In this post, we are going to have a look at some of the best methods to freeze tomato paste which is a unique material at home, in 32g cubes.

In contrast to the vast majority of other canned tomato products, which are virtually ready to be heated up, stirred into the stew, or otherwise enjoyed in some other fashion, tomato paste must be appropriately incorporated into a recipe in order to reach its full potential.

This is in contrast to the fact that other canned tomato products can be enjoyed almost immediately after heating.

Because tomato paste has such a robust flavor, which is what sets it apart from other tomato products, you will have a hard time using up an entire can or tube of it in a single dish, despite the fact that it comes in convenient little cans or tubes.

In the event that you are anything like us, your initial response to being given an unanticipated surplus of an ingredient is probably going to be, “Well, can you freeze the rest of it?”

In the case of tomato paste that has been left over, the answer is unquestionable yes! Because of the exceptional performance of one product in particular when frozen, we can (very happily) enthusiastically propose that you go with this alternative.

In order to aid you in accomplishing this goal, we will go over everything you need to know about freezing tomato paste, from the reasons why it works so well to a step-by-step guide for getting the best results when using tomato paste that has been frozen.

Tomato paste, like other tomato-based products such as tomato sauce and marinara sauce, is made by blending fresh tomatoes with additional ingredients and then cooking the mixture.

The key difference, however, is that the heating process for tomato sauce is terminated while the sauce is still in a highly fluid state and has a lot of moisture. On the other hand, tomato paste is heated for an extended period of time, up until the point where the vast bulk of the water content is evaporated.

During the cooking process, the skins and seeds of the tomatoes are always filtered out of the tomato paste at the precise moment that is necessary in order to give the tomato paste its well-known ultra silky smoothness.

Tomatoes are always the primary component of tomato paste; however, different brands and varieties of tomato paste may also contain a trace amount of salt, citric acid (to maintain its shelf life!), and occasionally other flavoring components such as herbs and spices in addition to the tomatoes.

Due to the relatively low amount of water that is contained within this product, it makes for an ideal option for storage in the freezer.

Because there is less water in tomato paste, there is less chance of ice crystal formation, so the consistency and flavor of the tomato paste are better able to be kept than those of meals that contain a higher moisture content.

It should come as no surprise that tomato paste is an excellent way to impart a robust tomato flavor to a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes. When added to a dish at an earlier stage in the preparation process, tomato paste imparts a savory flavor to the finished product in addition to a rich coloring. Its sweet, sour, and umami-rich flavor profile is responsible for this effect.

In addition, because of its dense and velvety texture, tomato paste is an ideal choice for thickening liquid foods such as stews, soups, and sauces. As is the case with a great number of other canned items, the flavor of uncooked canned tomato paste can frequently be described as having a slightly metallic quality and as being unattractive.

As a result, it is essential to bring the tomato paste to a simmer before incorporating it into your dish. Since this product is already highly concentrated, the purpose here is not to remove water or concentrate flavor but rather to caramelize the natural sugars and improve the flavor of the paste. This will be accomplished by heating the paste at a high temperature.

The problem with all of this delicious tomato paste is that it doesn’t keep for very long at all! Whether it is packaged in a can, a jar, or a tube, tomato paste that has been properly sealed can maintain its shelf life for approximately 6 months after its expiration date. However, as soon as it is opened, the time begins to pass extremely swiftly.

When stored appropriately, tomato paste can remain fresh in the refrigerator for anywhere between 5 and 10 days (i.e., in a clean, airtight container). Tomato paste, which often comes in tubes and has a shelf life of between one and two months if stored properly, is the only product that has a longer shelf life than this one. If this is the case, there is no reason to even attempt to freeze tomato paste. This presents a variety of opportunities for improvement.

The majority of recipes call for only a very small amount of this component, sometimes even less than a teaspoon. If you freeze your tomato paste, you won’t have to worry about forgetting about any leftovers or throwing them away before you remember them.

Instead, you’ll be able to remember them in time to use them before they go bad completely.

Performing this action will also allow you to reduce your financial outlays, which is an additional positive aspect!

