Leftover tomato paste

[pacanis]

I have no idea if this is the right forum topic for this...

How do you store leftover tomato paste? Can you freeze it? Can I leave it in the opened can and use a Handy-Vac bag on it? Will it last "forever"? It seems like it might if vaccuum sealed....

[GotGarlic]

You can freeze it. Measure it out in 1-tbsp. portions on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper and freeze. Put the frozen paste in a ziplock bag and take out pieces as you need them. I think this is easier than vacuum-sealing it, although that would probably work, too. HTH.

[Andy M.]

Place tablespoon sized piles of paste on an oiled dish and freeze. When frozen, pry them off the plate and pop into a freezer bag for long term storage.

[suziquzie]

yep, I freeze it. Not sure how much work you want to do this morning....
Plop it onto wax paper on a cookie sheet in 1 TBSP blobs, freeze them, then throw them in a ziplock. Then you have a TB measured for your next adventure with pot roast.

[suziquzie]

OK don't everyone type at once!!!
Oh I forgot I also make pizza sauce with it and freeze that.
heat up a few TB of olive oil, add a few cloves of chopped garlic, get them just soft, add some oregano, basil, rosemary, whatever else you like, dont let the garlic brown. add your paste then water to the desired thickness. use it or freeze it.

[pacanis]

So I take it it is OK to freeze then?

Thanks for the tips. I like the plate idea (no wax paper in the house). I'll just spray it with a little cooking spray.

And since my little town doesn't have a good pizza shop among them, thanks for your sauce recipe, suzi. Making my own pizza is on my short list of things I need to start doing again.

[YT2095]

you can freeze it sure, but you MUST take it out of the can! do not even store it for a Day in the can once it`s been opened.

[pacanis]

Originally Posted by YT2095

you can freeze it sure, but you MUST take it out of the can! do not even store it for a Day in the can once it`s been opened.

Huh? How about half a day?
I better go check on it I guess and get it in the freezer.

[Andy M.]

Most tomato paste cans are plastic coated on the inside to prevent the acid in the tomato from reacting with the metal. I don't think you will have a problem.

[YT2095]

I agree, but it`s the word "Most" that concerns me, based on that I work on the principal that if you never do it, it can`t become a habit and catch you with your pants down one day! ;)