The scenario is common: You open a can of tomato paste so that you can use a tablespoon or 2 in a recipe and then you put some foil on top, put the can in the fridge and completely forget about it.
Then you find that moldy can when you’re doing your cleaning, and you feel disappointed as you toss out the unused paste in the trash.
If this has ever happened to you, you may be looking for convenient ways of storing tomato paste so that you can skip the guilt and stop wasting food.
And that’s where this blog post was born.
What to Do With Leftover Tomato Paste
It’s way easier to store tomato paste than you think — and this method is one I use every single time I’m making something (like my Rigatoni alla Vodka) that only needs a dollop or two.
Not only does this take all the guilt out of tossing out moldy paste, but storing tomato paste this way also makes it easy to grab a tablespoon whenever you need one. All you’ll need is a baking tray, some parchment paper, a ziplock bag and space in your freezer.
Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Easy peasy. Take a small baking tray (one that can fit in your freezer) and line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: Scoop the unused tomato paste on to the tray.
Take a tablespoon and scoop out the tomato paste. Dollop each scoop on to the parchment-lined baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Keep going until all of the tomato paste is on the tray.
Step 3: Flash freeze the tomato paste.
Now put the tray uncovered into the freezer and let the tomato paste sit until completely frozen. I usually just leave it overnight because I forget about it, but you’ll know it’s ready when you can pick up a dollop of paste and it keeps its cute frozen shape.
Step 4: Add the tomato paste to a zip lock and store in the freezer.
Now just put the frozen tomato paste in a zip lock bag and store it in the freezer! Whenever a recipe calls for a tablespoon or two, you can just pop one out the bag. I usually let it thaw at room temperature until it softens up a bit, but I’ve also been known to throw a frozen one into a soup or stew — works just as well for me!
If you try this tip (or any of my recipes), don’t forget to leave a comment and/or a rating! My favorite part about sharing my recipes and kitchen tips is being able to chat with you. If you ever share a recipe to Instagram, don’t forget to tag me so that I can see it! Happy eating <3
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