The EASIEST Tomato Freezer Packets
Each year we grow cherry tomatoes. Their abundance causes me to be creative to store and use them. Last year? I made the EASIEST tomato freezer packets- perfect for creating the most fresh tomato sauce ever.
How did I make these tomato sauce packets for the freezer???
Are you ready?
It’s so easy that you will laugh…and then you will be overjoyed when you pull them out to use them.
PROMISE!
Here’s the recipe:
Tomato Sauce Freezer Packets
Equipment
- 1 food saver with bags OR freezer bags
Ingredients
- 2 C cherry tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 sprig fresh basil
- 1/4 whole onion, red or sweet
Instructions
- Wash and drain cherry tomatoes.
- Peel garlic cloves.
- Cut an onion- red or sweet into quarters.
- Add tomatoes, garlic, onion and basil to each food saver bag.
- Using food saver, remove air from bag, seal and add to freezer.TIP: If you don't have a food saver, simply place your freezer bag into bowl of water to remove air…just make sure that no water gets into bag before sealing.
- When ready to use, simply empty the frozen contents into a pan with olive oil, salt, pepper and other seasonings that you choose. Continue to cook down until thick.
- Add to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend together. Add 1/4 C half and half or cream to make a pink sauce and serve over your favorite pasta with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Seriously! This method of freezing tomatoes for sauce later couldn’t be easier!
If you don’t have a food saver, you can always use freezer bags and immerse in a bowl of water that will remove the air from the bag. Just be careful not to let the water get into the bag. Simply seal the bag and you will have most of the air out. Genius!
And the results?
Tomato sauce that is so fresh and perfect consistency. In about the same time it takes to cook the pasta, your sauce will be ready.
TIP: I mixed a bit of bow tie with corkscrew pasta to try out which held the sauce better.
I had a Vita Mix to mix my sauce…which meant I just added the hot contents to the blender with a splash of half and half or whipping cream to make a delightful pink sauce.
It’s also easy to create with an immersion blender. Just be careful since the contents is hot when blending.
Here are a few links that you can click on to find items to help in adding these packets to your freezer. Same price for you and I help you find the links. As an Amazon, Walmart and LTK affiliate, I may make a small commission on your purchases which helps this blog to create more content and cover costs of maintaining.
Such a great way to put away tomato sauce ingredients for a winter day! Fresh, easy and ready to have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Such a win in my book…plus it saves me time on canning tomato juice, tomato jam, marinara or Mrs. Wages products, right?
Happy Freezing!
23 Comments
Connie Byrd
What a great idea – thanks for sharing!
Your blog is shared on http://www.paducahgardenclub.org
Leslie J Watkins
oh, my goodness!! I am so honored! Thank you for sharing! And you will love this method of freezing tomatoes for sauce!!
Jennifer Howard
Leslie, this is so clever!!! I hope I end up with that many tomatoes this Summer!!
Leslie J Watkins
Easiest thing ever! My cherry tomatoes are beginning to come in and I’ll be making lots of these for the freezer. Hope you love it!
Linda Johnston
It is so simpe to freeze many vegetables. Glad you shared this recipe that takes away the mystery and fear of freezing. Peaches freeze, brocoli, cooked pumpkin, etc. We’ll be using your inclusion of garlic herbs and onion this year.
Leslie J Watkins
Linda, this was such a great surprise with the best results. Enjoy!
Martha Wallace
So easy and you’re not heating up the house canning! Brilliant!
Leslie J Watkins
I know, right? EASIEST EVER! I was surprised it gave the BEST results! Doesn’t get much better. The photo was the package after a year in the freezer. I was amazed at how easy and good it was.
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Tina Powers
Can you do the same thing with roma tomatoes? I also like to add squash to my sauce. Do think that will do ok with the freezing?
Thank you so much for sharing!
Leslie J Watkins
Roma tomatoes should work, but I have only frozen cherry tomatoes for the packets. My advice is to try one packet with Romas and/or squash and let them freeze and then cook to see how it does for you. That way if it works, keep adding them to the freezer as your produce comes in. Let me know the results!
Dee B
Doesn’t the food saver doesn’t crush those tomatoes?
Leslie J Watkins
No mam! If you look at the photo…it just removes the air. They are just as beautiful when you remove them from the freezer as when you put them in. Crazy!
Kko
Amazing. Also made salsa packets. Added cherry tomato + onion + garlic, garden jalapenos and parsley (we don’t eat cilantro).
Leslie J Watkins
How fun! I’ll need to try those!
Jerilea
Okie dokie, gave this a go. Frost is coming tonight and had a gallon of cherry tomatoes. I dried and submerged in oil some of them. I put a full quart bag of these in the freezer to try. I whirl them up come Christmas time for a treat of fresh homegrown salsa in the middle of winter. Thanks for this!
Leslie J Watkins
Hope you enjoy! I’d love to know if they work for salsa. What a great idea! I’ve used them mostly for marinara sauce or soup.
Deana Alexandre
Another version we use….Dump in a casserole dish place a block of feta in the pan. Drizzle olive oil over it salt and pepper. Bake 25 minutes at 375, use your blender mix together add a cup of pasta water. Flavour is amazing. We use goat feta as 1 family member has a dairy sensitivity
Leslie J Watkins
How fun! Gotta try that one for sure. Thank you soooo much!
Cherie
I used this method this past summer. It works out great! And not a lot of work. And the tomatoes taste as fresh as if I just pulled them from the garden! I gave my neighbor a package right out of my freezer for Christmas. She thought it was a great idea and is going to tell her friends. Thank you for posting this.
Leslie J Watkins
What a great gift idea! Truly a lifesaver here. Thanks for sharing!