen.
Once I have enough, I can make a big batch of sauce.
Freezing tomatoes is also great because:
- It takes just a few minutes.
- You don’t need any special canning equipment.
- You can freeze tomatoes whole.
- There’s no need to blanch them first.
- The skins are incredibly easy to remove after freezing.
- It prevents ripe garden tomatoes from going to waste.
- You can preserve a few tomatoes at a time.
- They’re perfect for cooked recipes later.
If you’re overwhelmed by tomatoes in August, start putting some in the freezer.
You’ll be glad you did.
Can You Freeze Tomatoes?
Yes!
Fresh tomatoes freeze very well.
The biggest thing to understand is that freezing changes their texture.
Once a tomato has been frozen and thawed, it will be much softer than a fresh tomato.
That means I wouldn’t plan on slicing a frozen tomato for a sandwich or adding it to a fresh salad.
But for cooked tomato recipes, they’re wonderful.
Use frozen tomatoes for things like:
- Tomato sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Chili
- Soups
- Stews
- Salsa recipes intended for cooked/frozen use
- Pasta sauce
- Pizza sauce
- Casseroles
For me, that’s exactly what I want most of my extra garden tomatoes for anyway.
Do You Have to Blanch Tomatoes Before Freezing?
No.
This is probably my favorite part of freezing tomatoes.
You do not have to blanch tomatoes before freezing them.
Traditional tomato-preserving methods often have you drop tomatoes into boiling water and then transfer them into an ice bath so the skins loosen.
That works.
But if you’re freezing the tomatoes anyway, you can skip the whole process.
After frozen tomatoes begin to thaw, their skins usually slip right off.
It’s one less step during an already busy garden season.
Do You Have to Peel Tomatoes Before Freezing?
Nope.
I leave the skins right on.
Wash the tomatoes, remove the cores and freeze them.
When you’re ready to use them, take the tomatoes from the freezer and let them begin thawing.
The skins will loosen and can usually be pulled right off with your fingers.
It is ridiculously easy.
If you plan on using a food mill when making sauce, you may not even need to worry about removing the skins individually.
What Tomatoes Are Best for Freezing?
You can freeze almost any variety of tomato.
If it’s ripe and in good condition, freeze it.
Paste tomatoes are especially useful if you’re planning to make sauce later.
Some great options include:
- Roma tomatoes
- San Marzano-type tomatoes
- Amish Paste tomatoes
- Plum tomatoes
But don’t feel like you need a special variety.
I freeze whatever is coming out of the garden.
Beefsteak tomatoes, slicing tomatoes and even cherry tomatoes can all be frozen.
A mixture of tomato varieties can make a really flavorful sauce later.
How to Freeze Tomatoes Whole
This is the method I use when I want the absolute easiest option.
Step 1: Choose Your Tomatoes
Start with ripe, good-quality tomatoes.
Avoid tomatoes with mold, rot or significant spoilage.
Slightly imperfect garden tomatoes are fine as long as they’re still sound.
Step 2: Wash the Tomatoes
Wash the tomatoes thoroughly under cool running water.
Gently rub away any dirt.
Dry them with a clean kitchen towel.
Step 3: Remove the Cores
Remove the stems and cut out the tough core from each tomato.
You can leave smaller tomatoes whole.
There’s no need to remove the skins.
Step 4: Freeze the Tomatoes
Arrange the tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet or tray.
Place the tray in the freezer.
Freeze until the tomatoes are completely solid.
This initial freeze helps prevent them from freezing together into one giant tomato block.
Step 5: Transfer to Freezer Bags
Once the tomatoes are frozen solid, transfer them into freezer-safe bags or containers.
Remove as much excess air as possible.
Seal the bag.
Label it with the contents and date.
Return the tomatoes to the freezer.
That’s it.
Your tomatoes are preserved for another day.
How to Freeze Tomato Pieces
You don’t have to freeze your tomatoes whole.
If you already know you’ll be using them in chili, soup or another cooked recipe, you can chop them first.
Wash and core the tomatoes.
Cut them into halves, quarters or chunks.
Arrange the pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
Freeze until solid.
Then transfer the frozen tomato pieces into freezer bags.
This lets you grab exactly as much as you need later.
How to Freeze Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes may be even easier.
Wash them thoroughly.
Remove the stems.
Dry them well.
Spread them across a baking sheet and freeze until solid.
Then transfer them to a freezer bag.
You can toss frozen cherry tomatoes directly into soups, sauces and other cooked dishes.
It’s a great solution when those little tomato plants start producing more than your family could possibly eat.
How to Remove the Skins From Frozen Tomatoes
This is one of the best reasons to freeze tomatoes whole.
When you’re ready to use them, remove the tomatoes from the freezer.
