Cherry Tomato Recipes & Preserving Tips – 6 Different Ways

Are you overwhelmed with a ton of little cherry tomatoes but aren’t sure what to do with them? I’ve put together a list of 6 different cherry tomato recipes and preserving tips so you don’t waste your harvest!

If there’s one tomato variety that makes the most of the growing season, it’s cherry tomatoes! These plants are the best for pushing out loads of tiny tomatoes, especially if you are growing an indeterminate variety. One plant can be enough to feed an entire family – and then some!

However, there might come a time when your countertops are overflowing with these little red globes, and they are rotting faster than you can consume them. (Trust me, you can only enjoy so many fresh cherry tomatoes! And let’s not even talk about the fruit flies!)

Thankfully, there are still plenty of ways to use up those cherry tomatoes from your garden. From canning to freezing to using in all sorts of recipes, cherry tomatoes are one of the most versatile little tomatoes out there!

6 Cherry Tomato Recipes And Preserving Tips

1. Freezing Them

One of the easiest ways to preserve and save your cherry tomatoes is to freeze them. This allows you the freedom to use them at a later date when you aren’t buried in so many late summer tasks and activities.

The best part is that you can freeze cherry tomatoes whole. All you have to do is give them a good washing to remove any dirt or pests that might’ve hitched a ride during harvest. Allow the tomatoes to dry fully. If you find any that are split or have bruises or other blemishes, remove them from the pile. You only want to freeze the best and healthiest fruit.

Once the tomatoes are dry, I like to flash freeze them for easier storage. I place the tomatoes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Set the baking sheet in the freezer for 12 to 24 hours or until the tomatoes are frozen through. You can then store the frozen tomatoes in freezer zip-lock bags or other freezer-safe containers. If you want to skip flash freezing, just toss the dry tomatoes in a freezer-safe bag and place them in your freezer.

Most frozen tomatoes do not have the same consistency when they thaw out. If you have teeny tiny cherry tomatoes like Spoon Tomatoes, those do still taste really good right from the freezer, topped on your salad. But most cherry tomatoes get a bit mushy as they thaw out.

This makes their thawed texture not great for fresh eating. However, they are still excellent for enjoying in baked or cooked dishes or for turning into sauces, juices, and the like.

2. Diced Tomatoes – Cherry Tomato Recipes

Another option is to turn the cherry tomatoes into diced tomatoes. Since cherry tomatoes still have quite a bit of flesh compared to juice, they are a good alternative to using paste tomatoes.

Your diced tomatoes can be processed and kept in shelf-stable jars, or you can freeze them for later use. With either method, the tomatoes will soften up after processing or freezing. Because of this, they are better used for cooking or turning into sauces.

I love canning diced tomatoes because it is so nice to be able to walk to the pantry and grab a jar of homemade diced tomatoes for a recipe instead of purchasing them from a grocery store. (Like for my One Skillet Taco Spaghetti or Cheesy Bowtie Pasta and Smoked Sausage recipes!)

Wash and cut the tomatoes into small pieces using a sharp knife or a vegetable chopper. (This is similar to the older one I have. I think I might need an update! Product Link: Fullstar The Original Pro Chopper) To can shelf-stable diced tomatoes, follow a tested recipe. (This is the recipe I use.) You can also freeze diced tomatoes for later use as a great alternative.

3. Homemade Salsa

You can use a mix of any type of tomatoes for making salsa, but cherry tomatoes are a great option. If you’ve ever had homemade salsa, then you know that no matter what varieties you use, store-bought jarred salsa doesn’t even come close to the fresh taste of homemade salsas. Even if you aren’t a home canner, you can still enjoy the flavors and benefits of making salsa using your own ingredients.

What’s best is that you can control the flavors and ingredients added. This is especially true if you aren’t canning the salsa, since you have more flexibility with the ingredient combinations. (Always use a tested recipe, like from the Ball Mason Jar’s website, if you are home canning.)

As for fresh salsa, you can find tons of recipes online or try your hand at making your own. The usual main ingredients include tomatoes, onions, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, and garlic.

For seasonings, a mixture of salt, pepper, cumin, and cilantro is common. (Well, only use cilantro if you enjoy the flavors of soap!) Some people also add a hint of lime juice. Store the fresh salsa in your fridge to enjoy in a few weeks or freeze it for later use.

4. Tomato Juice – Cherry Tomato Recipes

Just because they are small doesn’t mean cherry tomatoes can’t pack a lot of flavor and juice! In fact, cherry tomatoes are perfect for turning into a delicious tomato juice that you can process or freeze for later use.

Not only can you enjoy it just as is, but tomato juice is a great product to have on hand to add to all sorts of recipes. Use the juice as a base for various soups and stews. Cook it down to turn it into tomato sauce or add it to casseroles by replacing the water with the juice. And while it isn’t my cup of tea, you can use tomato juice for Bloody Marys.

To make tomato juice out of cherry tomatoes, wash the fruit and place them in a large enameled or stainless steel stockpot. Stirring often, bring the tomatoes to a boil. As they heat up, the tomatoes start to break down and release their juices. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

Pass the tomatoes through a food mill or strainer to separate the juice from the seeds, skin, and solids. Cool and freeze or follow an approved recipe for canning.

5. Roasted/Burst Tomatoes

Another easy way to use up cherry tomatoes is to roast them. These are also sometimes called “burst” or “blistered” tomatoes and have a wide variety of uses. They have an amazing, highly concentrated tomato flavor that can be enhanced with your favorite seasonings.

The roasted tomatoes are the perfect size for adding to almost any main dish or appetizer. Enjoy them with fresh pasta, pizza, eggs, chicken, mozzarella, grilled cheese, avocado toast, cottage cheese, burgers – pretty much anything that can benefit from a bright tomato flavor. If you have a whole bunch of them, turn the roasted tomatoes into a roasted pasta sauce!

To make roasted cherry tomatoes, wash and dry them, then slice the tomatoes in half. You can leave them whole, but it takes a bit longer so I prefer to slice them. Place the sliced tomatoes cut-side up on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Spray the tops lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle on a bit of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. (Or any of your favorite seasonings.) Roast them at 400º Fahrenheit for 40 to 60 minutes, or until the skins have wrinkled and the tomatoes have dried up a bit. Enjoy them warm, cooled, or freeze them to use later on.

6. Dehydrated Tomatoes – Cherry Tomato Recipes

Another option to use up your cherry tomatoes that you don’t hear about often is dehydration. Similar to roasted cherry tomatoes, they will have a super concentrated flavor but with less moisture. They actually end up looking kind of like dark red raisins.

Dehydrated tomatoes are great to add to soups, sauces, pasta dishes, and more. If you dry them long enough, you can turn the cherry tomatoes into a tomato powder that you can use to season all sorts of dishes.

To dehydrate them, wash, dry, and slice the tomatoes in half. Place them on your dehydrator trays with the cut side facing up. Set the dehydrator to 140º F to dry. (Here is the dehydrator I have – Product Link: COSORI Food Dehydrator.)

Since cherry tomatoes contain a lot of liquid, it will take several hours for them to dry out. Check the tomatoes after 5 hours, then hourly thereafter until they reach your desired consistency. Store the dehydrated tomatoes in a sealed glass jar. Pop in a packet of silica gel desiccant to help keep them fresh and moisture-free.

Hopefully, these six ideas and recipes will give you some fun ways to use up your cherry tomato harvest and allow you to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer all year long!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

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