Nothing better than ripe summer tomatoes to put on top of a juicy burger or add to a fresh salad, but most people do not know how to store tomatoes correctly.
It may seem obvious to simply place tomatoes in the fridge when you first get home from the shops but it is actually one of the worst places to store them.
Madeline Buiano, a cooking expert from Martha Stewart’s website, has shared that storing fresh tomatoes in the fridge will impact their flavour and can damage them.
She said: “The standard rule is to keep tomatoes out of the refrigerator. It all comes down to science.
“It’s in the genes. Tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that’s mushy and mealy.”
What is the best way to store tomatoes?
The fridge will change the texture of tomatoes and they will also soak up the odours of any uncovered food in the fridge which will also impact their taste.
Instead, the best place to keep unripe tomatoes in the kitchen is in a dry area with plenty of air circulation to prevent mould, but also keep them away from sunlight as it can cause them to ripen too quickly.
Madeline said: “A tomato at peak ripeness should be eaten right away. Still-ripening tomatoes will benefit from the warmer temperatures in your kitchen (as opposed to the cooler temperatures in your refrigerator).”
Store tomatoes on a flat surface like on a plate as containers can cause the fruit to easily bruise and become squished or damaged which will cause them to spoil faster.
Make sure to also store tomatoes with the stem side down as it prevents moisture and bacteria from entering the stem scar, and prevents them from becoming mouldy.
How do you keep tomatoes fresher for longer?
If your tomatoes are red and ripe and you are not planning on using them in the next few days, then you can store them in the fridge.
It may seem strange but cold temperatures halt the ripening process so storing unripe tomatoes in the fridge will cause them to never fully develop which impacts their flavour.
On the other hand, ripe tomatoes have already completed their ripening process so there is less risk in storing them in the fridge without affecting their taste or texture.
Madeline said: “If your tomatoes are on the cusp of becoming overripe and you don’t want to lose them, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days to halt the ripening process.”
Make sure to take ripe tomatoes out of the fridge and leave them at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking with them as it will help restore the flavour.
Cut tomatoes should also be stored in the fridge as if left at room temperature they will begin to dry out from the inside.
However, storing fresh tomatoes on the kitchen counter and then transferring them to the fridge will help keep them juicy and flavourful while also helping them keep fresh for five to seven days longer.
