How to freeze tomatoes, storage period, and 5 recipes! [Explanation with photos! ]

If you only eat tomatoes raw, you may be missing out on the deliciousness and nutrition of tomatoes.

Freezing tomatoes has many benefits, such as making it easier to release glutamic acid, which is the flavor component, and making it easier to perceive the flavor.

Therefore, it is recommended to freeze tomatoes.

After reading this article, your attitude towards tomatoes may change.

We will introduce how to freeze tomatoes and recommended recipes that will help you fully enjoy the deliciousness and nutrition of tomatoes.

Advantages of freezing tomatoes

Freezing tomatoes has the advantage of being very convenient when cooking them.

Cooking tomatoes increases the absorption rate of nutrients and concentrates the flavor, making it delicious.

Lycopene, which is contained in large amounts in red tomatoes and has antioxidant properties and is expected to be effective for weight loss and skin beautification, increases its absorption rate by about three times when cooked.

Beta-carotene contained in tomatoes, a green and yellow vegetable, is converted into vitamin A in the body, which is effective in preventing colds.

Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, is better absorbed when cooked with oil.

Furthermore, glutamic acid, which is the flavor component of tomatoes, also increases when cooked.

Cooking tomatoes with oil enhances their deliciousness and nutrition.

Therefore, we will mainly introduce the benefits of freezing food for cooking.

Maintains freshness and nutrition

The freshest and most nutritious tomatoes are those that are freshly harvested at full ripeness during the season.

Tomatoes lose their freshness and water-soluble vitamins over time as they lose water.

By freezing food in its delicious, nutritious, fully ripe state, you can slow down the loss of flavor and nutrition and extend the period of time you can enjoy it.

Makes peeling easier

One of the troublesome things when cooking tomatoes is peeling them.

A great benefit is that you can easily peel frozen tomatoes by simply placing them in water.

Frozen tomatoes, which can be grated whole using a grater, are convenient for those who prefer to eat tomatoes with their skins on so as not to lose the lycopene that is contained in the skin.

The flavor absorbs more easily

Many people may make tomato sauce and then freeze it, but it is surprisingly time-consuming.

It is easier to make tomato sauce with frozen tomatoes because the cells are broken, allowing flavor to soak in and falling apart easily.

I like that it's easy to use in any dish because you can season it when you use it.

When making curry or stew dishes, you can easily add frozen tomatoes at the end to increase the flavor and make them delicious.

How to freeze tomatoes

How to freeze tomatoes

We will show you how to freeze tomatoes as is, which is easy to freeze and can be used in a wide variety of dishes.

1) Wash the tomatoes thoroughly.

If you remove the stem first, the water-soluble vitamins will flow out into the water, so please wash with the stem attached.

2) Wipe the moisture off the tomatoes with kitchen paper, then remove the stems.

3) Place them in a ziplock bag, making sure not to overlap them, and remove the air.

4) Freeze the food at a low temperature as quickly as possible by using rapid freezer of the refrigerator or by increasing the freezer setting.

You can freeze the food faster and at a lower temperature by placing it in a metal bat or aluminum foil.

How to freeze tomatoes after cutting them

We'll show you how to freeze tomatoes after cutting them, which is convenient when you don't have much freezer space as it doesn't take up much bulk.

This is more convenient when you only want to use a small amount.

1) Wash the tomatoes and wipe them dry.

2) Remove the stems and then roughly chop the tomatoes.

3) Put the tomatoes together with the water in a ziplock bag and remove the air.

If you put it as thinly and flatly as possible, you will not only be able to freeze it quickly and deliciously, but it will also break easily when you use it, making it easier to take out each batch.

4) Freeze the food at a low temperature as quickly as possible by using rapid freezer of the refrigerator or by increasing the freezer setting.

You can freeze the food faster and at a lower temperature by placing it in a metal bat or aluminum foil.

How to thaw frozen tomatoes and storage period

How to thaw frozen tomatoes

Frozen tomatoes can be used for cooking while frozen.

When making tomato sauce, etc., it is convenient because you can grate it on a grater while frozen, without using a mixer.

You can easily make tomato sauce by soaking them in water instead of boiling them, peeling them, and squishing them while heating.

If you want to eat it raw, as it thaws, water will come out and the texture will be bad, so we recommend eating it frozen or letting it thaw naturally until it's halfway thawed.

Storage period of frozen tomatoes

The approximate shelf life of tomatoes is one week when refrigerated or two months when frozen.

By freezing food, you can slow down the loss of freshness and nutrients, but you cannot stop it completely, so we recommend using it up as soon as possible.

It is also important to reduce the time and frequency of opening and closing the refrigerator to prevent the temperature of the freezer from rising.

Once thawed, tomatoes cannot be refrozen, so once you have removed the amount you need, put the rest back into the freezer immediately.

>> 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables

A nutritionist explains! About tomato nutrition

In Italy, there is a saying, ``When a tomato turns red, the doctor turns blue.'' It is generally known as a highly nutritious food.
lycopene
The red color of tomatoes is due to the functional ingredient lycopene. Lycopene is a component that is resistant to heat, so it is attractive because it does not lose its nutrients even when processed.
It also has strong antioxidant properties, which can help prevent cancer and arteriosclerosis. It is also rich in vitamin C and citric acid, which is useful for recovering from fatigue and for skin care.

