Freezing Tomatoes - Wisconsin Garden Video Blog 902

[BrewCityGardener]

I always freeze loads and loads of tomatoes every year. I actually prefer to freeze them until I have enough to make a huge batch of tomato sauce. When they thaw a lot of the water can be poured off before processing. That saves a lot of time reducing the sauce after milling! It works out great and you can't tell they were ever frozen.

[janemaloney]

Love your videos....so upbeat and lovely gardens. Sometimes I have to binge watch because I'm doing other things. Just saw this video and thought I'd add my 2 cents. I freeze tomatoes also. I pull them off the bush, wash and throw them into an open container in the freezer. No bags, cutting, coring etc. I use all types of tomatoes including what you call the tomato berry. When I have enough for a large crock pot full, I pull them out, slip off the skins under hot water, mash or chop into smaller pieces. Once in the crock pot, I cook on low several hours until they start to reduce before adding any spices. I love spaghetti sauce, so as it reduces, I add spices to taste including garlic, onions, peppers, celery. The last few hours I turn to high and cook till thickened. I make a batch of spaghetti to enjoy for dinner and the rest of the sauce I place in freezer containers to refreeze for more dinners. One more note....I do add some canned tomato sauce to the crock pot for added flavor and to help thicken as the rest of the tomatoes cook down. Of course, you don't have to make spaghetti sauce. Just cooking and reducing down then refreezing, they can be added to soups, stews or chili just like any canned tomato. Enjoy! Hugs from Springfield Missouri. Thanks for sharing with us.

[barbarawhite]

Hi ya'll! I got hacked but it's ok now I hope - So good to see you!!! My mom used to freeze her tomatoes as well and they were just fine....yours are so healthy, care, hugs!

[greenthumbelina]

Looks interesting ...looking forward to seeing how you use them once you thaw them out. I have never froze whole raw tomatoes. In the past I've blanched the tomatoes (by pouring boiling water over them), slipped the skins chopped them & cooked them up along with chopped onions, green, red and/or yellow peppers and of course several cloves of smashed/diced garlic per quart then after cooling these 'stewed tomatoes' I ladle it into quart containers that I've added a teaspoon of canning salt to before putting the lids on and pop them into the freezer (you can also use freezer bags so they can freeze flat). Be sure you leave an inch of head room in each container for expansion. I use these stewed tomatoes in soups, goulash, chili, and lots of other dishes. So good to have this handy in the winter.

[Gigi-fvky]

Growing up, we never froze them whole like that, but I have read about it and would like to try. It is time saving that you don't have to peel them first. I have heard that after freezing the peels will slip right off. In addition to freezing chopped tomatoes by themselves, my grandmother often froze gallon bags of tomatoes, corn, and okra mixed together. They were great to throw into stew. I have also frozen tomatoes, corn, and butter beans together for the same purpose.

[ticklemeElmo]

I love to quarter my Roma's and salt, pepper and garlic on them then roast them. Then I put them through a mill and it comes out to a wonderful thick sauce. I love to use it on homemade pizza or pasta. Love you guys! 😍🍅

[fotyfar]

Lovely, God bless the work of ur hands, very nice vid. :)

[connie]

I've always frozen peak season tomatoes rather than canning them. It is a very low-fuss way to preserve them, and they turn out much like grocery store canned diced tomatoes, but with no added chemicals or ingredients. The tomato skins are easily plucked out once they have thawed. I've done them whole, halved, and quartered. They are perfect for soups, stews, and sauces in the winter. Even though I don't have an abundance of freezer space these days, I still "put up" a few pint cottage cartons of frozen tomatoes from the farmer's market. Happy Harvest!
Connie in Pewaukee

[listening]

That's best, Lynn! Don't deny. 16:00

[dennism]

An easy way I found to skin frozen tomatoes is to boil some hot water and toss the tomatoes in for about 10-15 seconds. Take them back out and the skins come right off - easy peasy.

[jackiehorsley]

your tomatoes look really yummy lynn I froze some of my tomatoes last season so far they have did pretty good

[joyceallen]

U can put in as many tomatoes as the bag will hold and take out what you need. Been doing this for years.

[scottmiller]

Today you're using your favorite knife from Treasure Island :)

[lisanowakow]

I did enjoy this episode, but my freezer is also currently stacked with very full bags that I am going to can.

What is the name of your tomato berries?

Thank you!

[SuperWoodyboy]

Vacuum seal or close the bag with a straw inserted...suck the air out and quickly zip it shut. I wouldn't salt them..salt draws the moisture out of things and you would ruin them i would think

[Sunbeam]

I have been freezing fresh home grown tomatoes now for many years, my freezer is full at the moment with them. I freeze some whole, some halved, and some quartered and they all work great in soups, stews and any other recipe that call for canned tomatoes. You don't have to take the skins off. I also cut them up semi frozen or put them in whole without any problem. It is very scary watching you use such a long knife to get the core/stems out. If you slip and it goes through your hand you are liable to cause nerve damage. Be safe.

[lindacole]

I have froze tomatoes for more than 30 year's and your putting way too much work into it. Stem them, wash them and put them into a labeled bag. Take one out at a time and hold it under warm running water for 10 seconds. The skins split and slide off fast, scrape off core area and throw it into whatever your cooking. In the winter when you have more time can them. They freeze better whole.

[sislertx]

What EVER happened to your drying the elephant ear leaves...did they come out...what did u make out of them?

[carolynhoover]

I tried watching your video today. Says removed by user?