There’s some things you can be sure of in Summer: It will be hot and there will be plenty of tomatoes to choose from from cherry and heirloom to beef steak. This fruit ( I keep having to remind myself of this) can be enjoyed equally fresh, cooked and even dried.
And if you have a decent garden, you will find yourself giving a lot of them away if canning isn’t your thing or you just want more ways to preserve the taste of summer.
I have serval ways you can enjoy your tomatoes all year long.
Ways to Preserve Your Tomatoes
Canning
Canning is great way to reserve freshness and to infuse additional flavors if needed. Canning can also include tomato sauce, and homemade catsup.
Freezing
Freezing is also ideal as it preserves not only flavor but any nutrients. Make sure all of the air has been squeezed out of the bag before sealing to insure freshness when opening and avoiding freezer burn. Ideally, having a food saver word best as it will ensure that all of the air is extracted and it will last up to 2 years or more.
Drying
Oven Drying
You can make delicious oven dried tomatoes that will taste like sun dried and have a concentrated flavor for preserving in olive oil which you can use for salad dressings, pasta sauces, and as an accoutrement on cheese boards.
Dehydrating
Dehydrating is an even longer way to preserve tomatoes. Once they are dried you can grind the into a powder and use as a spice or in a spice blend or rub.
Have fun with the different ways to use all those tomatoes and your friends and family will appreciate your efforts if you give any of these as gifts.
Recipes you may like to try
Summer Roasted Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes Sandwich w/ Fresh Corn Sauce
Tomato Galette with Herb Crust
Super Bowl Chili
Vegetarian Chili
