if you are curious whether you can vacuum seal tomatoes like other vegetables, the answer is yes. Vacuum-sealing is the most convenient method of preserving vegetables for longer.
Tomatoes are utilized in cooking salads, soups, and sauces. It is an excellent present for the late spring season for us. Indeed, many of you want to preserve it for the off-season.
In this article, I will tell you how you can vacuum seal tomatoes impeccably and use them later.
How to vacuum seal tomatoes?
The shelf life of vegetables will increase five times if they are vacuum sealed after blanching, except for tomatoes. This is the most delicate and challenging food item to preserve for an extended period. Improper storage techniques can lessen its shelf life.
There are some steps below for vacuum-sealing tomatoes.
- First, wash them properly. Ensure to eliminate any dirt, pesticides, and blemishes that can prompt serious health issues.
- Dry these completely and Cut the tomatoes into two pieces.
- Remove their seeds. It will be convenient to freeze and vacuum seal these after removing seeds.
- Place the tomatoes on a tray. Always keep these in a single layer and some distance.
- Cautiously put these frozen tomatoes into a vacuum sealer bag. Make sure the bag is sanitized correctly and not damaged.
- Now, it’s your turn to vacuum seal the bag after removing the air properly.
- Put it into the freezer at low temperatures because warm places may reduce their shelf life and spoil them slightly sooner.
Some essential guidelines for vacuum sealing:
- It is better to vacuum seal fresh, organic, and firm tomatoes. They will retain their flavor and freshness for longer.
- Tomatoes should be dehydrated before packaging because moisture can affect their shelf life.
- Don’t forget to write the date of packing so that you would use it before its spoilage.
- It would be better if you don’t preserve any spoiled tomatoes because it can make all the tomatoes toxic inside the bag.
- It is good to leave some space at the top of the bag. It will be easy for you to reseal the bag if you take out some tomatoes.
How can you use vacuum-sealed tomatoes after thawing?
Generally, the texture of vacuum-sealed vegetables after thawing is the same as when packed. But you won’t find juicy and rigid tomatoes like before. Rather than this, you will get tomatoes’ loose, tacky, and messy texture.
This is fine! Still, these can be extremely helpful for you. You can make delicious soups and sauces by using these. you can make tomato puree and use it later in cooking.
But if you want to use it in salads, it’s of no use to you. It is wiser to go with fresh, firm tomatoes. Vacuum-sealed tomatoes are not a good option for making salads.
The life span of vacuum-sealed tomatoes:
Vacuum sealing is the most effective way to extend the shelf life of tomatoes. Unfortunately, tomatoes can not be stored for more than a year like other vegetables. They will last more than six months in the freezer if stored properly. However, a warm and moist environment may reduce their shelf life.
Dried tomatoes are more durable than fresh ones. They have a longer shelf life than fresh tomatoes. But your freezer should be at an adequate temperature for frozen food.
Which method is better, canning and vacuum sealing?
Canning is a traditional way to preserve tomatoes, but it requires hard work and a lot of time. Besides these, It is costly as it requires numerous things like jars, lids, water bath canners, etc. Moreover, it takes up too much space in your freezer.
However, vacuum-sealing is an easy, fast, and budget-friendly means of preserving tomatoes .vacuum sealer does not let the air or oxygen inside the bag.
It prevents the growth of bacteria and retains the freshness and flavor of tomatoes for longer. To preserve tomatoes through vacuum sealing, you need a vacuum sealer and a bag. Unlike canning, there is no need to collect any other thing.
So if you are looking for the most convenient means of preserving tomatoes, vacuum sealing is the best option.
FAQs:
1) How can I preserve cherry tomatoes?
Wash them and freeze them after being dry completely. Then vacuum seals these in a bag and places the bag into the freezer at adequate temperature for using these longer.
2 ) Can I freeze tomatoes without blanching?
The short answer is yes. You can freeze them without blanching and then vacuum seal them quickly.
3 ) Which tomatoes can be vacuum sealed?
you can vacuum seal all tomatoes like diced, green, cherry, and canned tomatoes.
4 ) Can you vacuum seal canned tomatoes?
yes, if you want to prolong the shelf life of canned tomatoes, you can pack them into a bag and vacuum seal them to prevent spoilage.
5 ) How long can vacuum seal tomatoes last?
Vacuum seal tomatoes can last up to 6 months in the freezer if stored properly.
Final words:
Vacuum sealing is an excellent way of extending the shelf life of fruit, vegetables, and cooked food. It is the most suitable method of preserving all kinds of tomatoes for a more extended period. It retains its nutritional values as well as its flavor.
A vacuum sealer has become an essential kitchen appliance. It is easy to use, so everyone can efficiently operate and benefit from it. S0, a vacuum sealer, is a wise choice when preserving tomatoes for longer.