Ripe Tomatoes

The tomatoes that are bought at the store are picked semi green and then shipped to the stores. These tomatoes weren’t ripe and will not taste like it when eaten.  Tomatoes are actually a fruit although commonly believed to be vegetables.  Like all other fruits, tomatoes will taste better and be sweeter if left on the vine longer.  Never refrigerate tomatoes as they ripen from the inside out, the perfect temperature is between 55 and 70 degrees.  Being in cold storage will not only hinder the ripening of tomatoes but will also kill the nutrients.

In the tomato industry the term “vine ripe” is when the tomato is barely showing a little color on the tomato.  This is to allow the tomato to ripen on its way to the store and after it is bought.  These tomatoes will not have the flavor of tomatoes that are left on the vine to ripen.  The industry has now began to make grow tomatoes that can be harvested on the vine and thus have more flavor than the single tomatoes.  

The most favorable tomatoes are those that are grown in the back yard or bought locally. These tomatoes are left to ripen on the vine before being picked.  The tomatoes are ripe when they are an orange red color and soft to the touch.  They usually will smell sweet and will be soft to the touch.   Tomatoes are good to use in any dish or on sandwiches as long as they are nice red and ripe.