Can You Freeze Cherry Tomatoes?
That pint of cherry tomatoes going wrinkly on the counter is one rinse away from solved. Frozen whole, they blister beautifully when roasted from frozen and collapse into deep, sweet sauce the moment they hit a warm pan.
Also called: grape tomatoes · baby plum tomatoes · small tomatoes
Yes for cooking — cherry tomatoes freeze whole, crack their skins, and thaw into soft flavor-packed sauce tomatoes.
How to freeze cherry tomatoes well
Freeze them whole — washed, dried, stems off — on a tray, then bag. Roast straight from frozen with oil and garlic, or drop into simmering sauces where the loosened skins lift right out.
Before it goes in
- Rinse cherry tomatoes and dry them completely; pull off any stems or stem caps.
- Spread on a lined tray, not touching, and freeze until solid.
- Pour the frozen orbs into a freezer bag and press out the air.
- Skip slicing — frozen cherry tomatoes weep less whole and cook better intact.
Containers & wrapping
A tray for the initial freeze, then a simple freezer bag. They roll and rattle, so a rigid container saves space in a packed freezer.
Freezer storage
2 months
The skins toughen slightly over time; earlier bags roast up sweeter and juicier.
Read the window on cherry tomatoes as advice, not a warning. At 0 °F / -18 °C it is safe to eat at any age; 2 months is simply where the flavor and texture are worth the most.
Thawing cherry tomatoes without spoiling it
Usually skip it — roast from frozen for concentrated, blistered results, or simmer straight into sauce. If thawing, expect a puddle of juice; use it, it is the best part.
Can cherry tomatoes be frozen twice in a row?
Not recommended — thawed cherry tomatoes weep badly, and a second freeze leaves them hollow and leathery.
Texture & flavor changes
The skins crack and the insides turn jammy-soft; eaten raw they are a watery letdown. Roasted or simmered, the concentrated flavor is arguably better than fresh, since the cell damage helps them break down fast.
Best uses after thawing
Where thawed cherry tomatoes shines:
- Roasted side dish
- Quick pan sauce
- Pasta sauce
- Shakshuka
- Soups
Caveats worth knowing
- Frozen cherry tomatoes never return to snacking shape — they are soft and split from the first thaw.
- They release a lot of juice when cooked; give the pan room or the sauce steams instead of roasts.
- Slicing before freezing is wasted effort; the pieces stick together and leak.
Cherry Tomatoes freezing: questions
Can you freeze cherry tomatoes whole?
Yes — whole is the best way. Wash, dry, tray-freeze until solid, then bag. The skins crack during freezing, which sounds like damage but works in your favor: they peel away or blister in the oven just as you want.
How long can you freeze grape tomatoes?
Two months for best quality. They stay safe while frozen, but the skins toughen and the flavor dulls over time, so roast the oldest bags first. Cherry tomatoes lose their snacking snap faster than full-size tomatoes — date every bag and plan on sauce and roasting duty.
Can you roast frozen cherry tomatoes?
Absolutely — it is the best use for them. Toss the frozen orbs with oil and salt, roast at high heat straight from the freezer, and they blister and concentrate beautifully in about 20 minutes.
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