17 Garden-Fresh Tomato Recipes That Showcase This Garden Staple (2024)

FAQs

What to 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!

You just showed that tomatoes rot faster at room temperature than in the refrigerator. Big whoop... But that's exactly the point: If you're buying your tomatoes ripe (which we should all be doing!) and need to store them for an extra day or two, you're often better off storing them in the fridge than on the countertop.

Watering tomato plants every day will prevent them from developing a strong root system and sitting in wet soil is an invitation for root rot and other soilborne diseases.

There is no general answer to this question, since the correct watering frequency depends on numerous factors such as temperature, soil conditions and location. So it may well be that you have to water your tomato plants several times a day or just once or twice a week.

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.

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 Short Answer: Don't Refrigerate Tomatoes

The standard rule is to keep tomatoes out of the refrigerator. It all comes down to science: Tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that's mushy and mealy.

Can you eat around mold on tomatoes? ›

According to the USDA, mold can produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous and may lead to illness. Even if the mold hasn't taken over the entire tomato, it's best to just toss the entire thing. Mold spores tend to spread throughout fruits with high water content, growing inside where it's not visible.

It is recommended that any tomato showing signs of late blight disease should not be used for canning. This includes tomatoes with only minor lesions as well. There is no way to tell that the infestation has spread to the interior of the fruit and the extent of the internal infestation is not always clearly visible.

Alternatively, tomatoes can be dehydrated using a food dehydrator. Dried tomatoes can be stored on the counter for a few days or frozen for up to six months. Covering them in olive oil can help extend their life even further and add flavor.