Tomato paste is a product obtained using heat treatment of ripe tomatoes. In cooking, it is used to prepare first courses (soups, borscht), pizza, sauces, ketchups, gravy, and tomato juice.
In the original packaging, the product can be stored for quite a long time - up to 3 years . Opened tomato paste, even in the refrigerator, begins to quickly deteriorate and become moldy. There are several ways to preserve the taste and suitability of this product for a long time.
What determines the shelf life
The main factors influencing shelf life are ambient temperature and .
- At temperatures above 20°C-25°C, biochemical processes accelerate, causing a change in the qualitative composition of tomato paste.
- Changes in humidity cause activation of the processes of molding and rotting .
Optimal storage conditions
The rules for storing tomato paste in original packaging are specified in the national standard GOST-54678-2011 “Concentrated tomato products”. For all types of packaging, storage should be carried out at a relative air humidity of no more than 75% and a temperature in the range of 0°C-25°C . If these conditions are met, tomato paste will be suitable for consumption within the following periods:
- In glass containers - 36 months .
- In metal containers with enamel coating - 36 months .
- In metal containers with varnish – 12 months .
- In containers made of polymer (plastic) materials - 12 months .
Let us remind you that these deadlines apply only to unopened packages . Depressurization leads to interaction with the environment, as a result of which the shelf life of the product is significantly reduced. Therefore, you need to understand how to store tomato paste after opening the package.
How to freeze tomato puree for the winter in the freezer
Step 5
To form briquettes, take special molds. These can be small silicone containers for cupcakes, candies or ice. It is convenient to remove ready-made frozen cubes from such containers.
My advice. When choosing forms for freezing, remember that frozen tomato puree cannot be re-frozen. Therefore, choose containers with a volume for using the workpiece one time.
Pour tomato puree into the selected forms, filling the containers not to the brim, since the liquid expands during freezing.
Step 6
Let's send the workpiece to the freezer by turning on the “blast freezing” or “super freezing” mode.
Flash freezing will help cool the product quickly and preserve all its benefits. Leave the briquettes until the puree is completely frozen, about 4 hours.
Step 7
Then remove the frozen tomato puree from the molds, put it in special plastic bags with zippers or in a tightly closed plastic container.
Store the product in the freezer at a temperature no higher than -15 degrees for 8-10 months. At higher temperatures, the product is stored without loss of quality and vitamins for 3-4 months.
PS: in a similar way, you can make different versions of assorted vegetable preparations by adding various components to the tomato puree: twisted sweet peppers, chopped herbs, etc.
I wish everyone good homemade preparations that will make it easier for all housewives to prepare food in the kitchen and help replenish the body with vitamins throughout the year until the new harvest!
Features of storage at home
Usually, after opening a can of tomato paste and using a small amount of this product, the leftovers are put in the refrigerator. Temperatures of 2°C-4°C are well suited for both long-term storage and everyday use. At this temperature, the paste does not freeze, maintaining the desired consistency.
It is not recommended to store leftover product in metal and plastic packaging for a long time. The best option is a glass jar with a tight lid . Depending on the amount of remaining paste and the forecast for its further use, you can choose one of the storage methods tested in practice:
- Secondary canning . This method is used when there is a lot of residual product, and the timing of its use is difficult to predict. The paste is thoroughly boiled, after which it is placed in glass jars and rolled under lids, as in classical preservation.
- Protection with vegetable oil . Depending on the size of the container, vegetable (sunflower) oil is poured onto the top layer of the paste, which protects the product from exposure to air.
- Deep freeze . Sometimes novice cooks have a question: is it possible to store tomato paste in the freezer? In fact, this is the most effective, “long-lasting” storage method. The remaining product is placed in a freezer with a minus temperature of 18°C-24°C. In this case, different options are possible:
- The metal (tin) can is frozen entirely. After 1-2 days, the frozen paste is removed from the jar, cut into individual portions and placed back in the freezer, subsequently removing the required amount.
- The remaining tomato paste is placed into molds used for freezing ice, or into cupcakes for sweets and cupcakes.
- The contents of the jar are transferred to a vacuum bag with tight clasps. The package is given a “sausage” shape and placed in the freezer. After complete freezing, it is very convenient to cut off pieces of tomato “sausage” of the required size with a knife.
- Mustard protection . In this case, the preservative properties of mustard are used, which is used to lubricate the lower surface of the lid and the neck of the jar.
Methods for storing tomato paste
There are several simple but effective ways to store opened tomato paste.
