Should You Refrigerate Tomatoes? | Serious Eats

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 9. 09. 2019
  • Some people say that you should never refrigerate tomatoes. Is this really true? Is 90°F really better for a tomato than 37°F? And if so, for how long? To answer these questions, Daniel Gritzer set up a series of experiments that spanned an entire summer and included literally hundreds upon hundreds of tomatoes of different sources, varieties, and quality and ripeness levels, and recruited a small army of blind-tasters to evaluate the results. Here's what we found.
    FULL STORY: www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/w...
    More Like This:
    How to Make Meatballs: bit.ly/2NK8Y2I
    How to Make Trapizzino: • Trapizzino: The Pocket...
    How to Finish Pasta the Right Way: bit.ly/2TsVVs6
    Subscribe to Serious Eats!
    bit.ly/2BIlM59
    Follow Us Elsewhere:
    / seriouseats
    / seriouseats
    / seriouseats
    / seriouseats
    Serious Eats is a leading resource for all things food and drink: meticulously tested recipes that really work; in-depth, science-based explanations of cooking techniques; detailed reviews of cooking equipment; and guides to ingredients, dishes, and cuisines. We bring a democratic yet scientific approach to cooking the best dishes, busting food myths, and delivering strong opinions on what you should eat next, where, when, and why.
  • Jak na to + styl

Komentáře • 73

  • @PuffOfSmoke
    @PuffOfSmoke Před 4 lety +45

    We always refrigerate our tomatoes. Then I encountered American videos claiming that Tomatoes shouldn't be refrigerated. I tried it. Bear in mind I live in tropical country. Within days it became soggy and started to release water just like the example here. A total waste and I had to throw them away. After that failed experiment, I decided to put them back in the fridge.

    • @j.r.1903
      @j.r.1903 Před 4 lety +1

      true. specially cherry tomatoes. those can get ruined really fast

    • @AesirZA
      @AesirZA Před 4 lety +2

      Same but dry heat country, I was actually surprised to randomly watch this video and hear him be so careful around this topic. We never leave tomatoes or anything other than potatoes/onions out, they just go bad immediately.

    • @nirvana1278
      @nirvana1278 Před 3 lety +1

      Why didn’t u experiment with just one 🤔 😂

    • @joannaquanttumphysics
      @joannaquanttumphysics Před rokem +1

      @@nirvana1278 why did they waste so many throwing them around

  • @starlakelsey2782
    @starlakelsey2782 Před 4 lety +11

    I didn't expect you to say this. I store in fridge knowing that my Granddaddy is twirling in his grave when I do it. i prefer them cold in salads too.

  • @Kithop
    @Kithop Před 4 lety +24

    The key that seems to be repeated here is to let them ripen at room temp *first* , and then put them in the fridge to try and hold them there a bit longer if you're not going to eat them right away. Of course, I just... find an excuse to eat them right away. ;) But I know plenty of people who buy supermarket tomatoes that are pink and underripe, that *immediately* go into the fridge at home, are sliced and added while still ice cold to sandwiches. That's I think what people are more implying and worried about when talking about 'never putting them in the fridge' - don't put them in the fridge immediately when you get home from the grocery store (unless you went to farmer's market and they're *super* ripe already - but still, just eat them that day if you can!). But a fridge'd, ripe tomato left to come back to room temp is better than an overripe/moldy tomato, for sure. Good on you for testing it!

  • @etherdog
    @etherdog Před 4 lety +13

    Daniel, this is a very valuable discussion. I know I have been dogmatic about not refrigerating tomatoes, and now I will evaluate on a per tomato basis. Thank you and Kenji for your work on this analysis!

  • @ChezJ1
    @ChezJ1 Před 4 lety +3

    Very good video, thanks for the info. It just makes sense how you’ve explained it. 👏👏👏

  • @Billy123bobzzz
    @Billy123bobzzz Před 4 lety +2

    For many years we alway ripen out tomatoes on the counter and then put them in the fridge and that technique has always worked for us.

