One of the most common food storage mistakes, made by a large number of people, is keeping tomatoes in the refrigerator. It is wrong to assume that storing tomatoes in refrigerator keeps them fresher for longer; in actual fact, the opposite is true. Refrigeration makes them mealy after only a couple of days and gets rid of their flavor. There are far better ways of storing fresh tomatoes in order to keep them tasting fresh and sweet and maintain their firm texture.
If you have bought your tomatoes from the store, the first thing you need to do is remove them from their plastic packaging, as leaving them in their bags will make them rot a lot quicker. Put them in a bowl that you have lined with a paper towel. If you place the tomatoes with the stems at the top, they will stay fresh for longer. The most tender part of the fruit is directly around the stem, making this part most likely to bruise.
Temperature is an important factor when storing tomatoes. Room temperature is preferable; additionally, try to maintain the same temperature for as long as possible. Keep your tomatoes away from any major heat sources, such as stove tops and microwaves. They should not be placed in direct sunlight either, unless they need to ripen. If this is the case, line them up on the window sill or place the bowl on the sill if there is enough room. Great way to ensure proper humidity for storing tomatoes is special containers with controlled ventilation and ridges to keep moisture away – such as containers from Tupperware 3-Piece FridgeSmart Set.
Tomatoes need a little light handling to keep them in optimum health. Gently, move them around in the bowl every day. This stops them sitting in the same spot all the time, which can lead to dark spots and bruises. Bruises lead to rotting, which will ruin your tomatoes. Be careful not to drop or squeeze them while you are handling them. Tomatoes stored in the correct way should stay good for up to a week.
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Apart from knowing how to store tomatoes, there are other tips for getting the most out of them. Tomatoes that are grown locally, for example from farmers markets and co-ops, will always be superior in both texture and flavor to tomatoes sold at the grocery store. Store tomatoes are frequently bought when they are still green (unripe) so that they last long enough to be transported to the store, while locally grown tomatoes are picked far later in the ripening process.
So, how to store tomatoes after all?
Of course, the best place to get your tomatoes is from your own vegetable patch! If you do grow your own, make sure you prepare them for storage. Wash your hands, and then hold each tomato under cool running water, making sure all soil and dust is washed away. If your tomatoes were treated with pesticides or spray fertilizers, give them a bath by soaking them in a vinegar solution made up of half a cup of white vinegar and three tablespoons of salt, mixed together in a large bowl of water.
After 20 minutes of soaking, remove the tomatoes one by one and carefully pat them dry with a lint-free cloth. But if you have not quite mastered the art of growing your own tomatoes, knowing how to store them properly when you get them home is the next best thing. As soon as you break the habit of storing tomatoes in the refrigerator, you will be amazed at the difference in the quality, lifespan and flavor of your tomatoes.
There is no great mystery behind storing tomatoes. All you need to do is follow these simple steps with a little care and attention, and you will soon be enjoying delicious tomatoes.
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