If the product was purchased in a metal container, immediately after opening it is transferred to a dry, clean glass jar. Then the jar is tightly closed and sent to the refrigerator shelf. In the future, based on the amount of product consumed, you will have to choose between storing it on a shelf or in the freezer.
Recanning
The most reliable, but costly storage option is to re-boil the paste. This method is suitable if there is quite a lot of product and it will not be used soon.
After boiling, the paste is placed in small sterile glass jars. Then they are hermetically sealed with lids, as with conventional preservation. For convenience, sterile screw caps can be used.
With vegetable oil
When a large container of tomato sauce or paste has been opened, and only a small part of the product has been used, add a few tablespoons of sunflower oil to the jar and close it tightly with a lid.
The storage of tomato paste after opening using sunflower oil will be longer if you wipe the neck and walls of the jar clean from product residues. This will prevent mold from developing, which will increase the shelf life of the paste. But before putting the paste in the refrigerator, you need to shake it several times so that the oil gets on the walls of the container.
If vegetable oil is poured onto the top layer of the paste, its contact with air will be minimized, which will protect the product from oxidation, mold and drying out. Its taste will remain unchanged, and its shelf life will increase to 2 - 3 weeks.
Freezing in a jar
How to store opened tomato paste in the freezer if it is in a tin?
First, remove the opened lid and cover the container with cling film. Then the jar is sent to the freezer until completely frozen. After 24 hours, the jar is removed from the freezer and the entire jar is placed in boiling water for a few seconds. This procedure will help separate the frozen mass from the walls of the container. Next, the product is cut into discs, the thickness of which should not exceed 2 - 3 cm. Then each of them is packaged in a separate bag, tightly closed and sent back to the freezer.
The shelf life of frozen tomato paste is 3 months.
Freezing in molds
Before storing opened tomato paste in the freezer, you need to prepare special molds for freezing. These can be plastic containers for making ice or silicone ones for baking.
Tomato sauce or paste is laid out in containers so that there is a little space left to the top. Otherwise, when freezing, the product may go beyond the mold.
After a day, do the following:
- cubes (circles) are transferred into bags in small portions,
- close them tightly
- return to the freezer.
Freezing in a vacuum bag
The contents of the container are transferred into an oblong zip-lock bag and formed into a “sausage”. After freezing, all that remains is to put the mass in another bag, remove the product as needed and separate the required amount with a knife.
With mustard
With the help of mustard, which is an excellent natural preservative, you can increase the shelf life of tomato paste after opening. Lubricate the neck of the opened jar and the inner surface of the nylon lid with mustard.
How to “calculate” bad pasta and what to do with it
To reject a low-quality product, you can use the following quality control methods:
- When purchasing, first of all, you need to pay attention to the date of manufacture and shelf life indicated on the packaging. You should refrain from purchasing an expired product, even if other signs (color, consistency) look plausible.
- In a typical situation, when the paste is stored in an open package from which a certain quantity has been previously selected, the signs of degradation are as follows:
- The smell is sharply different from the classic tomato.
- A dark film on the surface combined with small bubbles.
- White coating indicating the presence of bacteria.
- Clear signs of mold.
Dealing with the resuscitation of tomato paste is not only a thankless task, but also unsafe . The best thing to do is not to risk your health, but to dispose of the spoiled product and buy a jar of “fresh” paste in return.
What to do if tomato paste becomes moldy?
To prevent tomato paste from becoming moldy, housewives have several secrets:
- Transfer the rest of the tomato into a glass jar, level the surface and pour in vegetable oil (sunflower, olive) so that the entire surface is covered. A couple of tablespoons will be enough.
- Freeze the sauce in a tin and then transfer to a plastic bag. If necessary, you can cut off pieces or store already cut portions in the freezer.
- Sprinkle dry mustard over the surface of the paste.
- The glass jar must be carefully closed to prevent air from entering. And also, before putting the tomato in the refrigerator, you need to level the surface - this way the area is reduced and the air has less impact on the product.
- For cooking, the tomato should only be scooped with a clean spoon - this limits the possibility of various food oxidizing agents that provoke the growth of mold.
- You can use turmeric or a clove of garlic along with vegetable oil.
Before using the seasoning, you should make sure that the product has expiration dates. If plaque has already formed on the surface of the tomato, then it is better not to use such a tomato. After all, only obvious mold colonies are visible on the surface, while invisible spores can be spread throughout the product.
Cooking food from a product contaminated with mold can provoke the development of certain diseases, for example, poisoning, diarrhea, upset stomach, and allergic reactions.
