I’m leaving the house to my husband for more than a week, so I want to make some tomato sauce and freeze them so he can cook something up for the kids that’s easy and tasty. Can you freeze tomato sauce? Is it safe? How do I do that?
Quick Answer
Tomato sauce is easy to make and is a very versatile ingredient. You can put it in pastas, use it as a dip, add it into a dish, or make some soup out of it. Plus, it’s not that hard to use either, so it’s perfect for those who need a quick meal or for those who aren’t kitchen-savvy.
Freezing it would give it a longer life span, and doing so won’t affect the taste. If you’re freezing up some sauce, whether store-bought or homemade, it’s relatively easy to do so granted that you follow the instructions to the dot.
Can You Freeze Tomato Sauce?
If you’re making tomato sauce from scratch and freezing it for later use, make sure to use ripe tomatoes and not the overripe ones. In fact, all ingredients you put in should be ripe so that you get the right taste and you won’t worry about its color and whether or not it’s still good for consumption.
Tomato sauce also has a tendency to look watered down because the pulp and the water will separate. To prevent this, make sure the sauce is well-blended, or you can heat it up to simmer.
Putting in less seasoning or spices and making a basic tomato sauce also gives you the chance to change the way it taste each time you use it.
Before putting inside the freezer, make sure that the sauce has cooled down to room temperature. You might end up thawing other items in the freezer if you don’t.
Freezing tomato sauce extends its life to up to 4 months, or even more if you use a deep freezer instead of ones on a refrigerator.
You can place sauces into sealed BPA-free plastic bags or mason jars. Just make sure you label them properly with the date when you froze them so you can keep track.
How to Freeze Tomato Sauce
Freezing tomato sauce is rather easy and helpful if you’ll be making large quantities but don’t intend to use them all up right away.
- First off, figure out how much sauce you might need for each time you cook. This way, you’ll have an idea as to what kind of container you’ll need. If you’ll be cooking small servings at a time, then small sealed pouches would do.
- Fill up containers about halfway full to make room for the sauce as it expands. If you’re using jars, wait until the sauce has frozen and expanded before covering it up with the lid.
- If you’re using plastic pouches, simply lay each filled bag flat on one side on the freezer. Once it’s solid enough, stand them like books on a shelf.
To thaw it, simply submerged the pouch or jar in water for about 1 and 1/2 hours. Then when it’s partially thawed, transfer it into the fridge for another 4 hours. If you’re about to cook it up, you don’t have to thaw it completely before doing so. Just let it simmer on low heat for a while.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Tomato Sauce?
Tomato sauce is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. But what do you do when you have extra tomato sauce? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover tomato sauce:
- Make a quick and easy pasta dish – Just add some tomato sauce to cooked noodles, and you’ve got a quick and easy meal that everyone will love.
- Use it as a pizza sauce – Tomato sauce can also be used as a pizza sauce. Just spread it on your favorite crust, and you’ve got a delicious and easy pizza in no time.
- Make a savory omelet – Omelets are a great way to use up leftover tomato sauce. Just add some to your omelet along with your favorite fillings, and you’ll have a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Make a hearty soup – Tomato soup is a classic for a reason. Just add your tomato sauce to some chicken or vegetable broth, and you’ve got a delicious and comforting soup in no time.
- Use it as a dipping sauce – Tomato sauce can also be used as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or vegetables. Just add some spices and herbs, and you’ve got a tasty dip that everyone will love.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover tomato sauce. Next time you find yourself with extra sauce, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Recipes That Use Tomato Sauce
Vegetable Lasagna
Here’s a light tasting lasagna that’s filling but also guilt-free. The sauce and the vegetables work in a medley that’s sour, sweet, and oh so tasty.
Shakshuka
A traditional middle-eastern egg dish, this is a hearty meal on its own. Usually served for breakfast, it’s a light tasting dish that will definitely get you going.
Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
A classic and simple dish, this is a very straightforward but mouthwatering recipe. The meatballs are very savory and well-complemented by the sweetness and sourness of the tomato sauce.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze tomato sauce. It will last for 3-4 months in the freezer if stored properly. To freeze it: make sure you drain the excess water and remove any other ingredients (onions, celery, etc.), make sure you pack it tightly and seal the bag well and label it with today’s date.
Now that you know how to freeze your tomato sauce, please share your experience with me in the comment below.