  • @sourcecreator2222
    @sourcecreator2222 Před 2 lety

    Great video, well done

  • @jdizzle4399
    @jdizzle4399 Před 4 lety +3

    Thanks so much for this, in my experience the best garden tomatoes from the height of summer shouldn't be stored in the fridge, but for all others it's just not that big a deal to make it last in the fridge. Great garden tomatoes don't last very long in my house so it's not a big deal to me.

  • @paulvarda5318
    @paulvarda5318 Před 4 lety +2

    my dad keeps his tomatoes in the fridge. not 1 day, not 2, but as long as it takes until he eats them or throws them out. i imagine lots of people do this and their poor tomatoes must be mealy blandness after 2 weeks.

  • @2075vj
    @2075vj Před 2 lety +2

    I’ve grown heirloom tomatoes and cherry tomatoes this season and I’m overwhelmed. And giving a lot away at maize sauce and froze them and still have so many. I’m going to try refrigerating some to see if it works in the life. But I was always taught by my grandmother on her farm never to put tomatoes in the refrigerator but things change. Thanks for sharing

    • @c.fyffe0
      @c.fyffe0 Před 11 měsíci

      How did refrigeration go?

  • @gaozhi2007
    @gaozhi2007 Před 4 lety

    Wonder what other fruits this applies to. Maybe i should leave more out until they ripen?

  • @gulfmediacollective2249
    @gulfmediacollective2249 Před 3 lety +2

    Okay. So I didn’t know this was a big debate until now. I’ve refrigerated tomatoes my entire life and idk. Seems normal 😂

  • @The_Dream1000
    @The_Dream1000 Před 4 lety +2

    I just feel bad For the poor tomatoes that got to listen to you tell them that there are far beyond their ripeness!😂😭😭 Tomatoes lives matter too! 🍅

  • @theconciergerecommends3981

    Be sure to read the full article in the description!
    I almost always refrigerate my tomatoes, as I don't like warm mushy ones (unless Im going to use them for a sauce)... but low quality romas are sometimes best left out... and of course fresh garden tomatoes are delicious having not been refrigerated... but you may need to if you can't eat them fast enough!

  • @jintzie1950jth
    @jintzie1950jth Před rokem

    Makes sense.

  • @12vLife
    @12vLife Před 2 lety

    Great topic! Very frugal here. What about once you cut it? I am wondering what the limits of a ripe tomato is in the hot van in Florida? I have limited space and have been trying to insulate them (one really) inside a small 12v freezer, but they freeze. Wondering If possible to keep an open tomato inside an insulated neopreme bag deep inside a container that is a hot Florida Van. Would it help if in an air tight jar? It's not getting direct sun light, but van might get to 95F in the middle of the day. I just need the tomoto to last 3 or 4 days.

    • @sourcecreator2222
      @sourcecreator2222 Před 2 lety +1

      Once any fruit has been cut open, you want to refrigerate it and protect it from oxygen/air to preserve it as long as possible. So with a cut tomato I'd put it in a sealed container (doesnt HAVE to be airtight), or wrap it with a plastic wrap, and chill it.

  • @imdelsa5485
    @imdelsa5485 Před 8 měsíci

    I live in a rather hot region so leaving them out is usually a bad a idea

  • @FarukAhmet
    @FarukAhmet Před 4 lety +1

    Is there a way to tell how ripe tomatoes are without cutting them open?

    • @markoschatziathanasiou6754
      @markoschatziathanasiou6754 Před 4 lety +1

      yes, the factors you have to consider are the color (which should be an even deep red in most cases) and the softness. When you (gently) press the tomatoes they should neither be hard nor mushy they should be slightly soft).

  • @YatriTrivedi
    @YatriTrivedi Před 4 lety

    THANK YOU. Jeez.

  • @Bradimus1
    @Bradimus1 Před 6 měsíci

    Also, if you can see the mold, it's not just on the surface. Toss that thing before it contaminates your other food. It's compost now.

