Preserving tomatoes allows you to enjoy their fresh taste throughout the year. There are various methods you can employ to preserve tomatoes, each with its own advantages and distinct flavor results.

Here are some popular methods:

Canning: Whole or Halved Tomatoes: Tomatoes can be canned in water, their own juice, or even tomato juice.

Tomato Sauce: Boil down tomatoes until they reach a sauce consistency and then can.

Tomato Paste: This is a more concentrated form of tomato sauce, boiled down further.

Salsa: Combining tomatoes with peppers, onions, and other ingredients and then canning.
Always use a pressure canner or a boiling-water canner and follow a tested recipe to ensure safety.

Freezing: Whole Tomatoes: Wash them, remove the cores, and freeze in plastic bags or containers.

Blanched and Peeled: Blanch tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds, then quickly cool in ice water. The skins will easily peel off. Then freeze.

Tomato Sauce or Puree: Prepare sauce or puree and cool before freezing.

Drying or Dehydrating: Cut tomatoes into halves or slices and dehydrate using a dehydrator, oven, or even sun-drying (in very sunny and dry climates). Store in a cool, dark place in airtight containers.

Tomato Powder: After dehydrating tomatoes, you can grind them into a powder. This powder can be rehydrated to make tomato paste, sauce, or soup.

Pickling: Green or cherry tomatoes can be pickled in vinegar with spices and stored in jars.

Tomato Jam or Chutney: Combine tomatoes with sugar, vinegar, and spices to make jams or chutneys.

Tomato Jelly: Made by combining tomato juice with pectin, sugar, and sometimes other flavorings.

Tomato Water: Strain fresh tomatoes to obtain a clear liquid that can be used in cocktails, soups, or sauces.

Fermentation:Ferment tomatoes to make a probiotic-rich product. For example, you can make a tomato-based fermented salsa.

Oil-Preserved Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes can be stored in olive oil, often with added herbs for flavor. Ensure the tomatoes are fully submerged in the oil.

Freeze Drying:
This method involves freezing the tomatoes and then removing the moisture in a vacuum chamber, resulting in lightweight, crispy tomatoes that can be stored for a long time.

Tomato Leather:
Spread a pureed mixture of tomatoes and desired spices on a silicone mat or plastic wrap and dehydrate until it’s flexible and leathery.
When preserving tomatoes, it’s essential to follow the proper and tested procedures to ensure food safety, especially with methods like canning. Always ensure the equipment and jars used are sterilized and that you’re working in a clean environment.