How to Freeze Dry Diced Tomatoes

Got tomatoes?

If your garden is bursting with ripe beauties and you’re wondering how on earth to keep up—freeze drying diced tomatoes might just be your new favorite trick.

I started freeze drying tomatoes last year, and let me tell you: it’s a total game changer. Not only is it a fantastic way to use up a bumper crop, but your future self will be absolutely thrilled when you reach for a jar of ready-to-go diced tomatoes in the middle of winter. No canning. No freezer burn. Just shelf-stable, nutrient-rich tomatoes ready to toss into soups, stews, and sauces.

Why Freeze Dry?

The beauty of freeze drying is that it preserves food at room temperature—no electricity required for storage and no cooking required during preservation. That means no vinegar, citrus juice, or salt like you’d need for canning, and no freezer space needed either.

And using freeze-dried tomatoes? Couldn’t be easier. Just add them directly to your recipe! You might need to bump up the liquid a bit, but most of the time I don’t even bother. They rehydrate beautifully and taste like summer.

If you’re looking for a way to preserve tomatoes without the fuss of canning or the limitations of freezing, learning how to freeze dry diced tomatoes is a skill worth adding to your homestead toolkit.

No Freeze Dryer? No Problem.

If you don’t have a freeze dryer, you can still follow the same prep steps and freeze your diced tomatoes instead. I recommend quart-sized bags, filled only about 75% full so they freeze flat. Once frozen, you can store them vertically to save space. Easy peasy.

How to Freeze Dry Diced Tomatoes

Here’s my step-by-step process to freeze dry diced tomatoes:

1. Start with ripe tomatoes—paste varieties are best, but any type will do.
2. Core and remove blemishes.
3. Boil a large pot of water.
4. Prepare a bowl of ice water.
5. Blanch tomatoes for 30 seconds or until skins split.
6. Transfer to ice bath to cool.
7. Peel skins by hand and discard.
8. Slice in half lengthwise and dice with a veggie chopper.
9. Spread diced tomatoes on freeze dryer trays.
10. Freeze trays before placing in freeze dryer (I use plastic lids).
11. Freeze dry according to your machine’s instructions.
12. Store in airtight containers—don’t forget to label with date and contents!

I love using glass jars for storage. They’re pretty, practical, and keep everything fresh.

Recommended Tools for Freeze Drying Diced Tomatoes

Here’s my go-to gear for this process:

Watch the Process

Prefer to see it in action? I’ve got you covered. Watch the full process from start to finish in under 7 minutes. You’ll be ready to freeze dry diced tomatoes like a pro in no time.

Family Favorite Recipe

One of our go-to dinners that uses freeze-dried diced tomatoes is Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s cozy, flavorful, and a perfect way to showcase your preserved harvest.

Want More Tomato Tips?

If you’re swimming in tomatoes and looking for more ways to preserve them, check out my Preserving Tomatoes course. It’s packed with practical tips, recipes, and techniques to help you make the most of your harvest.

Here’s to preserving the goodness of summer—one tomato at a time. 💛