How to Freeze Tomato Paste

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with tomato paste when you have leftovers, here’s an easy kitchen trick for you. In this article, we’ll learn How to Freeze Tomato Paste with this quick and easy method so you can have frozen tomato paste on hand to add to recipes in a pinch.

You can enhance the flavor of countless dishes by adding a tablespoon or two of tomato paste. Having frozen tomato paste measured out in the freezer is convenient, timesaving and minimizes waste.

What Is Tomato Paste?

Tomato paste is a thick concentrated form of tomatoes that have been strained, blended and slowly simmered into a paste that is thicker than tomato sauce.  It’s an essential pantry staple to have on hand to be used as a thickening agent and flavor enhancer in soups, stews, sauces, skillets, taco meat, meatballs and more. Because it is a concentrated paste, you don’t need to add much of it to a recipe.  Even a small amount adds a deeply rich flavor to any dish without the added liquids like those found in sauce, canned or fresh tomatoes.

Can You Freeze Tomato Paste?

Oftentimes recipes call for a tablespoon or two of tomato paste, and then we are left wondering what to do with what’s left in the can. Rather than tossing it in the trash, you can quickly and easily measure it out and freeze it for later use. Here’s how:

1. Prep Cookie Sheet. Line a cookie sheet with a Silpat, parchment paper or waxed paper.
2. Mark Date On Freezer Bag. Label freezer bags with date and contents of bag.
3. Measure Tomato Paste. Using a tablespoon or small melon scoop, measure the tomato paste by the teaspoonfuls onto the silicon mat or waxed paper. (I like to measure out the tablespoonful that way when I add the paste to recipes, it’s already measured out for me.) 
4. Freeze Tomato Paste. Pop the cookie sheet into the freezer for 30-45 minutes, or until frozen solid.
5. Freezer Bags. Transfer the frozen scoops of tomato paste to the plastic freezer bags.

How Long Will It Last In The Freezer?

Frozen tomato paste will last in the freezer for 4-6 months. When you need to add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste to a recipe, just toss in the pre-measured frozen scoops. 

Does It Need to Be Thawed Before Using?

If you are adding frozen tomato paste to soups, stews, sauces or any other dish you are cooking, the you can add the frozen tomato paste right into the pan. However, if you’re adding it to a pesto or salad dressing, you will need to allow it time to thaw before adding it to your dish.

How To Use Frozen Tomato Paste?

• Add to pasta sauce recipes like this Classic Marinara Sauce
• Swirl into soups, stews and chili like this Chicken Rice Soup
• Adds a little color and just the right amount of flavor to rice recipes like this Spanish Rice and Spanish Brown Rice
• Add to Mexican dishes like this Mexican Meatloaf Meatballs
• Swirl into homemade salsa for a rich pop of flavor

More Resources

• How to Freeze Bananas
• How to Freeze Peaches
• How to Freeze Spinach
• How to Freeze Tomatoes
• How to Freeze Chicken Broth
• How to Freeze Pesto
• How to Make Tortilla Strips
• How to Make Croutons
• How to Make Tzatziki
• How to Make Pita Chips
• Continue to Content

  

  Print

  Yield: 12 servings

  How to Freeze Tomato Paste

  Prep Time 5 minutes

  Cook Time 3 hours

  Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes

  If you've ever wondered what to do with tomato paste when you have leftovers, here's an easy kitchen trick for you. Learn How to Freeze Tomato Paste with this quick and easy method so you can have frozen tomato paste on hand to add to recipes in a pinch.

  Ingredients

  • 1 can tomato paste

  Instructions

  1. Line a cookie sheet with a Silpat, parchment paper or waxed paper.
  2. Label freezer bags with date and contents of bags.
  3. Using a tablespoon or small melon scoop, measure the tomato paste by the tablespoonfuls onto the silicon mat or waxed paper. This way when you need to add a tablespoon or more of tomato paste to a recipe, it's already measured out for you.
  4. Pop the cookie sheet with the scoops of tomato paste into the freezer for 30-45 minutes, or until frozen solid.
  5. Transfer the frozen scoops of tomato paste to the plastic freezer bags.

  Nutrition Information:

  Yield:

  12

  Serving Size:

  1
  Amount Per Serving: Calories: 12Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

  theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.