Tomatoes

[NaturalMommyto4]

Our tomato plants are in full bloom and have tomatoes producing like crazy and we only have one large plant and 3 cherry tomato plants! The cherry tomatoes are not an issue, the kids eat them like grapes. Our problem now lies in the larger beef stake, can we freeze these? I want to be able to use them in chili, soups and other cooking, not to defrost and eat on sandwiches or anything. I know we "could" can them but I don't have the supplies and would prefer not to have to invest in them if I don't have to this season. Does anyone know if I can safely freeze them and the best way to do so?

[cowgirl76]

Sorry, I'm of no help as we can all of ours, make salsa and spaghetti sauce. We plant approx. 40 tomato plants every year of various varieties, so we are bombarded with tomatoes when they're in full bloom, but we're not there yet. Another suggestion... last year we took several dozen tomatoes and laid them in a cardboard box, layered with newspaper and stored them in our furnace room (cool and dark) and had fresh tomatoes for months after the season ended. Some do rot and need to be tossed, but for the most part, we had fresh tomatoes for a long time.

[kocho]

Hmm, this is the first year we got many tomatoes and we've been making sauce and freezing it. Tonight DH made tomato juice and pizza sauce.

[amybabya]

I freeze whole tomatoes every year using this method but I don't core certain variety like Roma. Works great!

tomatoes

[kocho]

Originally Posted by amybabya I freeze whole tomatoes every year using this method but I don't core certain variety like Roma. Works great! tomatoes

That's so cool. I'll have to show DH. I'm sure he'll eventually get tired of making sauce!! Thanks!!

[blackbirdmama*3]

I freeze them that way also. My mom has for years and showed me. Much easier than canning them!