Tomato puree will last 6 months if stored out of the fridge with 1 kitchen item

No recipe ever calls for a whole tube of tomato puree, but once it's opened, the packaging recommends consuming it within days. However, one hack promises to avoid any of it going to waste, saving the environment and your pocket.

Instead of putting the tube back in the fridge, this method ensures the ingredient can be stored for months, and reused in perfect portions when you need it. Even though the packaging does not recommend it, food experts have revealed the staple can actually be stored in the freezer. What's more, if you only have a Ziploc bag, you can still portion it perfectly with the hack.

When you meal prep, you often have to freeze everything together unless you have ten boxes of Tupperware, which can render the process useless, because you end up taking out more than you need.

It's the same for tomato puree, which is only ever needed in small amounts. One hack shared by TikToker Rebeca Huffman showed how to ensure it comes out in perfect portions each time.

She squeezed the entire contents into a freezer-safe bag and then flattened it out. Then, to make sure the puree is portioned up, she used the blunt end of a knife and pressed down to create indents in the plastic.

Once there are clear indents, which can be adjusted in size according to your household's needs, you simply place the bag flat in the freezer, making sure none of the indents get crumpled.

Then, as soon as you're ready to cook again, simply crack the bag along the line, open it back up, and the tomato puree should be ready to take out in a perfect cube. It can be added straight into the pan, as the TikToker revealed.

According to The Kitchn food blog, fresh tomato purée can be frozen for long-term storage, which it said can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.