As was discussed in the prior part of this lesson, once tomato paste has been opened, it has a significantly reduced shelf life.

If you freeze your leftovers, as opposed to placing them in the refrigerator, they will keep for a much longer period of time. We don’t recommend opening a sealed can or jar of tomato paste simply to put it in the freezer because this is about as long-term storage as it gets.

However, if you already have a container that is open, freezing tomato paste is a fantastic option to consider.

In the world of cooking, one of the best pieces of advice is to always have a potent ingredient like tomato paste on hand.

However, when you’re trying to get dinner on the table, it’s not always that convenient to have everything that’s placed into those factory-sealed jars and cans because you have to manage the portions and keep track of everything.

If you freeze the tomato paste in line with the directions that we have provided below, you will be able to effortlessly use as much tomato paste as you require and incorporate it into your recipes. The flavor profile of any dish you make will be dramatically improved as a result!

To what extent have we been effective in convincing you to freeze your tomato paste at this point? Good!

If you have made the decision to do so, all you need to do to freeze tomato paste, whether it was made at home or purchased from a store, is follow the steps below.

Freeze tomato paste 32g

Before you proceed with anything else, check to see that the tomato paste you wish to freeze is in excellent condition. Bright crimson color and a moist paste that does not exhibit any signs of mold growth are expected to be present.

Tomato paste that has been opened and stored in the refrigerator for more than a few days should not be frozen, with the exception of tomato paste that comes in a tube, which stays fresher for a longer period of time!

When preparing a dish or a baking sheet, it is best to line them with plastic wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper. Drop each portion of the tomato paste, measured out with a melon baller, cookie scoop, or measuring spoon, onto the prepared plate or baking sheet.

You may also use a small scoop for ice cream or cookie dough. If you want to make your life easier while cooking with tomato paste, you should aim for serving sizes of approximately 1 tablespoon when you are developing your recipes.

One more wonderful technique for portioning food is to use an ice cube tray and distribute the tomato paste throughout the different compartments. Using a small quantity of cooking spray that is designed to prevent sticking to your scoop or measuring spoon will make it much simpler to remove each portion of tomato paste from the scoop or spoon.

Place the baking sheet or ice cube tray that contains the tomato paste in a horizontal region of your freezer, where it will be unattended for a few hours. Once the tomato paste has completely solidified and frozen, either remove it from the baking sheet where it was frozen or pop it out of the ice cube tray (this could take several hours, depending on size and shape).

Now that the parts have been combined, you may prevent freezer burn by keeping them all together in a single freezer bag or airtight container. This will keep the bag or container from becoming waterlogged. Because they are already completely frozen, there is no need to be concerned about the chunks of tomato paste adhering together.

The most effective method for thawing frozen tomato paste is to place it in a container that has a lid that fits snugly or in a small bowl that has been wrapped in plastic wrap, and then to place the container in the refrigerator for six to eight hours or overnight.

Before using the tomato paste, give it a good stir to rework the consistency once it has had time to defrost. Tomato paste, on the other hand, can be used directly from the freezer without first needing to be thawed. Simply add the frozen tomato paste pieces to the dish that you are currently cooking in the pot or skillet as you would normally do, and then proceed to finish the recipe!

Tomato paste that has been frozen can remain usable for up to four months, provided that it is properly preserved. After that, it is sealed in an airtight container and kept frozen throughout the entire process.

Freezer burn causes the product’s moisture content to decrease, which inevitably leads to a decline in flavor. However, your frozen tomato paste should still be safe to consume for a considerable amount of time at this point; however, the flavor will inevitably start to deteriorate.

You may have recently realized that the shelf life of your frozen tomato paste is almost over, which means that you will need to utilize a recipe in order to use it up. Make some food!

Here are some of our favorite applications for any tomato paste that may be left over! The fact of the matter is that tomato paste retains its excellent quality when frozen.

The naturally low water content of the product ensures that its flavor and velvety texture will not change for at least four months after it has been manufactured. This storage method is a fantastic way to extend the shelf life of an open tomato paste bottle, save money, and give yourself easy tomato paste portions that will make it even easier than before to prepare tasty meals.