How to Cook & Freeze Fresh San Marzano Tomatoes

How to Cook & Freeze Fresh San Marzano Tomatoes
Published: Oct 7, 2013
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
2 minute read
Tomato sauce in a white bowl and fresh tomatoes
Nadezhda_Nesterova/iStock/GettyImages

The San Marzano tomato variety has few seeds and little pulp, making it an excellent tomato for making pastes and sauces. San Marzano tomatoes also freeze well, for the same reasons. Cooking the tomatoes and freezing them provides a long-lasting supply for use in soups, casseroles, baked tomato dishes, or for future paste- or sauce-making. Use only San Marzano tomatoes of the best quality, with firm flesh and no visible bruising, for freezing.

Bring 1 gallon of water to a full boil in a large pot. Submerge the whole San Marzano tomatoes in the water and bring it back to a boil. Boil the tomatoes for about one minute, or until the skins begin to split, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water to cool.

Peel the spit skins from the tomatoes. Cut out the stem core with a paring knife then cut each tomato into quarters.

Place the sliced tomatoes in a pot. Heat over medium high heat until the tomatoes begin to simmer, stirring frequently. Cook the San Marzano tomatoes for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are tender.

Fill the sink with ice. Set the pot in on top of the ice so the tomatoes cool quickly to room temperature.

Transfer the cooked tomatoes to a freezer-safe storage bag or container, leaving 1 1/2 inch of head space at the top of the container so the tomatoes can expand during freezing. Push the air out of the bag, if you're using bags. Seal the container or bag and store it in a 0-degree Fahrenheit freezer for up to one year.

Tips

If you prefer whole, unstewed tomatoes, freeze them immediately after blanching and peeling.

Jenny Harrington

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs.…

Sponsored
Our Everyday Life Logo

Explore our everyday life, the best source for food and drink tips, health and general wellness, healthy relationships and much more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.