FRESH FROM THE VINE FREEZER TOMATO SAUCE
Do you crave the taste of summer tomatoes in the winter? You know… that distinct, fragrant and mouth watering taste of tomatoes right off the vine? There is an easy way to add that wonderful one-of-a-kind flavor to foods any time of the year… and it doesn’t come out of a jar or can! Let’s stock our freezers with an easy to make, nothing added tomato sauce that will bring back the memories of summer gardens and tomatoes right off the vine!
Because that is exactly what they are! Nothing tastes better than garden to the table eating. And there is nothing in this sauce but fresh, vine ripened, picked from the garden tomatoes!
If you don’t have a garden and want to make FREEZER TOMATO SAUCE you can get these tomatoes from your local farm stand, farm co-op or even local grocers. Just make sure the tomatoes have been ripened on the vine!
Freezer Tomato Sauce is a springboard for so many recipes. You can add it to chili and soups and stews. You can make pasta sauces and salsa and stewed tomatoes. A small stockpile of frozen tomato sauce will help you create the most delicious meals!
When my freezer is stocked with boxes of tomato sauce I feel I am doing something so right for my family! I know that may sound funny, but it’s so true!
We picked these to be made into sauce from our garden. They are paste tomatoes. I like paste, Roma or San Marzano tomatoes for freezing.
But you can use any kind of tomato at all and it will do the trick.
Our vegetable garden is 100% organic so the tomatoes are in a container filled with water to wash off the dirt.
Here they are after they have been simmered in boiling water for 3 minutes. I make an X in the bottom of the tomatoes with a very sharp paring knife before they go into the water so I can slip the skins off them easily. Blanching them in boiling water not only helps to remove the skin, but also gets rid of surface bacteria that can lessen their shelf life in the freezer.
I squish the tomatoes in my hands after I slide off their skins and what is left is tomato deliciousness! This will become beautiful tomato sauce after about an hour and a half of simmering on low and concentrating a little!
Let’s stock our freezers with good for us food and enjoy it until next summer!
Gosh, our tomatoes have been over since July…it gets too hot too early, so we have a short growing season…I can almost taste yours…yummmm!
Yvonne,
Thanks for sharing you make it to easy not to try this, now to find some home grown tomatoes!!!
Paula
thankyou for an easy way to freeze tomatoes for use this winter. So many other posts are complicated and involve canning which scares me since I’ve never attempted. I don’t have a garden but I am going to hit the farmers market. I so enjoy your blog..
Yvonne,
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have always been afraid to can because I worry I won’t do something right and make people sick. THIS I can do!!! I’m so excited to track down some tomatoes and get started! 🙂
I love freezing and canning all our garden vegetables. WE have froze corn, peppers broccoli, peas, zucchini and rhubarb. Canned tomatoes, salsa, spaghetti sauce, pears and peaches! Also made pickles and soon will freeze apples for pies and crisps. It is gratifying to know there will be plenty of food for the long cold Iowa winter!!
Sound like you will be eating well this winter!
I have never tried to can or freeze anything. I would like to try your recipe. Should I put the tomato sauce in a jar? If so do I need to leave room for expansion? And, how long will it store in the freezer? Thank you.
I don’t freeze in a mason jar although you can. Read what the Ball company,makers of mason jars, has to say. There is a way to do this safely.
You mention your freezer full of “boxes” of sauce. What kind of boxes are you using to freeze it up in? I freeze my marinara sauce in Weck jars but they take up a lot of space are so breakable. Thanks
I use plastic freezer boxes. You should be able to find them at your grocer’s.
I would like to freeze the tomato sauce but would like your recipes for salsa, pasta sauces and stewed tomatoes.
Thank you
Had a big supply of tomatoes this year so thank you for the timely sharing!