Different Types of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a favorite food and are very versatile in its uses. They come in different colors, from bright red, pink, green and yellow. They also can grow to the size of a grapefruit, or be as small as a marble. Along with these various sizes and shapes come very distinct characteristics, flavors and names. One thing remains constant among tomato lovers, and that is they prefer the freshest taste in their tomatoes.

One of the most common or mainstream tomato varieties is the beefsteak. They are large in size, but grow with irregular lobes. They are firm, heavy and are brightly colored. The globe tomato is very similar to the beefsteak, except its shape is more round and can be red or yellow in color. The cherry tomato is a favorite addition to salads and garnishes to many dishes. Because of its small size, they are ideal for snacking. The pear tomato is tiny in size, shaped like a pear, and is used much like the cherry tomato. Sometimes pear tomatoes are yellow in color. The heirloom tomato is very thin skinned, and therefore highly perishable. They are open pollinated and remain much like the tomato that people ate 100 years ago.

One of the most interesting of all is the purple tomato. They come in many varieties and the skins have colors ranging from dusty pink with purple shoulders to a dark pink. The flesh tones range from deep red to brownish purple pink. The plum or Roma tomato is small and oval. The flesh is very meaty, making this tomato ideal for making tomato sauces. It is the desired tomato for Italian cooking.