It’s tomato season! And, I don’t know about you, but my garden’s been working overtime this season. Talk about too much of a good thing!
Yes, come late-August and September, many gardeners end up with a dozen or two heirloom tomatoes ripening on their kitchen counter, with dozens more cherry, San Marzano, Brandywine, Yellow Pear, and countless other tomato varieties ripening on the vine.
6 Creative Ways to Use Up Extra TomatoesSalsa. Making a few fresh jars of salsa is a great way to use up any extra Tomatoes in your kitchen. … Ketchup. Have you ever made your own ketchup? … Virgin Caesars. … Tomato Soup. … Bruschetta. … Gazpacho.
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Salsa. Making a few fresh jars of salsa is a great way to use up any extra Tomatoes in your kitchen. …
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Ketchup. Have you ever made your own ketchup? …
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Virgin Caesars. …
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Tomato Soup. …
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Bruschetta. …
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Gazpacho.
Too many tomatoes? Use them as a skin cleanser
Did you know you could clean your face with a tomato? YES, it’s true! (Check out this line of tomato facial products :)) The acids in tomato juice are great for softening and cleaning skin, while the lycopene helps eliminate free radicals.
For oily skin: mix equal parts fresh tomato juice and aloe vera juice.
For dry skin: use a ratio of 1 part tomato juice to 2 parts aloe vera juice.
Rub a tablespoon of this mixture into your face and rinse with warm water.
Tomatoes are also wonderful at soothing sunburn. If your sunburn is recent and not blistering or peeling, rubbing a slice of tomato on it can lessen the redness. According to this study, eating tomatoes can increase your skin’s natural sun protection. One more reason to eat those beauties!
“What the heck am I gonna do with all these tomatoes?”
Too many tomatoes. Not a bad problem to have, actually. But it can be daunting to find ideas on how to use them all.
The Only 10 Tomatoes I’m Planting This Year
FAQ
Can I freeze fresh tomatoes?
How do you preserve excess tomatoes?
What can you do with tomatoes?
Let’s start with some basic recipes and make our way to delicious dinners that use tomatoes. If you have an abundance of tomatoes, you can roast or fry them to use as building blocks for pasta, soup, pizza, or to use as simple sides next to your favorite entrees. Garlic Fried Tomatoes.
What is the best type of tomato to buy?
When buying tomatoes, it is important to observe some characteristics such as the integrity of the skin, whether there are any signs of contamination by fungi or other microorganisms or by chemical contaminants. Organic tomatoes, with a vivid red color and firm consistency to the touch, are recommended for purchase. The Italian tomato is one of the most common varieties and has a good profile of nutrients and bioactive compounds that help with health.
What to do if you have extra Tomatoes?
If you have extra tomatoes, more than you know what to do with, share the extras with your neighbors, family, and friends. Or, take some to church, and give some to a local food bank. Spread a bit of cheer to those less fortunate if you have lots of tomatoes (and other fresh produce from your garden). Did you know tomatoes are good for your skin?
What to eat with tomatoes?
Some of your meatier tomatoes are perfect for tomato sandwiches: just make sure to have some crusty bread on hand. Add some mayo, avocado, basil, and onions to your ripe tomatoes, and you got a delicious lunch in minutes. If you like cheese, plop a slice on top of the tomato slices.