I got so many tomato's from my garden.....

[OAITW r.2.0]

Been a great year for growing them in Central Maine. Stupid me bought 12 plants and I've got 40 picked and another 50 or so on the vine.

So, I bought a blender and picked basel and chive that I have growing. Goings to blend it all up and freeze for winter use. Bought (4) quart size SS freezer containers.

My question is...can I blend and freeze or should I cook before freezing?

[Kali]

1. is it hot in your house?

that is how cooking decisions get made around here

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Actually pretty cool today. Low 60's. I could handle the kitchen heat, OK.

backatcha

[msongs]

3. cook them now to get rid of excess water and they will be ready to use after thaw nt

[jpak]

4. Buy some good balsamic vinegar and olive oil (and crushed garlic)

and have a big red hotdog cook out.

Should reduce yer tomatoe plenty

[tymorial]

5. I am jealous! Northwest Rhode Island here and very few tomatoes

Too hot and too much rain at the wrong time I think. My plants just never bore much fruit sadly. Damn, I am jealous of you!

Okay, now that I have sufficiently whined, I would recommend canning or jarring. I know you mentioned freezing but it won't last you as long. The prep is similar in that you don't need to completely cook. You blanch for no more than a minute in boiling water. Enough so that you can easily remove the skin. After that you prepare for freezing.

So, yeah, you don't have to completely cook but put a date on your bag or container to know when you put it in the freezer.

Also, have an ice bath ready after removing the tomato from the boiling water to stop the cooking process. You will still be able to easily remove the skin.

[patphil]

6. Blend and freeze is fine.

We've been making tomato sauce from our garden for decades. We usually have at least 8-10 quarts in the freezer at the end of the season, and still have to give away a lot of tomatoes.
We also make a lot of chili, and other tomato/tomato sauce dishes, but there's just so much two people can eat.
We never considered growing less tomatoes. It's just something we do.
Also peppers, shallots, beans, lettuce, beets, snow peas, potatoes, squash, cucumbers, lots of herbs, etc.
Oh, and don't forget strawberries. Once planted they start to take over the garden, and have to be cut back every year.

[OAITW r.2.0]

10. I'm going with your suggestion. While I have the jars to can, I think I am better off with freezing

Do not want to food poison myself, accidently, this winter.

[MyOwnPeace]

7. I feel your pain.......

it took forever, but now they're going crazy and my freezer is full!
I use this grinder to give me the juice/pulp - and with some of it I make soup for the day - or juice for a few days, but the rest I cook down and freeze.

https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Strainer-Sauce-VICTORIO-VKP250/dp/B001I7FP54/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1dGJBhD4ARIsANb6OdnHkkHw68qHvgqw-5F5T_OCVVIKiyeKYC7QqfKNtSIsHcdimWCdYgUaAmj_EALw_wcB&hvadid=409906612755&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9006277&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7879103350085216670&hvtargid=kwd-1693189243&hydadcr=13930_11130054&keywords=tomato+grinder&qid=1630883530&sr=8-18

But, as I said, the freezer is full!

You can now find me walking through parking lots looking for unlocked cars........

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. That's a good option!

I 've been giving them away for a few weeks, but no one wants any more.

I think I will puree, cook to reduce the water, then freeze. Also, I will cook some shallots and garlic in olive oil, then add the tomato's.

[Deuxcents]

8. Another thought

You could donate to a food bank if there are too many. Surplus garden veggies are a treat, I would imagine, so far north. Your Grren thumb has given you a bounty, for sure.

[msdogi]

11. I just cut them up and freeze in ziplock bags

Use them for marinara all winter, they're so good, much better than any canned tomatoes

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. I think it will make a good base for whatever I want to cook with garden tomato's.

I eat them raw, like apples....a liitle celery salt and garlic pepper and enjoy the flavor. Usually with a gin Bloody Mary, on the back deck.

[Retrograde]

13. I prefer to cook them first

make up a good, thick sauce and freeze that - it takes up less space. If you freeze them uncooked, they'll be mushy when you thaw them because tomatoes contain a lot of water: they'll still be tasty, but the texture may be different.

[yellowdogintexas]

14. be sure to save out some green ones so you can make fried green tomatoes

Damn those things are good.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. Plenty of Greens still on the vine...

finished the last batch of reds I picked last week. Time for another forage!