Creative Uses for Leftover Tomato Paste: Recipes & Storage Tips

Best Way to Store Tomato Paste

It’s frustrating when a recipe calls for only a few tablespoons of tomato paste and you’re left with the rest of the can. Often it gets tucked into the back of the fridge under plastic wrap and forgotten until mold appears. Fortunately, saving leftover tomato paste is easy and keeps waste to a minimum.

Because it’s simple to preserve, I don’t hesitate to call for a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste in recipes. Here’s a quick, reliable method that keeps the paste usable for months.

How to Freeze Tomato Paste

Scrape the remaining paste into a small, freezer-safe zipper bag. Label the bag with “Tomato Paste” and the date so you know how long it’s been stored. Press out as much air as you can, seal the bag, and lay it flat in the freezer.

Flattening the bag makes the paste easy to break off later and saves space in the freezer.

Once frozen, you can snap off the amount you need—about a tablespoon at a time—or cut the bag into portions. Tomato paste doesn’t require precise measurements the way some baking ingredients do, so approximate amounts are fine.

The bag method is faster and cleaner than using ice cube trays, though tray cubes work well if you prefer perfectly portioned spoonfuls.

What To Do with Leftover Tomato Paste: The Best (Hack!) Way to Store Leftover Tomato Paste for Future Recipes – Indefinitely!

Substitution for Tomato Paste

If you need a small amount of tomato paste (three tablespoons or less) and don’t have any on hand, a quick substitute is ketchup or an increased amount of pureed tomatoes. These swaps work well in many savory recipes when a little tomato flavor is all that’s required.

Recipes for Leftover Tomato Paste

Here are a few recipes that make good use of leftover tomato paste.

More Cooking Tips to Read:

• How to Freeze and Defrost Casseroles
• 7 Ways to Use Leftover Ground Turkey
• 8 Ways to Save Money Cooking
• 10 Surprising Foods to Freeze