Tomatoes In The Hole | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a large bag of tomatoes? ›

If you have a huge glut of tomatoes to use up, slowly dehydrate them in a low oven so they're gummy, gnarly and full of intense flavour. Then transfer to jars, cover with oil and keep to use in pasta dishes, salads, or as part of an antipasti spread.

However, a general recommendation is to use grow bags that are at least 5 gallons (19 liters) in size for standard tomato varieties. This provides sufficient space for the root system to develop and supports healthy plant growth.

Peeling works best with larger varieties. Do not be put off by this extra step—it is easy and quickly done, as long as you use firm, large-sized cherry tomatoes.

Preserving Tomatoes for the Winter by Dehydrating

Simply slice your tomatoes and dehydrate on a teflex-lined dehydrator sheet at 112 degrees overnight. If you'd like them a bit on the softer side, it means they've retained some water, so store them in the fridge or freezer.

The easiest way to preserve tomatoes is to freeze them. You don't need to blanch them, you don't need to peel them. Just rinse, dry, core, and put them on a small tray or plate in the freezer.

Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they're thawed.

There is no specific limit on the number of tomatoes you can eat in a day, as it largely depends on individual dietary preferences and tolerance. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene. They are low in calories and can be a good source of hydration.

While you're busy canning all that pasta sauce and salsa, you may as well do a few cans of regular, tasty tomatoes! Perfect for soups, spaghetti sauces, and whatever crock pot recipes you may have up your sleeve. *Add them to your scrambled eggs. Or make a fancy omelet with tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms!

What to do with hillbilly tomatoes? ›

'Hillbilly' tomatoes are best enjoyed fresh: a single slice fits perfectly in a sandwich or on a burger. These large tomatoes can also be made into an eye-catching yellow soup.

Put otherwise: Chilling may reduce flavor in tomato x because volatile compounds associated with flavor are sensitive to temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 Fahrenheit). But the chief parameter is whether tomato x is flavorful in the first place. If you don't like it chilled, you won't like it fresh either.

If desired, halve, slice, or chop tomatoes (you can also freeze whole tomatoes). Spoon the tomatoes into freezer containers or bags, leaving 1-inch headspace. Seal and label the container or bag. Freeze for up to 10 months.

For indeterminate tomato plants, which continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season, larger grow bags are recommended. A 10-gallon grow bag is a good starting point for indeterminate tomato plants.

Your old growbag is full of microbial life and can be reused. Your tomato plant is done, and you think your growbag is too, but before you throw out the bag, consider reusing the soil for winter cultivation. The mould in your growbag can surely be used one more time.