Freeze Tomatoes to Preserve Them Easily

There's a lot of advice out there for storing tomatoes. Some people swear that they'll never ever refrigerate their beautiful summer heirlooms — but what about the freezer?

The freezer is the surprising secret to the easiest long-term storage for whole ripe tomatoes, as long as you follow a few guidelines and know when and how to use tomatoes that have been frozen.

A Little Prep Goes a Long Way:

Wash, dry, and core whole tomatoes before freezing. Ripe (but not overripe) tomatoes that are medium to large in size are best for freezing.

Clear a little space in your freezer where the tomatoes can sit flat while they freeze. I prefer to store my tomatoes in zip-top freezer bags, but any freezer-safe container will do just fine as long as the tomatoes don't touch (and freeze together as a result.)

Thawing and Using Frozen Tomatoes:

Once frozen, tomatoes can be stored for up to six months as long as they are in airtight containment. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before peeling. Frozen tomatoes can be grated for instant pasta sauce or thawed completely, chopped, and added to soups, stews, or sauces. Freezing and thawing the tomatoes will affect their texture, so they won't be enjoyable raw after freezing.

Article c/o Lifehacker