Keeping tomatoes so that they are available all winter is possible. In reality, we will see how we can preserve it in different ways. Let’s find out.

Save the tomatoes

Our grandparents always taught us that in their time, when summer arrived, they prepared various preserves of tomatoes. Usually, we used to buy very large quantities of pachino tomatoes or similar, sterilize a large amount of glass jars, and prepare a supply of sauce and peeled tomatoes for the whole winter. In fact, many people are still trying to keep this custom alive, and others are doing it, given the excessive increase in prices.

Today I’m going to show you how to store tomatoes in another way, very simple but which will allow you to have tomatoes available throughout the winter in different formats. These rules that we are going to see can apply to all types of tomatoes. Obviously, smaller tomatoes can also be kept whole, but when it comes to larger tomatoes, they will necessarily have to be cut.

So let’s see how to do it.

How to store tomatoes

PrepTime: 20 minutes

Cookingtime 20 minutes

Equipment

• 1 large stockpot
• to taste, mouthpieces and food pouches with hermetic closure
• 1 cutting board
• 1 blender
• 1 knife

Ingredients

• 3 kg cherry tomatoes or whatever you prefer

Instructions

• Let’s immediately start by washing the tomatoes thoroughly and removing the stems.
• We cut each tomato with a knife, creating a side cut that runs the length of its length.
• Fill a saucepan with plenty of water.
• Add the tomatoes and cook for 20 minutes. (if necessary, repeat this several times until the tomatoes are complete).
• Once cooked, drain the tomatoes and, using a knife, peel them, starting with the incision made earlier.
• We can now decide how to store them.

Storing whole tomatoes

• In this case, if we have chosen small tomatoes, we can keep them whole.
• We place them in a bowl.
• We pour a spoonful of salt.
• And we cover with water.
• Close the jars and boil them for 20 minutes.
• The jars are turned over until they cool down (to create a vacuum).
• The jars can be stored in the pantry for 1 year.

Sliced tomatoes

• Once cooked and peeled, tomatoes can be sliced in a variety of ways.
• We can cut them into quarters or slices.
• Then we seal the tomatoes in airtight freezer bags.
• We remove air and create a vacuum.
• This allows us to store tomatoes in the freezer or refrigerator.

Tomato puree

• You can also blend the tomatoes once cooked.
• Pour them into a blender and blend coarsely.
• We will get a rustic tomato puree.
• From now on, you can pour the puree directly into glass jars naturally or with flavorings such as basil.
• We close and boil the jars for 20 minutes.
• We turn it over and create a vacuum.
• We store the jars in the pantry for up to 1 year.

Ideas in the kitchen

These preserves can be used in different and innovative ways. As for tomato puree, it can be used to create traditional dishes like bolognese sauce.Whole tomatoes can be used for simpler dishes like spaghetti with pan-fried cherry tomatoes and basil, or to decorate pizzas and focaccias. Finally, sliced or quartered tomatoes can be cooked to create sauces, or used for rustic pizzas and timbales.

Stock the fridge and pantry with your canned goods and never run out of tomatoes again.