Fresh harvest for a long time: why tomatoes cannot be stored in the refrigerator and where is the best place to do it
Until recently, tomato lovers did not think about where to store tomatoes. After all, from childhood we were taught: it is better to store food in the refrigerator. It is believed that there they deteriorate more slowly. But lately there has been an increasingly common assertion that this rule does not work for tomatoes. Let's figure out who is right and who is wrong in this matter.
Why you can't store tomatoes in the refrigerator
Gardeners and housewives are in desperate debate over whether to store fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator. Some say yes, others categorically disagree with them and believe that tomatoes have no place in the refrigerator. Both are partly right.
Proponents of the theory that the refrigerator is not the best place for tomatoes say that low temperatures kill the aroma and taste of the fruit. This is why many people don't store tomatoes in the refrigerator. And there is confirmation of this. It was experimentally established that at low temperatures the aroma of the fruit is lost. But does this mean that tomatoes absolutely cannot be stored in the refrigerator?
Necessary storage conditions
Scientists have experimentally established that the optimal temperature for storing tomatoes is +12-13 degrees. Neither the room temperature nor the air temperature in the refrigerator corresponds to this level. At home, especially in summer, the temperature reaches 25-30 degrees. And in the refrigerator it is always less than 12 degrees (depending on the settings from +2 to +8).Therefore, neither the first nor the second option for this product is optimal.
Where to store
The best option is a cool, dry room with a temperature no higher than 12 degrees. For residents of private houses, the best place is the cellar. There, tomatoes can be stored fresh and aromatic for several months.
Reference. Some gardeners manage to preserve their harvests in the cellar until the end of autumn - beginning of winter.
In apartment conditions, tomatoes are stored well for up to 10 days, hung on a cool wall. Usually such a wall is on a balcony or loggia.
Experienced housewives to save harvest as long as possible, it is advised to first of all pay attention to the degree of ripeness of the tomatoes. If the fruits are already fully ripe, then a warm place can be their storage for no more than a few days. Then they will start to deteriorate.
It is still better to place ripe fruits in the cold. This is correct to extend their shelf life. How long do tomatoes last in the refrigerator? They can stay there for up to several weeks.
If we are talking about unripe (green) tomatoes that were harvested ahead of schedule, then there are specific storage rules for them. A refrigerator won't do any good. They need a warmer place to ripen. A few weeks at room temperature will allow the fruit to ripen. At the same time, both the taste and aroma will be worthy.
Important! It will not be superfluous to review the stored fruits every few days. If some copies begin to deteriorate, you need to detect them in time and remove them from the storage location.
If the tomatoes go bad
Tomatoes that are not suitable for preservation can be:
- Recycle. For example, make a batch of homemade tomato sauce or ketchup. Fruits also marinate halves or pieces.It will be very useful in winter.
- Wither or dry. This is done both in the oven and in an electric dryer. Sun-dried tomatoes are usually stored in jars, filled to the top with vegetable oil.
- To freeze. Small tomatoes are frozen whole in bags, large ones - cut (for example, pizza rings). The fruits are also twisted in a meat grinder or pureed in a blender. In winter they are added to sauces and gravies.
Read also:
Fruitful and easy to grow tomato “Women’s Happiness”.
Saving the harvest from the cold: how to cover garlic for the winter.
Tips and tricks for long-term storage
Here are some tips from experienced housewives:
- When storing in the refrigerator, it is better to place ripe fruits not near the far wall, but closer to the door or in a special drawer for vegetables. It's a little warmer there.
- When storing unripe tomatoes, it is good to transfer them with dry hay or sawdust.
- It is better to calibrate the fruits. Medium-sized tomatoes with thick skin can be preserved for a long time without damaging its integrity.
The best varieties for long-term storage
Breeders have developed many varieties of tomatoes with a long shelf life:
- New Year;
- Lying;
- Winter Heart;
- Winter miracle;
- Christmas;
- Gift of autumn;
- Snowfall, etc.
Attention! Medium-sized tomatoes, thick-walled and with thick skin, last a long time. It is important that the fruits are not damaged.
Let's sum it up
If you are the happy owner of a private home, then you probably have a cellar. This is the best place to store tomatoes. Alternative options for apartment residents are a refrigerator or a cool place near the balcony.
If the tomatoes are still green, do not store them in the refrigerator. Feel free to leave the fruits on the windowsill.And if the tomatoes are already fully ripe, opt for a vegetable drawer in the refrigerator. The aroma will weaken a little, but you will extend the shelf life of the fruit. And don’t believe those who say that tomatoes absolutely cannot be kept in the cold. Ripe - yes.