If you want to keep tomatoes tasting their best, keep them out of the refrigerator.
More Top Picks Best Vibration Plates Under 300 Dollars
Storing tomatoes in the refrigerator inhibits their flavor. Fresh tomatoes reach their flavor peak when they are kept between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, says Howard Hillman, author of ”Kitchen Science” (Houghton Mifflin Co., $7.95).
Store the tomatoes in a paper bag which has several holes in it to allow for ventilation. Keep the tomatoes away from any heat source, such as the top of a refrigerator, says Hillman. The tomatoes should ripen within one to two days, he says.
Tomatoes are at various degrees of ripeness when you buy them. Use the ripest tomatoes first, just as you do with bananas and avocados.
To peel a tomato, submerge it in boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunge it into cold water, drain and slip the skin off.
To seed, cut tomatoes in half crosswise, remove seeds with tip of a knife or spoon.
A medium-size tomato contains vitamins C and A and has about 35 calories. It also has potassium, iron and significant amounts of fiber. It is low in sodium and virtually fat-free.