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    Home » In the kitchen » Preserving » How to freeze tomatoes - 3 methods

    How to freeze tomatoes - 3 methods

    Published: Apr 11, 2023 · Modified: Mar 24, 2024 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    How to preserve tomatoes without cooking, canning or bottling them, here are 3 easy methods for freezing them for use all year long! Methods for whole tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and diced tomatoes.

    Container of frozen cherry tomatoes

    If there is one thing I can never grow enough of in my summer garden, it is tomatoes. There is nothing that tastes more like summer to me than a fresh tomato on a piece of sourdough bread. But what I really love about tomatoes is that they are such a versatile ingredient - particularly if you love to preserve like I do!

    They are something we use year round in so many meals, so once I've finished making all the salsa, pasta sauce and tomato jam that I can manage, I always love freezing some tomatoes to use year round.

    As much as I love bottling fruit and vegetables, freezing is just SO easy! And if you have the freezer space, it makes a lot of sense.

    Jump to:
    • Which method is best?
    • Ingredients needed:
    • How to freeze tomatoes:
    • Freezing tomatoes - FAQs:
    • Other ways to preserve tomatoes:
    • How to Freeze Tomatoes - 3 methods

    Which method is best?

    I have 3 methods that I use to successfully freeze my tomatoes and which one I use comes down to how much time I have on the day, or how much I can be bothered doing! It also depends on how I plan to use the tomatoes after they have been frozen.

    Method 1: Peeling and chopping tomatoes before freezing

    This is the most time consuming method, however it does give you the best results, particularly if you want to use these tomatoes in place of tinned tomatoes or as an easier option than water bath preserving diced tomatoes. This is a great option if your tomatoes have skins that are quite blemished.

    Method 2: Chopping tomatoes before freezing

    If I don't have the time to peel my tomatoes (or simply can't be bothered) I just chop and freeze my tomatoes without peeling. There have not been any times that I've been annoyed by the skins left on the tomatoes, so this is a super quick way to deal with a lot of tomatoes in one go.

    Method 3: Freezing tomatoes whole

    This is the method I use for cherry tomatoes or if I am planning to make a batch of sauce down the track and don't have time to deal with them right then and there. The bonus of freezing tomatoes whole is that once they thaw, the skins will slip right off which is great if your recipe requires peeled tomatoes!

    Glass jug with peeled, diced tomatoes

    Ingredients needed:

    The beauty of freezing tomatoes is that you don't need anything else - just tomatoes!

    While canning tomatoes requires citric acid or lemon juice to help acidify the tomatoes to keep them safe, freezing tomatoes just as they are is perfectly safe.

    How to freeze tomatoes:

    Method 1: Peeling and chopping tomatoes before freezing

    Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt.

    Step 2: Peel tomatoes - there are 2 ways you can peel your tomatoes - I find grilling the tomatoes to be much quicker, easier and less fussy - you can do a lot more in one go!

    Tomatoes on a lined baking sheet
    Hand peeling skins off grilled tomatoes

    Grill (my preferred method) - line a large rimmed oven tray with baking paper or a silicone liner. Slice the tomatoes in half and place skin side up on the tray. Place under the pre heated grill (as hot as it can go) for a few minutes, keeping a close eye on them. Once the skins start to blister, remove the tray from the oven. Once they are cool enough to handle, slip the skins off and discard.

    Blanch and peel - Bring a large pot of water to the boil and fill the clean sink with cold water and ice. Score a cross in the bottom of the tomatoes and place several in the boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until the skins start to peel back. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tomatoes to the ice water and once they are cool enough to handle, remove the skins - they should slip right off.

    OPTIONAL STEP

    If you have extra time, you can add the peeled tomatoes into a pot and cook them down on the stove for 30 minutes. This gives the tomatoes a really great, concentrated flavour. I also love adding herbs and spices (such as my Homemade Burrito Spice Mix) at this stage to make an instant meal very quick by just adding the tomatoes to cooked mince or chicken or pouring over enchiladas.

    Step 3: Roughly chop tomatoes and weigh into snap lock freezer bags or freezer proof containers in any quantity you prefer - I usually do 400 grams as that is the equivalent of a tin of chopped tomatoes. If I am using a snap lock bag I like to fill it with tomatoes, squeeze out any excess air and then spread the tomatoes flat to fill the bag so that it freezes flat. This makes them easier to stack in the freezer and they also thaw out much faster.

    Step 4: Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes and freeze.

    Snaplock bags with diced tomatoes in them

    Method 2: Chopping tomatoes before freezing

    Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt. I don't usually bother doing this with cherry tomatoes.

    Step 2: Roughly chop tomatoes and weigh into snaplock freezer bags or freezer proof containers in any quantity you prefer - I usually do 400 grams as that is the equivalent of a tin of chopped tomatoes. If I am using a snap lock bag I like to fill with tomatoes, squeeze out any excess air and then spread the tomatoes flat to fill the bag so that it freezes flat. This makes them easier to stack in the freezer and they also thaw out much faster.

    Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes.

    Chopped tomatoes on wooden cutting board

    IMAGE OF CHOPPED TOMATOES ON BOARD

    Method 3: Freezing tomatoes whole

    Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt.

    Step 2: Pack tomatoes directly into snap lock freezer bags and freeze. The tomatoes will not stick together so will naturally freeze free flow (individually) making it easy to remove as many as you need.

    Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes..

    Container of frozen cherry tomatoes and one container of frozen whole tomatoes
    Large snaplock bag filled with frozen cherry tomatoes

    Freezing tomatoes - FAQs:

    How long do tomatoes keep in the freezer?

    Frozen tomatoes will easily keep well in the freezer for the whole year - just in time for the next harvest!

    Do I need to add citric acid or lemon juice to frozen tomatoes?

    No you don't. While canning or bottling tomatoes require citric acid or lemon juice to acidify the tomatoes to be able to water bath preserve them safely, frozen tomatoes do not require this.

    Can I use frozen tomatoes to make sauce or salsa?

    Yes! You sure can - if you know what recipe you are going to make, prepare the tomatoes according to the recipe before freezing, otherwise just freeze them whole and then thaw them out and go from there when you are ready to make your recipe!

    Can I add flavouring to the tomatoes?

    Absolutely! the wonderful thing about freezing is that you can add anything else you like! I love cooking down my tomatoes slightly and adding Italian or Mexican seasoning to the tomatoes which makes meal time so quick and easy!


    Large pot with cooked tomatoes

    Other ways to preserve tomatoes:

    • How to bottle diced tomatoes
    • Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
    • Homemade Salsa for canning

    Made this recipe? Tag me on Instagram @thekiwicountrygirl and hashtag it #thekiwicountrygirl.

    Snaplock bags with diced tomatoes ready to freeze

    How to Freeze Tomatoes - 3 methods

    How to preserve tomatoes without cooking, blanching, canning or bottling them. 3 easy methods for freezing whole, diced and cherry tomatoes.
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Freezing time: 6 hours hours
    Total Time: 6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
    Author: Laura

    Ingredients

    • Tomatoes

    Instructions

    Method 1: Peeling and chopping tomatoes before freezing

    • Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt.
      Step 2: Peel tomatoes - there are 2 ways you can peel your tomatoes - I find grilling the tomatoes to be much quicker, easier and less fussy - you can do a lot more in one go!
      Grill (my preferred method) - line a large rimmed oven tray with baking paper or a silicone liner. Slice the tomatoes in half and place skin side up on the tray. Place under the pre heated grill (as hot as it can go) for a few minutes, keeping a close eye on them. Once the skins start to blister, remove the tray from the oven. Once they are cool enough to handle, slip the skins off and discard.
      Blanch and peel - Bring a large pot of water to the boil and fill the clean sink with cold water and ice. Score a cross in the bottom of the tomatoes and place several in the boiling water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until the skins start to peel back. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tomatoes to the ice water and once they are cool enough to handle, remove the skins - they should slip right off.
      Step 3: Roughly chop tomatoes and weigh into snap lock freezer bags or freezer proof containers in any quantity you prefer - I usually do 400 grams as that is the equivalent of a tin of chopped tomatoes. If I am using a snap lock bag I like to fill with tomatoes, squeeze out any excess air and then spread the tomatoes flat to fill the bag so that it freezes flat. This makes them easier to stack in the freezer and they also thaw out much faster.
      Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes and freeze.

    Method 2: Chopping tomatoes before freezing

    • Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt.
      Step 2: Roughly chop tomatoes and weigh into snaplock freezer bags or freezer proof containers in any quantity you prefer - I usually do 400 grams as that is the equivalent of a tin of chopped tomatoes. If I am using a snap lock bag I like to fill with tomatoes, squeeze out any excess air and then spread the tomatoes flat to fill the bag so that it freezes flat. This makes them easier to stack in the freezer and they also thaw out much faster.
      Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes.

    Method 3: Freezing tomatoes whole

    • Step 1: Wash tomatoes and remove stalks- fill a clean sink or bowl with water and give the tomatoes a quick wash to remove any bugs, leaves or dirt.
      Step 2: Pack tomatoes directly into snap lock freezer bags and freeze. The tomatoes will not stick together so will naturally freeze free flow (individually) making it easy to remove as many as you need.
      Label the bag or container with the contents, date and weight of tomatoes.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag @thekiwicountrygirl or tag #thekiwicountrygirl!
    If you tried and loved this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikki says

      January 23, 2025 at 7:26 pm

      If freezing the tomato’s be they then be okay to use for the homemade tomato sauce?

      Reply
      • Laura says

        February 05, 2025 at 8:44 pm

        Definitely!

        Reply
    2. Irene DLH says

      August 23, 2024 at 4:09 am

      3 stars
      Tried for the 1st time grilling the toms as I usually always blanch to remove the skins. Sorry, but it really was a NoNo. So many lovely joices came out of the toms because they had been cut, will be staying with the "Old School' of blanching to remove the skins prior to freezing. Just another note, you'll need to make sure they are all the same size before grilling, else slightly smaller toms will just cook and turn to mush.

      Reply
      • Laura says

        September 05, 2024 at 11:54 am

        It really does depend on the variety of tomato, some are really juicy and do lose a lot of juice during this process but your roma tomatoes and similar don't seem to!

        Reply
    3. Dennese says

      July 21, 2024 at 11:21 am

      5 stars
      The grilling really made removing the peel so easy. I put the under the broiler until they started to shrivel, when slightly cooled the tomatoes slid right out of the peel. I put them in freezer bags and popped them into the freezer.
      This was my first time growing, picking, processing and freezing...so easy!

      Reply
    4.60 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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