We’ve all had this experience. You have a recipe that calls for tomato paste, usually just a tablespoon or two. You do your best to store the rest of the can, maybe in a plastic baggie, or wrapped in cling wrap. Over time, the can gets pushed to the back of the fridge and the next time you look at it, it’s contents are black and hairy.
While a can of tomato paste is pretty inexpensive, I still feel bad every time I throw away food. It’s my most hated form of waste. So, what’s a person to do?
On a recent episode of Alton Brown’s Return of Good Eats, he showed his method: freezing an entire can, then using a can opener on both ends to effectively create a tomato “push pop”. He’d push the paste out and use a knife to cut of the amount he needed. It’s not a bad method, but a little inaccurate, and one that dirties a knife and the counter or cutting board each time you do it.
My method is a little more work on the front end, but far more accurate, consistent, and speedy when you’re actually making a dish that requires tomato paste. I use a spatula to portion out my tomato paste into a silicone half sphere candy mold. Each mold holds one tablespoon. I then freeze the mold for two hours, pop the tomato paste out, and put them in a ZipLoc freezer bag for future use.
This method can also be used to store egg whites, rendered fat (lard, tallow, bacon drippings), or fresh herbs in oil or butter.
Check out the video below to see my method in action.
Steve,
This is a great idea! I have been wasting tons of tomato paste over my lifetime… No More, after this ingenious hack! Thank you for sharing 😉
Steve, Thank you! I didn’t realize the tomato paste could be frozen. I just threw out 3/4 of a can, next time I’ll freeze the rest.
Steve, that is obsessively brilliant.
And, yeah, I would have put a smile on there, but my keyboard wouldn’t let me. (insert smile here, too)
You can also use this method (or an ice cube tray) to freeze the other half can of coconut milk.
Also leftover gravy for adding to soups.
Good tip
That’s a great idea! I just spoon mine it to a ziploc bag, flatten to remove the air, then freeze. I break off what I need, when I need it. Quick and simple, if you don’t have a mold and takes no space in the freezer.