33 Fresh and Juicy Summer Tomato Recipes, Right This Way! (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with 5 pounds of fresh tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they're thawed.

Tomatoes will last in the freezer for about six months. After that, they start to lose their flavor and might become freezer burnt. When you're ready to use your frozen tomatoes, just let them thaw at room temperature. Once they've defrosted, the skins peel right off!

Ripe Tomatoes

And unless you're eating them immediately, ripe, locally grown tomatoes will also last longer in the fridge; eat within a few days. Store ripe tomatoes in your fridge stress-free and enjoy them within a couple days of purchasing.

Whether you purchase a ripe or unripe tomato, you should store it at room temperature. "Tomatoes are most flavorful at peak ripeness and when stored at room temperature," says Maddy Rotman, head of sustainability at Imperfect Foods. "Try eating a cold tomato and a room temperature tomato.

Store a tomato that's been cut with the cut side covered, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, and the leftovers refrigerated. Whatever you do, don't forget about it—a cut tomato begins to degrade immediately. It should keep for a day or two, but not much longer than that.

Crush the tomatoes by hand or in a food processor or blender, depending on the consistency you're going for. Add the crushed tomatoes to an airtight, freezer-safe container, and transfer it to the freezer.

It is a perennial but is usually grown outdoors in temperate climates as an annual. Tomatoes are the most common and beloved vegetable crop for home gardeners. They require relatively little space and can yield 10 to 15 pounds or more of fruit per plant.

The Benefits of Using 5-Gallon Buckets

The standard size of these buckets allows for at least two tomato plants per bucket. This makes them an efficient use of space in small gardens or balcony spaces.

Can too many tomatoes be bad for you? ›

Tomatoes are rich in calcium and oxalate. While these are good for your body, excess consumption can cause buildup and resultant kidney stones.

Tomato plants require a good amount of these resources, so if they're planted closely together, they will compete and likely all lose. Low Production – Even if tomato plants growing closely together survive, they may not produce as many tomatoes as they could have if properly spaced.

Tomatoes freeze well whole, gutted, and chopped. They can be canned or dried. Fresh tomatoes who still have a bit of green on them can be stored by being wrapped in newspaper for later use. I've kept some like that for several months.

Tomatoes can be frozen raw or blanched first. Freeze tomatoes by washing them, scoring them, and blanching them in boiling water. Place the tomatoes on a cookie sheet in the freezer until completely frozen—typically a few hours. Then store the flash-frozen tomatoes in freezer bags or air-tight freezer containers.

Freezing tomatoes is the easiest way to keep ripe tomatoes until you're ready to use them. You don't have to peel them first—in fact, the act of freezing them itself makes the tomatoes insanely easy to peel! —and you can freeze as many or as few at a time as you like.