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Tomato Paste Hack

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Mar 21, 2025, Updated Apr 24, 2025

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Let’s save time and money with this super simple tomato paste hack. Raise your hand if your grocery bill has nearly doubled in the past few years? 🙋🏻‍♀️ Food prices are out of control 😰, which is why I’m pulling out every trick I know to make my groceries last longer and prevent waste . This easy hack is all about saving that sad half-used can of tomato paste from rotting in the back of the fridge.

  • Why You’ll Love My Tomato Paste Hack
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip
  • Tomato Paste Hack Variations and Substitutions
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Tomato Paste Hack Recipe
A stack of thin, red fruit leather squares on a white plate with parchment paper. The background shows a blurred view of a window with green trees and a colorful garden outside. Sunlight casts shadows across the table. - 3

Remember this hack next time you open up a can of tomato paste, only to use one tablespoon, and let the rest go to die in a condiment graveyard 🪦. All you need is a few minutes and parchment paper.

Why You’ll Love My Tomato Paste Hack

Recipes love to call for just one tablespoon of tomato paste but never tell you what to do with the rest of the can 🤷🏻‍♀️. I have just the solution! Instead of letting the rest of the can go to waste, try my hack for preserving tomato paste. You’ll have perfect single-tablespoon portions of tomato paste, so next time you need a spoonful for a recipe, you don’t have to open another can 👏.

How to Prepare

✂️ Cut parchment paper into small squares.

🥫Using whatever leftover tomato paste you have on hand, scoop out tablespoon-sized portions. Place a portion in the center of a parchment paper square.

🥛 Place another square of parchment on top of the tomato paste. Use a small cup or the tomato paste can to gently press the paste into a thin, even round.

⏹ Place another piece of parchment down and repeat the process until all of the tomato paste has been used up. Each portion of tomato paste should be sandwiched between its own two squares of parchment.

🧊 Store the tomato paste parchment paper stacks in a tightly sealed bag or container in the freezer and use whenever you need just a tablespoon or two of tomato paste.

Nonna’s Tip

Haters will say “just buy tomato paste in a tube instead!” But thrifty cooks know the tube is often 2 or 3x the price of canned tomato paste. 💸

Close-up of a hand holding the red tomato paste circle above a white plate. - 4

Tomato Paste Hack Variations and Substitutions

  1. You could, of course, also use this hack with tomato paste from a tube . While the tube lasts much longer in the fridge, it does not last indefinitely. After about 2 weeks, squeeze out tablespoon-sized portions and freeze them up.
  2. This hack also works beautifully for freezing other condiments that you only use in small portions, such as pesto, ketchup, bbq sauce, garlic and ginger paste, and more. (I’m looking at you, folks who live alone and parents of small kids. 👀) The thicker the sauce or condiment, the easier the hack is.
  3. You can store the parchment squares in a glass or plastic container or inside a seal-tight plastic or silicone bag 🫙.

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Best Served With

  • There are so many incredible recipes that use tomato paste. Some of my favorites include Creamy Tuscan Shrimp 🍤, Zucchini Rolls , Stuffed Onions 🧅, Lasagna Crepes , and so much more.

Common Questions

Yes, freezing leftover tomato paste is a great way to extend its shelf life once opened.

Yes. Some tell-tale signs include an off smell, discoloration, mold, or sour taste.

When stored properly in an airtight container, canned tomato paste lasts in the fridge from 5-7 days. Tomato paste in the tube lasts much longer – around 3 weeks.

Tomato paste stays fresh for 2-3 months in the freezer.

It’s not recommended. An open can in the refrigerator can leave the contents with a metallic taste and risk cross-contamination. Be sure to transfer any remaining tomato paste from the can to an airtight container before storing.

It depends on the recipe. If you’re adding the tomato paste to a warm dish that will remain on heat, then you can add it frozen. If the tomato paste needs to be stirred in right away, then consider microwaving it to defrost, for about 30 seconds.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Parchment Paper
  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Can Opener

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 can tomato paste , leftover

Instructions

  • ▢ Cut parchment paper into small squares.
  • ▢ Using whatever leftover tomato paste you have on hand, scoop out 1-tablespoon portions. Place a portion in the center of a parchment paper square.
  • ▢ Place another square of parchment on top of the tomato paste. Use a small cup or the tomato paste can to gently press the paste into a thin, even round.
  • ▢ Place another piece of parchment down and repeat the process until all of the tomato paste has been used up. Each portion of tomato paste should be sandwiched between its own two squares of parchment.
  • ▢ Store the tomato paste parchment paper stacks in a tightly sealed bag in the freezer and use whenever you need just a tablespoon or two of tomato paste.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tomato Paste Hack

Equipment

  • Parchment Paper
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Can Opener

Ingredients

  • 1 can tomato paste leftover

Instructions

  • Cut parchment paper into small squares.
  • Using whatever leftover tomato paste you have on hand, scoop out 1-tablespoon portions. Place a portion in the center of a parchment paper square.
  • Place another square of parchment on top of the tomato paste. Use a small cup or the tomato paste can to gently press the paste into a thin, even round.
  • Place another piece of parchment down and repeat the process until all of the tomato paste has been used up. Each portion of tomato paste should be sandwiched between its own two squares of parchment.
  • Store the tomato paste parchment paper stacks in a tightly sealed bag in the freezer and use whenever you need just a tablespoon or two of tomato paste.

Video

Nutrition

Tomato Paste Hack https://themodernnonna.com/tomato-paste-hack/ March 21, 2025