Refrigerate any unconsumed fully ripe tomatoes, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving them. (To speed up this process, slice them while still cold—slices will warm up much more quickly than an intact fruit.) One study we've read suggests that refrigerating for no longer than three days is optimal. *
Whether you purchase a ripe or unripe tomato, you should store it at room temperature. "Tomatoes are most flavorful at peak ripeness and when stored at room temperature," says Maddy Rotman, head of sustainability at Imperfect Foods.
Levy recommends storing ripe tomatoes upside down (stem-side down) on paper towels in an open container such as Tupperware, a shoe box, or a cardboard flat. Ripe tomatoes should last for a few days, but we recommend eating them as soon as possible.
Yes, you can store tomatoes in the fridge. However, since most tomatoes are sold or bought a bit before their ideal ripeness to account for the changes they'll undergo when sitting out, placing them in the fridge will actually halt their progress.
Stored at room temperature, “most ripe tomatoes retain best eating quality for 2 to 3 days,” according to the University of California division of agriculture and natural resources.
Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature on your counter for up to 1 week. Alternatively, store tomatoes in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, place tomatoes in a storage bin, then store them in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
They've found tomatoes lose flavour in the fridge because some of their genes chill out. Cooling tomatoes below 12 degrees Celsius stops them from making some of the substances that contribute to their taste, according to researchers who dug into the genetic roots of the problem.
Store tomatoes stem-side down to prevent moisture-loss, whether at room temperature or chilled in a refrigerator. Moisture escapes from tomatoes via the stem-end, as the tomato skin keeps it all inside.
Tomatoes stored at refrigeration temperatures below 41 °F will have approximate shelf life of 5 days. Tomatoes stored at temperatures under 75 °F will have approximate shelf life of 1 to 2 days. Storing tomatoes above 75° F is not recommended. Store tomatoes at room temperature for best taste.
As a general rule of thumb, tomatoes are best stored at room temperature. Typically they will last on the counter for up to 7 days, but be sure to keep them away from direct sunlight. If you're not going to use them right away, then you can store them in the refrigerator.
Tomatoes
The thing about tomatoes is that they are moderate ethylene producers. So, instead of storing them with ethylene-sensitive foods, store your tomatoes with other ethylene-producers. Keep them away from all members of the cabbage family, spinach, okra, pepper and sweet potatoes.
Best practice is to store eggs in the fridge; that way the temperature is always at a constant and your eggs will be fresher!
Do Fresh Eggs Need to Be Refrigerated? Freshly laid eggs need to be refrigerated immediately. Fresh eggs purchased from a farmers market need to be refrigerated as soon as you get home. Per USDA guidelines, eggs should be stored at 40 degrees F or below to help minimize the risk of Salmonella.
Most supermarket tomatoes are flavorless at best, and a single gene mutation goes a long way toward explaining why. The mutation arose as breeders cultivated tomatoes to ripen evenly, a trait that makes harvesting cheaper and more efficient.
Simply cover the cut side with plastic wrap—tightly—and loosely wrap the uncut side. Set the tomato on a small plate cut side down and put it in the refrigerator.
To prevent spoilage and mold growth during storage, it is best to wash tomatoes just before you eat or prepare them. Before handling fresh tomatoes, wash your hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds.
Bad tomatoes also tend to leak fluid. If you pick up a tomato and notice that there is fluid underneath it, then it has gone bad. Feel – if a tomato is soft or mushy when given a light squeeze, it has gone bad. Smell – if you find that a tomato is producing a bitter or putrid smell, then it has gone bad.
Tomatoes tend to get better as they age. Tomatoes can be perfectly edible a week or even two past the best-before date; they just get sweeter and riper rather than drying out. If they start to smell badly, or grow mould, it's time to discard.
If you're in a time crunch, you can place whole tomatoes in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. If you have time to spare, you can prep your tomatoes to make them easier to use for cooking later.