Freezing Tomatoes/Veggies - Page 3

NarnianGarden · April 28, 2015

We also froze toms in several ziplog bags, and used them in sauces, soups, pie etc.
Good taste!
It is wonderful to have enough of harvest to stuff the freezer

What I'll try this coming season, is to mark on the bags what specific variety it has inside - instead of random shapes and colors. I'd love to have black, yellow, green and pink ones to choose from for future stews and soups...

ermentrude · April 28, 2015

Last year I froze chunks in mason jars. I did keep different types of tomatoes in separate jars and used two different sizes of jar depending on how much I needed. As each type ripened, I could chop and add to the appropriate jar. I didn't grow a whole lot last year and didn't have a ton to freeze, but it was nice to pick a specific tomato out in January. I had frozen in ziplock bags before but finally had enough of leaking bags and made the investment in glass and the plastic lids.

BarbJ · May 1, 2015

I like to freeze them whole in bags. I think the skin helps prevent freezer burn, and it's sure easier.
As I'm only going to use them in sauces and stews, it works well. I take them out whole and frozen, rinse them under warm water and the skins slip right off. Chop and dump into the sauce. I've have them last for a year easy. My old neighbor first told me of this method.

bower · May 9, 2015

If you folks haven't made frozen tomato gazpacho yet, you should really try it. Random red tomatoes will make an ordinary gazpacho, but try pink or black or orange sweet ones and wow - so sweet and cold and fantastic with no cooking. If I lived in the south and those hot summers, I think I'd be freezing tomatoes just to treat myself on a hot day,

Last year I had an indoor cuke plant and made 1/2 cuke, 1/2 tomato gazpacho. No cukes this year so it's all tomato. I just put a tablespoon of olive oil and some grated garlic into the blender, chop the frozen tomatoes skin and all about 3/4 full, a dasth of red wine vinegar or lemon, and blend until the slushie is made. "Liquid summer".

Not all tomatoes lose their texture severely by freezing. The worst are fleshy tomatoes like pastes and hearts, best made into sauce. But lots of beefs and small tomatoes can be used straight from the freezer if chopped fine into a 'frozen pico' - with frozen peppers too and some fresh green onion of course.. cilantro, parsely or rosemary as available from the windowsill. It's not the same as fresh but still a great way to enjoy them in winter and so much better than anything bought. The sloppy juice at the bottom is a great drink, whether you strain it before or after serving.

I also made aspic from fresh-frozen tomato and pepper salsa by heating a little juice with the envelope of gelatin, then stir into the half frozen mush - sets quick in a couple hours. Yep, aspic! A retro food.

You can slice it.

I also use frozen peppers and tomatoes sliced thin as toppings for pizza all winter. You can't tell them from fresh after baking. Peppers are best sliced up as soon as they come out of the deep freeze, tomatoes you have to wait just long enough for them to slice instead of crumbling.

I freeze lots of tomatoes whole, because at the peak season there's no time to be standing over a hot stove.

peebee · May 10, 2015

A frozen tomato "slushie"?! That's a great idea and name for an icy gazpacho Bower, why did I never think of that one? Definitely going to be on my try-to list this summer, thanks!

NarnianGarden · May 11, 2015

Tomato slushie - thanks for the idea, bower! I'll definitely freeze more toms this year - provided I'll get my plants to bloom and set fruit.

Nan_PA_6b · January 28, 2017

I'm a big fan of fried green tomatoes, so I took some of this year's tomatoes at first blush and sliced & froze the slices (single layer). You thaw them, and do just like you do with fresh: salt them & let them sit, drain off the excess liquid, dip in flour & fry in oil. No difference from fresh, except DH says the frozen ones have a slightly BETTER consistency.

Nan

guruofgardens · January 31, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

I'm a big fan of fried green tomatoes, so I took some of this year's tomatoes at first blush and sliced & froze the slices (single layer). You thaw them, and do just like you do with fresh: salt them & let them sit, drain off the excess liquid, dip in flour & fry in oil. No difference from fresh, except DH says the frozen ones have a slightly BETTER consistency.

