How to Store Tomatoes


How to store tomatoes? Storing your tomatoes correctly can be the difference between flavorful ripe tomatoes or bland mushy ones.


Published: September 11, 2022 · Modified: March 11, 2024 by Jennifer Ryan


How to store tomatoes

With lots of conflicting information about how to correctly store tomatoes out there, we produced this how-to guide with the dos and don’ts on storing fresh tomatoes for months.

Growing tomatoes on the vine

How to store fresh tomatoes?

Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature or above 60°F or 16°C. Storing tomatoes in your refrigerator can degrade their texture and make them lose their flavor. If you’re wondering what room temperature is? Room temperature measurements are generally around 70–75 °F or 21–24 °C. So find a nice cool spot in your kitchen and store your ripe tomatoes there until you are ready to eat. This applies to all types of tomatoes from beefsteak, Roma, cherry, grape, and even green tomatoes.

How to store tomatoes that aren’t quite ripe?

You should never store unripe tomatoes in the refrigerator; they should be kept at room temperature always. The best way to store and help tomatoes to ripen is to keep them out of direct sunlight in a single layer, and if you want them to last longer, you can turn them stem side down while they’re ripening.

How to store a bowl of tomatoes

Can you store tomatoes in the refrigerator?

If your tomatoes are fully ripened and you need them to last a few more days, you can place them in a cool pantry or refrigerator; this won’t harm or disrupt any flavor-producing enzyme activity and will maintain their beauty and juiciness. But be sure to take your tomatoes out of the fridge a few hours before serving to let them recover their flavor first.

Storing and organizing your tomatoes

How you store your tomatoes is important as they are quite fragile and can be easily bruised; no one wants mushy tomatoes, do they? You already know that it's best practice to store your tomatoes at room temperature, but what's the best way to store and organize your bounty of tomatoes? To get the most from your tomatoes store them stem-side down on kitchen paper towels in an open container such as a glass Pyrex container or a small vegetable box. Ripe tomatoes will last up to a week stored like this or more, depending on how ripe your tomatoes are. It's best to eat ripe tomatoes as soon as you can, remember to check on your tomatoes daily and discard any that are leaking liquid or have mold spots starting to form.

How to store ripe tomatoes

How to freeze tomatoes?

One way to make your tomatoes last longer is to freeze them. My favorite method for freezing tomatoes is to freeze them whole. First, wash your tomatoes, then dip your whole tomatoes into boiling water for about 30 seconds to loosen their skins. Next core and peel your tomatoes; this is easy to do when the skins are loose as they basically fall off, keeping the rest of the tomato intact. You can freeze them whole or cut them into smaller pieces; simply pack them into freezer-proof containers leaving about 1-inch head space. Then seal, add a label for the date you froze them, and pop them into the freezer. You can freeze them for up to 12 months; the tomatoes will retain their flavor during the freezing process. Once the tomatoes have been frozen they will not be solid when thawed and are best used in cooking. Frozen tomatoes are perfect for making your favorite pasta sauces, soups, and stews.

How to store tomatoes

How to freeze tomatoes?

Jennifer Ryan
Freezing tomatoes isn't difficult, here's a step-by-step guide on how to freeze tomatoes.
5 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Freeze Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • First, wash your tomatoes and pat them dry with a kitchen paper towel.
    1 Roll Kitchen paper towel
    How to store tomatoes
  • Lay your cherry tomatoes onto a baking sheet and freeze for about 2 hours until they become hard.
    How to freeze tomatoes
  • Next, remove the frozen tomatoes from the freezer and transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-proof container. A reusable freezer bag is better to use as you can squeeze the air out of the bag before you seal it.
    1 Piece Reusable freezer bag
  • Don't forget to add a label to date your frozen tomatoes and store them back in the freezer for up to 12 months.
    1 Piece Food Storage Label

Notes

Tips & Tricks 
Make sure the seal on your zip-lock bag or storage container is shut tightly, doing this will ensure the freshness of your tomatoes during the freezing process. 
Adding a date label on the day you freeze and store your tomatoes is important, this will help you use up your fruit and vegetables before they degrade. 
Keyword cherry tomatoes, freezing tomatoes, how to store tomatoes, organising tomatoes, storing tomatoes, tomato, tomatoes
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Why not try your fresh tomatoes in a delicious pesto pasta, the cherry tomatoes and fresh basil are a match made in heaven. This pesto pasta recipe is perfect served both hot or chilled so it’s ideal for summer BBQs and outdoor gatherings.

Pesto pasta in a pasta bowl

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