How to choose tomatoes
1. Red and glossy skin
2.If the size is the same, the heavier one is the sweeter.
3.The calyx is dark green and taut
4. Those with clear radial lines evenly distributed on the buttocks

Not only are varieties of large tomatoes being improved, but there is also a wide variety of cherry tomatoes and medium size tomatoes.
It can be eaten in a wide variety of ways, and while it is delicious eaten raw, there are also many different ways to cook it. Different tomato varieties have different characteristics, so choose the one that suits your purpose.

Nutritionist Ruri

Obtained nutritionist qualifications from Toita Women's Junior College and graduated from the same university. After graduating from Kyorin University, she also obtained a qualification as a food hygiene manager. Currently at DayBreak Co., Ltd., she oversees various food freezing research and writing informative content about food. Her hobbies are traveling and hula dancing.

5 delicious recipes using frozen tomatoes

Excellent with frozen tomatoes! tomato miso soup

☑〈材料2人分〉
・出し汁　400㏄
・味噌　大さじ2
・冷凍トマト　中2個
・オリーブオイル　大さじ1

<How to make>
1) Put the soup stock in a pot and heat it.
It is also delicious when boiled with your favorite vegetables such as mushrooms and onions.
2) When it comes to a boil, add the frozen tomatoes.
If you are concerned about the skin of your tomatoes, soak them in water and peel them.
If you want to eat the whole skin, grate it on a grater so you don't have to worry about the skin.
3) Once the tomatoes are cooked, turn off the heat and add the miso.
4) Add olive oil to your liking and it's done.
You can use bacon or fried tofu instead of olive oil, but adding oil increases the absorption rate of fat-soluble vitamins, so we recommend adding oil.

Just cook it in a rice cooker! Full nutrition frozen tomato rice

☑〈材料〉
・お米　3合
・冷凍トマト　中1個
・塩コショウ　少々
・バター　10ℊ
・とろけるチーズ　お好みで

<How to make>
1) Put the washed rice and frozen tomatoes into the rice cooker.
2) Fill with water up to memory, add salt and pepper, and cook normally.
3) When the rice is cooked, add the butter and melted cheese and mix while breaking up the tomatoes, and it's done.
If you like, you can add green peas or mixed vegetables to make it more colorful.

Save time with frozen tomatoes! Easy tomato sauce

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍トマト　中１個
・にんにく　１かけ
・オリーブオイル　大さじ２
・麺つゆ（白だし）　大さじ４
・塩コショウ　少々

<How to make>
1) If you are concerned about the skin of frozen tomatoes, either soak them in water and peel them, or grate them with the skin on a grater.
2) Place the frozen tomatoes in a deep heat-resistant dish, cover with plastic wrap, and heat in the microwave at 700W for 2 to 3 minutes.
3) Add the seasonings, mix to crush the pulp, and it's done.
It is also delicious mixed with pasta or sautéed with meat or fish.
If you like, you can add basil or chopped shiso leaves for more color.

Excellent compatibility! Grilled frozen tomatoes and potatoes with cheese

Source: http://recipe.rakuten.co.jp/recipe/1400011387/

☑〈材料１人分〉
冷凍トマト　中１個
じゃがいも　１個
マヨネーズ　小さじ2
とろけるチーズ　１枚
バター　適量

<How to make>
1) Cut the potatoes into thin slices, then julienne them, then soak them in water, then drain them in a colander.
2) Cut the frozen tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
3) Spread the potatoes on a heat-resistant plate coated with butter, then top with the tomatoes and spread with mayonnaise.
4) Cut the cheese into thin pieces and put it on top, toast it in the toaster and it's done.

Easy with frozen tomatoes! delicious! Keema curry

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/3978158

☑〈材料3人分〉
・合いびき肉　250ℊ
・玉ねぎ　1個
・人参　1/2本
・ピーマン　1個
・エリンギ　1本
・冷凍トマト　大1個
・カレールウ　2皿分
・カレー粉　小さじ2
・野菜ジュース　100㏄

<How to make>
1) Finely chop the onions, carrots, green peppers, and king king mushrooms.
2) Add the vegetables from 1) to a heated pot with salad oil and stir-fry over medium heat. When they become soft, add the minced meat and stir-fry until it changes color.
3) Add vegetable juice and grated frozen tomatoes and simmer for about 5 minutes.
4) Turn the heat down to low, then add the curry roux and stir to dissolve.
5) Once the roux has completely melted, add the curry powder and simmer for about 3 minutes, and it's done.

Conclusion

There are many benefits to freezing and cooking tomatoes.

Cooking with oil increases the absorption rate of vitamin A, which is effective in preventing colds, and lycopene, which has antioxidant properties and is effective for dieting and beautiful skin.

Freezing the food has the advantage of allowing the flavor to absorb in a short time because the cells are broken, and the skin can be easily peeled and grated, making it easier to heat and cook.

Freezing tomatoes is very easy, as you can simply freeze them whole or cut them up in a ziplock bag.

Please try freezing and cooking tomatoes to enhance their deliciousness and nutrition.

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

>> Click here for other ways to freeze vegetables