Tomatillos is a fruit that’s versatile and can be used in a variety of different recipes. If you’ve grown them yourself in the garden or bought a lot of them from the store, you may end up with more than you need. For any tomatillos that are left, you will need to store them. Would freezing tomatillos be one of the options for storage?
So, can you freeze tomatillos? Yes, you can freeze tomatillos, and they freeze quite well. You can either freeze them whole, sliced or in a purée. Properly stored, tomatillos will last for up to 6 months in the freezer. For best result, choose mature, ripe tomatillos, and flash freeze them.
Do Tomatillos Freeze Well?
Tomatillos freeze very well, whether it’s whole, sliced, or puréed. This fruit is mostly water which is why they freeze well.
The only problem with tomatillos when frozen is that you’re limited to what you can use them for. If you’re planning to use them fresh such as adding to a salad or eating them fresh, you may not enjoy it.
On the other hand, if you’re going to use frozen tomatillos to make soups, stews, smoothies, or other food that requires blending, it will be fine.
How To Freeze Tomatillos
Once you have used up as many fresh tomatillos you have, you can freeze the rest for later.
It’s important to freeze only tomatillos that are of good quality. This will ensure that after it’s frozen and thawed, it will remain fresh.
Below is the best way to freeze tomatillos for the best condition possible:
Preparation
Start by removing the papery husk from the tomatillos. Discard the husks and look at the tomatillos for any damages. If it’s discolored, split, or feel soft, throw them out. These will not survive freezing and will not taste very good when it’s thawed.
Then place them in a colander and wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or grime from the tomatillos.
Leave To Dry
Once it’s washed, you need to let it dry first. They cannot be placed into the freezer when wet or the moisture will damage them.
Leave it in the colander for about 10 minutes to dry. You can also use a dry paper towel and gently rub them to help dry them quicker.
Place on Tray
On a tray, lay a sheet of parchment paper. Place the tomatillos onto the tray. Avoid stacking them on top of each other. They should be spread out all over the tray.
If you have a large batch of tomatillos to freeze, it’s best to do this a couple of times or use a few trays.
Freezing the tomatillos on a tray first allows them to freeze separately. When they are stored in the freezer bag, they won’t freeze together as one big clump.
Flash Freezing
Once the tomatillos are spread over the tray, you can place them into the freezer. Make sure the tray is laying flat in the freezer to avoid the tomatillos running down to one side.
Flash freeze them for about 2-3 hours or until it’s completely frozen.
Transfer to Freezer Bag
Once the tomatillos are completely frozen, remove them from the freezer. Immediately transfer the tomatillos to a freezer bag.
Leave about half an inch at the top to prevent the tomatillos from being squished. Then squeeze out the air from the bag and seal it tightly.
Label and Freeze
With a marker, label the date of freezing on the freezer bag. This will let you know when it was frozen and when the tomatillos should be used up.
Then place them into the freezer for storage.
Can You Freeze Canned Tomatillos?
Yes, you can freeze canned tomatillos, but not in their original tin can. Freezing them in the tin can will result in the can breaking during freezing. Canned tomatillos contain a lot of water and when it’s frozen, it will start to expand.
If you want to freeze canned tomatillos, you’ll need to transfer them to an airtight container first. Make sure to leave about an inch of space at the top for the tomatillos to expand.
How Long Can You Freeze Tomatillos?
Tomatillos, whether it’s whole, sliced, or purée, will remain in good quality for up to 6 months in the freezer. After that time, they are still safe to eat, but the quality will begin to decrease.
For best quality, you may want to consume them within a couple of months after freezing.
How Do You Defrost Tomatillos?
It depends on what you’ll use the tomatillos for. If you’re going to use them in soups and stews, there’s no need to defrost them. Simply remove them from the freezer and toss them directly into the recipe while it’s cooking.
For smoothies and sauces, there’s no need to defrost them as well. Right when you’re about to blend the smoothies or sauce, remove the frozen tomatillos from the freezer and place them directly into the blender.
If you don’t need tomatillos right away, you can use the refrigerator method. Remove the number of tomatillos from the freezer and place them into the fridge. Place a bowl underneath it to collect melting water. Let it sit in the fridge, and you can use them whenever you’re ready.
Can You Refreeze Tomatillos?
It’s not a good idea to refreeze tomatillos. If you do, you may find that the fruit is not very enjoyable. The texture of it will become mushy when thawed and have a significant flavor loss.
However, if the tomatillos have not thawed completely, you can refreeze them. This means that the tomatillos are still about 90% frozen, and it’s in the fridge.
To prevent having to refreeze them, it’s a good idea to portion them into smaller containers. This way, you will only need to remove the amount you need without having to worry about any leftovers and refreezing them. The
Other Questions about Tomatillos
Can you freeze tomatillos salsa?
Yes, you can freeze tomatillos salsa. Properly stored, the salsa will taste fresh when it thaws. Simply place the salsa into an airtight container, leaving about an inch of room at the top for the salsa to expand during freezing. Then secure the lid onto the container, label them with the date of freezing and place them into the freezer for storage.
Can you freeze tomatillo sauce?
Yes, you can freeze tomatillo sauce. It’s a great way to store them for later used to save time preparing them.
Once you’re done making the sauce, place them into an airtight container or freezer bag. Leave about an inch of space at top of the container or bag. This will allow the sauce to expand without the container or bag breaking.
Seal the container or freezer bag tightly and place them into the freezer. Tomatillo sauce will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Can you freeze tomatillo dressing?
It’s not recommended to freezing tomatillo dressing. The problem is with the dressing as most of it uses milk and cream as the ingredients. When it’s frozen, they will separate. As it thaws, you’ll have tomatillo dressing that’s not very appealing and don’t taste quite as it should.