Run a frozen tomato under warm water for a few seconds or allow it to begin thawing.
The skin should loosen.
Use your fingers to pull it away from the tomato.
No pot of boiling water.
No ice bath.
No blanching.
This is especially convenient if you’re saving tomatoes throughout the summer to make a big batch of sauce later.
How to Use Frozen Tomatoes
Frozen tomatoes are best used in recipes where the tomatoes will be cooked.
You don’t even necessarily have to thaw them completely first.
Depending on the recipe, you may be able to put them straight into the pot.
As they heat, they’ll release quite a bit of liquid.
This is normal.
If you’re making tomato sauce, you can simply cook the mixture down until you reach the consistency you want.
Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
This would be my first choice.
If you don’t have enough tomatoes to make a big batch of marinara right now, freeze them as they ripen.
Once you have enough, turn them into homemade Italian pasta sauce with homegrown tomatoes.
It’s one of my favorite ways to preserve a large tomato harvest.
Add Them to Chili
Frozen tomatoes are perfect for homemade chili.
Let them thaw enough to remove the skins, chop them and add them to your pot.
Add Them to Soups and Stews
Frozen tomatoes are great for soups and stews because their softer texture doesn’t matter.
They’ll cook right into the dish.
Do Frozen Tomatoes Get Mushy?
Yes.
Frozen tomatoes become soft after thawing.
Water inside the tomato expands as it freezes and breaks down some of the tomato’s cellular structure.
Once thawed, you won’t have the firm texture of a fresh tomato.
That’s why frozen tomatoes aren’t ideal for salads and sandwiches.
But that soft texture doesn’t matter when you’re turning them into sauce, soup or chili.
Do Frozen Tomatoes Need to Be Thawed Before Cooking?
Not always.
For soups, stews and sauces, you can often add frozen tomatoes directly to the pot.
If you want to remove the skins first, let the tomatoes thaw slightly or run them briefly under warm water.
They’ll soften quickly once they start cooking.
How Long Can You Keep Tomatoes in the Freezer?
For the best flavor and quality, I like to use frozen tomatoes within about 8 to 12 months.
They may remain safe longer when continuously frozen at 0°F, but quality can gradually decline.
This is another reason labeling your freezer bags is so important.
By the following tomato season, I want to have used up last year’s tomatoes and be ready to start filling the freezer again.
How to Prevent Freezer Burn
Air is the enemy when it comes to freezer storage.
Use good-quality freezer bags or airtight freezer containers.
If you’re using freezer bags, press out as much air as possible before sealing them.
A vacuum sealer is another great option if you have one.
And don’t forget to label everything.
Write tomatoes + the date on the bag before putting it in the freezer.
It seems obvious now.
Six months from now, that frozen red bag may not be nearly as obvious.
Can You Freeze Tomatoes Without Cooking Them?
Absolutely.
You do not need to cook tomatoes before freezing them.
That’s what makes this method so convenient.
Wash.
Core.
Freeze.
That’s really all there is to it.
You can do all of the cooking later when you actually have time.
Can You Freeze Tomatoes With the Skin On?
Yes.
In fact, that’s exactly how I recommend doing it if you want the easiest method.
Leave the skins on while freezing.
Once the tomatoes begin thawing, the skins are incredibly easy to remove.
Can You Freeze Tomatoes in Freezer Bags?
Yes.
Freezer bags are one of the easiest ways to store frozen tomatoes.
I prefer freezing the tomatoes individually on a baking sheet first and then transferring them into bags.
This keeps the tomatoes from sticking together.
You can then pull out one tomato or several instead of thawing an entire bag.
Can I Freeze Tomatoes Until I Have Enough to Can?
This can be a great way to collect enough tomatoes for a large preserving project.
Maybe you only pick five ripe tomatoes today.
Then seven more tomorrow.
And another handful two days later.
Instead of watching them get overripe on the counter, freeze them as they become ready.
Once you have enough tomatoes, you can make your sauce.
My Favorite Way to Freeze Garden Tomatoes
When garden season is at its busiest, I keep this as simple as possible.
I wash the tomatoes.
Core them.
Freeze them whole on a baking sheet.
Then toss the frozen tomatoes into a large freezer bag.
That’s it.
I don’t blanch them.
I don’t peel them.
I don’t spend an afternoon standing over the stove when I have a million other things coming out of the garden.
Later, when things slow down, I can deal with them.
And that’s really why I love freezing tomatoes.
It buys you time.
More Ways to Preserve Tomatoes
Freezing is just one way to keep your tomato harvest from going to waste.
If your counters are covered in ripe tomatoes right now, you can also:
Check out my complete guide 15 ways to preserve tomatoes for even more ideas.
