Ah! You’re asking about how to preserve fresh tomatoes for up to 2 years without using vinegar. That’s totally doable, but it requires freezing, drying, or canning with heat rather than pickling. Here’s a clear guide:
🍅 Methods to Preserve Tomatoes Long-Term (No Vinegar)
1️⃣ Freezing (Best for 1–2 years)
- Wash and core the tomatoes.
- Optionally, blanch: Boil 30–60 sec, then ice water — skins peel off easily.
- You can freeze them:
- Whole: Just toss in freezer bags.
- Chopped: Dice and place in freezer-safe containers.
- Sauce/purée: Cook slightly, then freeze in portions.
- Label with date — lasts 12–24 months in freezer.
2️⃣ Dehydrating / Drying
- Slice tomatoes ¼–½ inch thick.
- Place on a dehydrator tray or oven tray (oven ~140°F / 60°C).
- Dry until leathery but not brittle (8–12 hours).
- Store in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags.
- Can last up to 2 years in cool, dark storage.
- Optional: Add olive oil and herbs before sealing for flavor.
3️⃣ Pressure Canning (Tomatoes Only, No Vinegar)
- Use a pressure canner — vinegar is normally added to lower pH for safety, but acidic vegetables can be safely canned by pressure.
- Steps:
- Wash, peel, and core tomatoes.
- Pack into sterilized jars.
- Add hot tomato juice or puree to cover.
- Seal and process in a pressure canner according to weight and altitude guidelines.
- Properly processed jars can last 1–2 years or longer.
4️⃣ Tomato Paste / Concentrate (Frozen or Canned)
- Cook down tomatoes into a thick paste.
- Freeze in ice cube trays or small containers.
- Or pressure can the paste.
- Concentrated form lasts longer and is easy to use in cooking.
💡 Tips for Best Preservation
- Always use ripe, unbruised tomatoes.
- Sterilize jars, containers, or bags to avoid contamination.
- Keep in cool, dark, dry storage if not frozen.
- Label with date to track age.
If you want, I can make a step-by-step “2-year no-vinegar tomato preservation plan” combining freezing, drying, and canning, so you can store fresh tomatoes safely without vinegar.
Do you want me to do that?