Nan

Looking forward to trying this! We love fried green tomatoes, too! I never would have thought of freezing them, but who has room in their freezer!?

Nan_PA_6b · January 31, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by guruofgardens

Looking forward to trying this! We love fried green tomatoes, too! I never would have thought of freezing them, but who has room in their freezer!?

Guru, there's ALWAYS room for tomatoes!

Nan

April 28, 2015	#31
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	We also froze toms in several ziplog bags, and used them in sauces, soups, pie etc. Good taste! It is wonderful to have enough of harvest to stuff the freezer What I'll try this coming season, is to mark on the bags what specific variety it has inside - instead of random shapes and colors. I'd love to have black, yellow, green and pink ones to choose from for future stews and soups...

April 28, 2015	#32
ermentrude Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Charleston SC Posts: 34	Last year I froze chunks in mason jars. I did keep different types of tomatoes in separate jars and used two different sizes of jar depending on how much I needed. As each type ripened, I could chop and add to the appropriate jar. I didn't grow a whole lot last year and didn't have a ton to freeze, but it was nice to pick a specific tomato out in January. I had frozen in ziplock bags before but finally had enough of leaking bags and made the investment in glass and the plastic lids.

May 1, 2015	#33
BarbJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: California, USA Posts: 154	I like to freeze them whole in bags. I think the skin helps prevent freezer burn, and it's sure easier. As I'm only going to use them in sauces and stews, it works well. I take them out whole and frozen, rinse them under warm water and the skins slip right off. Chop and dump into the sauce. I've have them last for a year easy. My old neighbor first told me of this method.

May 9, 2015	#34
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	If you folks haven't made frozen tomato gazpacho yet, you should really try it. Random red tomatoes will make an ordinary gazpacho, but try pink or black or orange sweet ones and wow - so sweet and cold and fantastic with no cooking. If I lived in the south and those hot summers, I think I'd be freezing tomatoes just to treat myself on a hot day, Last year I had an indoor cuke plant and made 1/2 cuke, 1/2 tomato gazpacho. No cukes this year so it's all tomato. I just put a tablespoon of olive oil and some grated garlic into the blender, chop the frozen tomatoes skin and all about 3/4 full, a dasth of red wine vinegar or lemon, and blend until the slushie is made. "Liquid summer". Not all tomatoes lose their texture severely by freezing. The worst are fleshy tomatoes like pastes and hearts, best made into sauce. But lots of beefs and small tomatoes can be used straight from the freezer if chopped fine into a 'frozen pico' - with frozen peppers too and some fresh green onion of course.. cilantro, parsely or rosemary as available from the windowsill. It's not the same as fresh but still a great way to enjoy them in winter and so much better than anything bought. The sloppy juice at the bottom is a great drink, whether you strain it before or after serving. I also made aspic from fresh-frozen tomato and pepper salsa by heating a little juice with the envelope of gelatin, then stir into the half frozen mush - sets quick in a couple hours. Yep, aspic! A retro food. You can slice it. I also use frozen peppers and tomatoes sliced thin as toppings for pizza all winter. You can't tell them from fresh after baking. Peppers are best sliced up as soon as they come out of the deep freeze, tomatoes you have to wait just long enough for them to slice instead of crumbling. I freeze lots of tomatoes whole, because at the peak season there's no time to be standing over a hot stove.

May 10, 2015	#35
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	A frozen tomato "slushie"?! That's a great idea and name for an icy gazpacho Bower, why did I never think of that one? Definitely going to be on my try-to list this summer, thanks!

May 11, 2015	#36
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Tomato slushie - thanks for the idea, bower! I'll definitely freeze more toms this year - provided I'll get my plants to bloom and set fruit.

January 28, 2017	#37
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I'm a big fan of fried green tomatoes, so I took some of this year's tomatoes at first blush and sliced & froze the slices (single layer). You thaw them, and do just like you do with fresh: salt them & let them sit, drain off the excess liquid, dip in flour & fry in oil. No difference from fresh, except DH says the frozen ones have a slightly BETTER consistency. Nan