Friday, June 18, 2010

Tomatoes, Tomatoes Every Where...

Well  my Friend Carrie over at Farming on Faith asked me to explain how I do the tomatoes to freeze, well I will splain it best as I can, it is a very simple and easy process, as with corn, or beans or any veggies that can be frozen.
Wash all the tomatoes very good, in case there is some kind of spectracide on them.
Then I use my canning pot, but remove the rack.  Bring the water to a boil, drop the tomatoes in the boiling water, and leave about 2 minutes, then take them out and put in cold water to cool down, then I peal the skins off, and the boiling makes them come off real easy, remove the cores and cut or smash with hands into pieces, then put them in the containers that have been washed and dried
My Tomatoes in the boiling pot.














Tomatoes in Containers, and ready for freezer when cooled down.














Now I did my corn the same way,  I blanched and froze, some folks said you can cut the tops off of the husk and leave the rest of the husk on, then put in a shopping bag and freeze like that, I have about two dozen that way, but the other ten dozen I blanched and put in gallon freezer bags 10 cobs to a bag. You can take them out all year long, and the corn will taste just like you just picked it, I love the freezing methods, it is so much easier than canning, and you never have any that spoil in the jars either, I have had that happen and have had a real mess with it.
I remember when I first started canning, Our garden came in so well, and we had an abundance of veggies. I did about 24 jars of new potatoes, It seemed like the jars all sealed and I was so very proud, they looked beautiful so I put them all up in my cupboard that has glass doors,  I also did my tomatoes, and corn, I was canning everything back then, because we did not have a freezer. Well a couple months later I started smelling something really foul smelling, I finally hunted the smell down, and it was my potatoes, the had over flowed in the jars some way, and was dripping all down my cupboard, oh my what a disappointment that was, all my hard work, and my potato crop was ruined, only a couple of jars out of them all were sealed, and they had popped too, so I never dreamed they were not sealed. After that I never canned any thing again, I did tomatoes and put them in our fridge freezer then, But this year I have invested in a big upright freezer, and have all our veggies and fruits done now.  I will make peaches soon, freeze, and make some jam too, I am looking for ward to that. So hope this was a help to you, freezing is an effective and easy way to preserve your food for the winter. Just make sure your doors are shut tightly, and if you loose power for over 24 hours you will need to get them into another place, once thawed they will not be any good.
Love you all my precious friends, and hope you have a Fabulous Friday, and a  good weekend.
Hugs ♥
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10 comments:

Karen said...

My parents and grandparents always canned, but I remember all the mess and time that was involved...only to lose some...

Freezing is the way to go...

Enjoy your bounty from the Lord!

Aliene said...

I like to freeze my veggies too.
I make freezer jam -especially strawberries. I like to preserve figs also. I am going to try making some with Splenda. Still waiting on our tomatoes to turn. Had plenty of yellow squash. I put several bags in the freezer. Have a good weekend.

Barbara said...

Hummmmm my squash are not doing good, they bloom really good, then disappear, I have on big squash on the plant after many many blooms.

Sheila Deeth said...

I never learned canning till we moved to the states. Canned some peaches then, but I found it was easier to freeze them. Of course, no so easy to move frozen ones when we moved house, so had to give the rest away.

Anonymous said...

So very nice to meet you Barbara. My mother always preferred freezing over canning and I am the same way now. Thanks for these helpful tips and I hope you have a good weekend.
You had asked about my hosta plants. They have pretty lavender or white blooms about this time each year.

Joyful said...

Very nice. I don't have a big enough garden or freezer to do this but you can be sure if I ever do, I will be freezing too. I love the way the veggies and fruits taste so fresh (better than canned). Blessings.

Jean Tuthill said...

I just got my veggies in the ground! I'm not getting anything yet. It's been cool and rainy here in NE this year so far, so not much progress on the veggies. I do make strawberry preserves and I don't mind the mess, the jam is well worth it. I don't have a freezer, except the small kitchen one. I wish I had room to put a real one.

Farmgirl Cyn said...

It will be a long while before I have anything to can or freeze as the growing season has really just begun here in West MI. Course I am getting things like lettuce and radishes, but we won't have tomatoes till near the end of August.
Barbara....do you ever freeze salsa? I tried that last year and it came out really well. I am going to try lacto fermenting pickles this year. I tried some from the health food store and they were so yummy!

Mrs. B, a very peculiar person said...

Hi Barbara,

Great tips on freezing those abundant veggies. I am the sort who likes to freeze some things and can others. My husband likes to hunt and takes up most of our freezer ... good thing I like some canned.
But this year, I don't have a garden, health issues AND plans to move. I never dreamed I miss gardening so much.
Mrs.B

Sandra Henderson said...

wonderfuL! I want to come over and just sit at your kitchen table and help you and learn from you! :)
You are so wise Barbara!
I've enjoyed catching up on your blog this morning. I do read each and every thing that you write, I don't always comment and I don't always read it that day, but nothing ever goes unappreciated. I appreciate you SOOOOOO much! Love ya! XO