How to Select & Store Tomatoes

How to Select Tomatoes

What to look for when picking the best quality tomatoes?

• A good tomato should have some sheen to its skin. It should be a bright, full, color (not pale or greenish hued unless, of course, it’s a white or green variety).
• The skin should be firm, but not thick; it should have a little give, but should not be mushy.
• Tomatoes should be heavy for their size. 

Common issues to avoid when selecting tomatoes?

• Look out for large, gushing, cracks, mold spots, or bruises.
• Avoid tomatoes that are becoming translucent, wrinkled, or have a lot of give to them – these are all indicators that the fruit is overripe/past its peak. 
• Scarring is perfectly normal for heirloom tomatoes and does not indicate flavor.
• Tomatoes that feel light for their size are probably not very juicy, and instead dry/mealy, most likely picked very green and not allowed to ripen on the plant (therefore lacking in flavor).
• If possible, avoid tomatoes in the refrigerated section. Refrigeration of tomatoes causes the flavor and texture to degrade.

Are there any common issues that are specifically caused by bad grocery store handling?

• Often, tomatoes are held in a refrigerated section, when they should be kept at room temperature.

Are there any new cultivars that are being grown that might have different quality indicators or common issues to look out for?

• One of the biggest factors for good flavor in a tomato is variety selection on the part of the farmer. There are tomato varieties that have been developed to have longer shelf lives and thicker skins, which allows for long distance transport, but the downside is there is no flavor accounted for in that breeding selection, and these are the kind of tomatoes one will most likely find in the marketplace.
• Some tomatoes may have black seeds, which is a part of the variety and not at all an indication of something wrong. If you are unsure, reach out to the grower and they are more than willing to educate.

How to know which tomato to buy?

• Tomatoes come in many different sizes and shapes, so it’s best to know what flavor you want before choosing a tomato. For a savory flavor, go with a larger slicing tomato or an heirloom. For a great mix of sweet and savory, choose a cocktail tomato, and for the perfect snacking tomatoes, small grapes and cherries are your best bet. Local product will always give you the best flavor as its picked red!

How to Ripen Tomatoes

How to ripen tomatoes at home?

• If you are looking to further ripen tomatoes at home, all you need to do is to leave them out on the counter and to give them time. If you would like to speed up the process, place them next to other ripening fruit on the counter (or in a brown bag), such as bananas.
• However, not all tomatoes can further ripen after being harvested. In order for this to happen, tomatoes need to be harvested at a certain maturity stage in order to continue ripening after harvest. (You can learn more about that here.) 
• In the case of green tomatoes, their maturity stage at the time of harvest will also determine whether they will ripen properly after harvest (which can be done in the same way on your counter).

How to Store Tomatoes

What is the best way to store tomatoes at home?

• Tomatoes should be stored on the counter, out of direct sunlight, until sliced.
• The preferred method would be to purchase only fully ripe tomatoes that are ready to eat, and to eat them quickly! They will keep on your counter. Remember that, as is the case with all produce, the tomatoes have likely had at least a few days of travel time/shelf life before they came to your kitchen.

What is the best way to store cut tomatoes?

• You should store cut tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (Here’s an example of the type of container I like to use for this.) This rule only applies to cut tomatoes, and should only be for a few days.

Should tomatoes be stored in the refrigerator?

• No! Whole tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator. If you store them in the refrigerator, they will suffer chilling injury and it will even alter the internal texture and flavor of the tomato. 
• If you see your tomato on the counter getting old and think that maybe it is time to go into the refrigerator, you should just find a way to use it before it goes bad and before needing to put it into the refrigerator to prolong it’s shelf-life.

How to store unripe vs. ripe tomatoes?

• Both unripe and ripe tomatoes should be stored on the counter. 
• If you are looking to further ripen tomatoes, just leaving them on the counter will help to ripen them, but you can also place tomatoes next to other climacteric fruit that is also ripening on the counter (e.g., bananas, apples) and giving off ethylene gas to speed up the ripening process. 

Are there any common things that consumers should look for not mentioned above?

• Wait for summer and get it from a grower who selects for flavor vs. durability. When you’re shopping at grocery stores, this can be hard information to find. So, one thing you can look for is where the tomato came from. If it came from a different country, you can bet good money that it was harvested green (unripe) and is a variety not chosen for flavor, but for its durability. If you find yourself in need of tomatoes in winter (who hasn’t craved a cozy tomato sauce or soup on a chilly day?!) I strongly recommend going the canned, whole, tomato route. And if you want to go a step further, look for tomatoes produced in the USA.
• Many people overlook canned tomatoes, but in the offseason, they are a wonderful alternative to fresh. Plus, they’re already peeled!

What is your favorite way to eat and prepare tomatoes?

• Durst Organic Growers: My favorite way to enjoy tomatoes depends on, you guessed it, the tomato! But, there’s nothing better than a freshly picked tomato with a little salt and olive oil. If we’re getting more involved, I love to roast them and toss with some pasta, chop them raw for salsa, slice and use them in salads, BLTs…the list goes on.
• Houwelings: Personally, I go for cocktail tomatoes sliced into wedges with feta cheese, avocado, salt and pepper! Simple and delicious.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also be interested in: 

• Why Don’t My Store-Bought Tomatoes Taste Good?
• Greenhouse Growing Tomatoes
• How Sun Dried Tomatoes are Made
• How to Select & Store Cucumbers