Use these tips for how to freeze cherry tomatoes to easily put up your excess tomaotes.
When I was looking at the Homemade Chunky Tomato Soup from Barb at A Life in Balance the first thing that I noticed was that she used frozen cherry tomatoes in her soup. Although I have been dicing and freezing tomatoes for years, I had never frozen whole cherry tomatoes before.
As I looked at piles of recently picked cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes from my garden, I wondered what to do with them before they turned. I was delighted to find that I could freeze whole cherry tomatoes and even happier when Barb told me the frozen cherry tomatoes hold up well when sauteed.
How to Freeze Cherry Tomatoes:
1. Wash the cherry tomatoes and remove the stem.
2. Pat dry or air dry the tomatoes.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then spread the dry cherry tomatoes on the baking sheet.
4. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and leave it there until the cherry tomatoes are frozen solid, about 2 hours.
5. Remove the frozen tomatoes the from baking sheet and put the frozen cherry tomatoes in a lidded container or a sealable freezer bag.
How to Use Frozen Cherry Tomatoes
You won’t be able to use your frozen cherry tomatoes in dishes uncooked. There will be too much change to their texture in the freezing and thawing process. However, you can use your frozen cherry tomatoes in a number of cooked dishes. They can be added thawed or frozen to a number of recipes during the cooking process.
To Thaw Frozen Cherry Tomatoes:
Remove the frozen cherry tomatoes from the freezer the day before you need them and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Use the thawed cherry tomatoes as called for in the recipe you are preparing.
Using Frozen Cherry Tomatoes in Recipes:
If a dish will be simmered (soups, stews, sauces) or baked (casseroles) for over 30 minutes or more, you can add the cherry tomatoes while still frozen to the dish and allow them to thaw as they are cooked along with the other ingredients.
Are you interested in freezing other vegetables and fruits? Below are a few more tips for freezing produce.
April says
Any recipes with frozen cherry tomatoes?? Casseroles?
Vickie says
So happy to stumble upon this! Do you have to flash freeze them first and then store or can you just put them in baggies and freeze? Thank you for sharing!
Bobbi says
Can you eat the cherry tomatoes once thawed or will the be mushy? What would you use whole frozen cherry tomatoes in? Or do you slice them up for soups and stews?
Alea Milham says
After being frozen, they will be mushy. You can use them in soups, casseroles, and sauces.
Cindy Vierhus says
What about the peels?