Conserving tomatoes to have them available throughout the winter is possible. In reality, let’s explore how we can preserve them in different ways. Let’s find out.
Our grandparents always taught us that in their time, when summer arrived, they would prepare various tomato preserves. Typically, they used to buy large quantities of cherry tomatoes or similar varieties, sterilize numerous glass jars, and create a stock of sauce and peeled tomatoes for the entire winter. In reality, many people still attempt to keep this tradition alive today, and others are adopting it, given the excessive rise in prices.
Today, I am going to show you how to preserve tomatoes in another way, very simple but which will allow you to have tomatoes available throughout the winter in various formats. The rules we are going to see can be applied to all types of tomatoes. Obviously, smaller tomatoes can also be preserved whole, but regarding larger tomatoes, it will be necessary to cut them.
Let’s see how to proceed.
How to Preserve Tomatoes
Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Equipment:
– 1 large pot
– According to taste, food-grade plastic wrap and airtight bags
– 1 cutting board
– 1 blender
– 1 knife
Ingredients:
– 3 kg cherry tomatoes or your preferred variety
Instructions:
Let’s start by thoroughly washing the tomatoes and removing the stems.
We cut each tomato with a knife, creating a lateral cut that extends along its entire length.
Fill a pot with plenty of water. Add the tomatoes and cook them for 20 minutes. (If necessary, repeat this process several times until the tomatoes are fully cooked).
Once cooked, drain the tomatoes and, using a knife, peel them starting from the previously made incision. Now, we can decide how to store them.
Preserving Whole Tomatoes
In this case, if we have chosen small tomatoes, we can preserve them whole.
1. Place them in a bowl.
2. Pour a tablespoon of salt over them.
3. Cover them with water.
4. Seal the jars and boil them for 20 minutes.
5. Turn the jars until they cool (to create a vacuum).
6. The jars can be stored in the pantry for up to 1 year.
Sliced Tomatoes
Once cooked and peeled, tomatoes can be sliced in various ways.
1. Cut them into quarters or slices.
2. Close the tomatoes in airtight freezer bags.
3. Remove the air and create a vacuum.
4. This way, you can store the tomatoes in the freezer or refrigerator.
Tomato Puree
You can also blend the tomatoes once they are cooked.
1. Pour them into a blender and blend coarsely.
2. You’ll obtain a rustic tomato puree.
3. Now, you can directly pour the puree into glass jars, either naturally or with added flavors like basil.
We seal the jars and proceed to boil them for 20 minutes. Flip them over and create a vacuum. Store the jars in the pantry for up to 1 year.
Creative Cooking Ideas
These preserves can be used in different and innovative ways. Regarding the tomato puree, it can be used to create traditional dishes like Bolognese sauce. Whole tomatoes can be used for simpler dishes like pan-seared spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and basil or to garnish pizzas and focaccias. Finally, sliced or quartered tomatoes can be cooked to create sauces or used for rustic pizzas and timbales.
Fill your fridge and pantry with these preserves and never run out of tomatoes again.
