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Can You Freeze Tomatoes?

If the tomato harvest is particularly plentiful or if you accidentally bought too many tomatoes, the question arises: Can I also freeze tomatoes? Here you can find out when this makes sense and what needs to be considered.

Tomatoes are the favorite vegetable of the Germans. On average, Germans consume a good 28 kilos per year, of which around eight kilos are fresh. Whether raw, cooked or as a tomato sauce or ketchup: tomatoes always work! Tomatoes are delicious and full of healthy nutrients: they contain a lot of vitamin C, potassium and secondary plant substances. In Germany, red vegetables are in season from June to October.

If the tomato harvest is particularly plentiful in summer or if you accidentally bought too many tomatoes, the question arises: Can I freeze tomatoes and make them last longer?

Freezing tomatoes: is that possible?

The short answer is: yes.

Some types of vegetables are ideal for freezing (e.g. green beans, peas, kohlrabi, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, etc.), others less so. Tomato is one of these vegetables. The reason for this is their high water content: the tomato consists of 95 percent water.

You can certainly freeze tomatoes, but the red fruits are no longer suitable for direct consumption afterwards: After defrosting, you will not find plump, firm tomatoes, but rather a mushy heap of tomatoes. But you can easily process it into sauces or soups. However, you have to reckon with a certain loss of flavor due to freezing.

Freeze tomatoes: you should pay attention to this

If you freeze tomatoes, the fruit should be ripe and firm. Neither unripe nor already mushy tomatoes are suitable for storage in the freezer.
You can freeze tomatoes whole, chopped, or pureed.
If you process the tomatoes before freezing, i.e. cook and season them (e.g. in tomato sauce), the aroma will be preserved longer.
If you want to freeze the tomatoes whole, it is best to peel off the skin first. Otherwise, the liquid in the tomato will expand in the freezer and the cell walls will burst.

To remove the skin, make a cross on the underside of the tomato, place in boiling water for a few seconds, then briefly in ice water. Then the skin can be easily removed.

Freeze tomatoes – how it works

Wash the tomatoes, dry them carefully and cut out the stalks and any bruises.
For freezing, it is best to cut the tomatoes into small pieces or puree them.
Seal the tomatoes and label them with the current date.
You shouldn’t leave the tomatoes in the freezer for more than six months, as they lose their flavor quickly.

To thaw the tomatoes, simply place them in the fridge. You can then use the thawed tomato pieces like canned tomatoes.

Store tomatoes properly

If you store tomatoes properly, you may not need to freeze them at all. When stored correctly, the red fruits can last up to 14 days. How to ensure a long tomato life:

It is too cold for the sensitive fruit in the refrigerator, and it feels most comfortable at temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees. It is best to store tomatoes openly so that they get enough oxygen.

Tomatoes give off the ripening gas ethylene, which accelerates the metabolism of fruit and vegetables and allows them to ripen faster. It is therefore best to store tomatoes separately. But you can also take advantage of the ripening gas of the tomato: bought an unripe banana or mango? In this way, the fruits ripen quickly

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Written by Melis Campbell

A passionate, culinary creative who is experienced and enthusiastic about recipe development, recipe testing, food photography, and food styling. I am accomplished in creating an array of cuisines and beverages, through my understanding of ingredients, cultures, travels, interest in food trends, nutrition, and have a great awareness of various dietary requirements and wellness.

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