Freezing is the easiest and safest way to preserve tomatoes from your garden or the farmers market. Freezing locks in summer fresh flavor and nutrients so you can enjoy delicious tomatoes in soups and sauces all winter long. Vine ripened tomatoes taste best fresh or frozen. If you didn’t grow your own tomatoes, pay a visit to your local farmers market for a wide selection of ripe tomatoes. Pick tomatoes that are fully colored and tender but not mushy or soft. Clean the tomatoes by rinsing them individually under a stream of running water.