Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes – How Long Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?

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Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?: Cherry tomatoes are one of the most common plants grown in households due to how easy they are to grow. They also have prolific growth and their yield is high with low maintenance. Due to this, people get a lot of cherry tomatoes.

But knowing how to freeze them is one of the most important things to know to preserve your huge bunch of tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes can be frozen and we will be telling everything needed to know about Can You Freeze Tomatoes and so much more.

Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes

Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?

Yes, you can freeze cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes can spoil very easily if kept outside. To prevent this, one of the best preservation techniques is freezing. Freezing allows you to maintain the water content inside the tomato.

Once you defrost the tomatoes, they will be as good as fresh. You can extend the shelf life of cherry tomatoes by at least 3 months if you freeze them. This is a handy technique if you have bought a lot of tomatoes and do not know if you want to consume them or not. There is a method to freeze tomatoes which we will be discussing further.

How To Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?

Freezing cherry tomatoes is an easy task. There is no need to blanch, chop, or even peel them. Cherry tomatoes are the easiest to freeze and can be done without any hassle. There is a three-step process that needs to be followed to freeze cherry tomatoes. These steps are:

  • Prepare: Pick fresh tomatoes that are free of blemishes and stains and rinse them under cold running water. Then dry the tomatoes with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. This is important as wet and blemished tomatoes can ruin the whole bunch.
  • Quick Freezing: Spread parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet, and arrange the cherry tomatoes in a single layer on top. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours, or until the tomatoes have set. This will prevent the cherry tomatoes from sticking together after freezing.
  • Decant: Place the frozen cherry tomatoes in a freezer bag or airtight container and keep them in the freezer. This will ensure the extension of the shelf life for tomatoes.

Once you have frozen your tomatoes, it is vital to know when you can take them out of the freezer. Frozen tomatoes usually last for up to 10 months. But the texture and taste can be retained if they are used before 6 months. To know more about how long tomatoes last follow the link over here and clear your ambiguities.

How Long Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?

Freezing cherry tomatoes is the best method to preserve them. However, freezing cherry tomatoes for a long time can lead to deterioration of quality and texture. Freezing cherry tomatoes requires you to take them out and consume them after a specific period.

To answer the question of how long you can freeze cherry tomatoes, cherry tomatoes can be frozen for up to 6 months before they start losing texture. Although it can be frozen for up to 10 months, consuming between 3-6 months is ideal. The taste and texture are best between these months.

How To Thaw Frozen Cherry Tomatoes?

After freezing cherry tomatoes, to use them, you need to unfreeze or defrost them. To do so you need to thaw the tomatoes first. This is a step-by-step process. To thaw cherry tomatoes, leave the frozen tomatoes on the counter for an hour. If you need to cook them quickly, you can also place the sealed cherry tomatoes in a freezer bag in warm water.

It is to be noted that defrosted cherry tomatoes may lose their hard texture. Hence it is important to cook them before they can entirely go bad.

Unfreezing is important because it helps give tomatoes the texture softness and juiciness needed for cooking. Refreezing is not an option as the defrosting leads to softening of the tomato and refreezing the soft tomato is not a good choice.

What To Do With Overabundance Of Cherry Tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes are a very versatile vegetable that can be used to create various dishes that taste good. The juiciness of the tomatoes will be delicious to eat. There are a few dishes you can make using defrosted cherry tomatoes.

  • Stew: Defrosted cherry tomatoes are soft-textured in nature. Therefore any dish that requires a soft textured tomato can be made. Stew is a great example of using soft textured tomatoes. For this, you can directly put the frozen tomatoes into the dish
  • Puree: Cherry tomato skins become thick and crunchy when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Blending them makes the skin crumbly and suitable for many cooked tomato recipes. Freeze the cherry tomatoes, label and store them. These can be used in pasta sauces and tomato sauces. You can also make soups with frozen cherry tomatoes.

Read More: Can You Freeze Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Signs Of Cherry Tomatoes Going Bad

While tomatoes can be frozen and stored easily, they can also get bad quickly if they are not stored properly. Tomatoes have a soft texture and are filled with juices. Due to these reasons, keeping them out in the pantry will quickly make them go bad.

However, you can find out the signs of your cherry tomatoes going bad sooner. A few signs you need to look out for are:

  • Leaking Liquid: A few parts of the tomato can get softer and browner from which a lot of liquid will start to leak. This is a sign of the tomato going bad real quick and needs to be disposed of.
  • Mold: The growth of mold on the skin of the tomatoes is a clear indicator of the tomato getting bad. Remove these tomatoes to avoid contamination of other tomatoes.
  • Soft and Mushy: When the skin gets softer than usual and the insides get mushy, the tomatoes become unusable.
  • Bad Smell: If a bitter or putrid smell is being given off by the tomatoes, dispose of them real quick.

Tips For Freezing Cherry Tomatoes

You would know by now how to freeze cherry tomatoes, but there are a few tips you can follow to make the process easier.

  • Dice tomatoes to freezer space: Freezing diced tomatoes requires a little more prep time, but the tomatoes will be slightly smaller and take up less freezer space. After washing the tomatoes, dice them to your desired size and follow the same steps as above.
  • Fry the tomatoes before freezing: To roast tomatoes, toss in olive oil, spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and roast at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Allow the roasted cherry tomatoes to cool completely before placing them in the freezer.
  • Remove excess air from freezer bags before storage:  Before storing freezer bags for long periods, remove as much excess air as possible from freezer bags to avoid freezer burn. The best way to get a vacuum seal is with a vacuum sealer, but you can also pack the tomatoes into the smallest freezer-safe container to minimize air exposure.

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FAQs on Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes

1. How long can frozen cherry tomatoes last?

Frozen cherry tomatoes can last up to 10-12 months but should be used for 6-8 months for better taste

2. Can frozen tomatoes go bad?

Yes, frozen tomatoes can go bad after 12 months of storage.

3. What are some signs that a cherry tomato is going bad?

Leaking liquid, soft skin, development of mold, and bad smell are signs of decay in a cherry tomato.

Key Takeaways

The information provided about Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes can help you know how to grow, store, and utilize cherry tomatoes properly.

Knowing this information will help you eat healthily and ensure you know more about cherry tomatoes the next time you cook the dish. Check out our site for more updates on Can You Freeze Green Tomatoes and similar vegetables in a matter of no time.

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