  • @SamM-oh2cx
    @SamM-oh2cx Před 4 lety +4

    Warm tomatoes for salads and sandwiches are seriously rank! For me, they need to be cold! The coldness changes the whole flavour and texture.
    I find a massive difference between using cold and warm tomatoes when using them to cook with, I will only ever cook with cold tomatoes, not room temperature.
    For me, the end outcome is only as good as the product you start with!

  • @DavidFSloneEsq
    @DavidFSloneEsq Před 4 lety +10

    Wow. I've always relied on SE for unbiased culinary reporting. This video makes it clear that you're squarely in the hip pocket of BIG FRIDGE. I hope that your new Tetrafluoroethane overlords treat you as well as your loyal fans used to.
    In all seriousness, I don't think that I realized that there was a taboo about refrigerating tomatoes.

  • @atulpj
    @atulpj Před 4 lety

    There is a lot of lag in the video. Would be better if you could cut a lot of the excess wordage. Bon apetite has a good format. Crisp .

  • @RandyBurnettTalks
    @RandyBurnettTalks Před 2 lety

    What about putting them in Fridge for a while before you slice? I like a cold side on my burgers!!

  • @jimenezastoeo3175
    @jimenezastoeo3175 Před 3 lety

    Super vedio

  • @joannaquanttumphysics

    I read the tomatoes is one of the foods that you don't eat any of if it has some old on it. For instance cheddar cheese you may be able to cut it off, but don't do that with tomatoes

  • @johnmal5975
    @johnmal5975 Před 4 lety +2

    I always refrigerate them or they just go bad to fast!

    • @carnation_cat
      @carnation_cat Před 2 lety

      But do you let them ripen first? When people say they "always refrigerate" they don't make it clear...

    • @johnmal5975
      @johnmal5975 Před 2 lety +1

      @@carnation_cat Ripen first.

  • @jon2xu
    @jon2xu Před 3 lety

    I take them out of the refrigerator the morning on the day I am going to use it.

  • @Bradimus1
    @Bradimus1 Před 6 měsíci

    A tomato doesn't need to go in the fridge which seems the most important to me. Waste of space. If I want to preserve them, I'd cook them and freeze or can the results.

  • @programmerm5907
    @programmerm5907 Před 4 měsíci

    I’m envious of people that can shovel in thick cuts of tomatoes as if it were an apple or something. I hated tomatoes as a kid and want to like them as an adult.

  • @tawpgk
    @tawpgk Před 4 lety +1

    The real scandal is that tomatoes don't even taste like real tomatoes I used to grow 50 years ago. What the hell happened?

    • @Paelorian
      @Paelorian Před 4 lety +1

      The mass production tomatoes have been selected for uniform shape and red color, no scarring, and durability. Not flavor. Most customers don't buy flavor, they buy pretty and inexpensive tomatoes. Not ugly, weirdly shaped, and fragile but delicious ones. The best tasting tomatoes rarely have uniform color and usually have some scarring because that's just the way most tomatoes grow. The gene responsible for uniform color actually makes tomatoes less sweet. If you want a really great tomato, you usually have to go to a very good farmer's market when in season (late summer) or grow them yourself.

  • @Geeksmithing
    @Geeksmithing Před 4 lety +1

    Beefsteak is generally the most overrated blandest 🍅 anyways. 🤷‍♂️

  • @kevinsippeljr9984
    @kevinsippeljr9984 Před 4 lety

    That dude is gonna be poopin' weird tonight.

  • @jeffgreene6042
    @jeffgreene6042 Před 4 lety +4

    I'm sorry... video is great (as always)... but who makes that green "jacket" your wearing?

    • @Paul_K_
      @Paul_K_ Před 3 lety

      The brand is "Tilit", and it's their "trench coat" that they designed in collaboration with Serious Eats. At the moment I'm writing this comment, it is sold out.

  • @niehlsbohr
    @niehlsbohr Před rokem

    A beef steak tomato would benefit from not even being grown to begin with. I've never met one I was glad to eat compared to the rest of tomatodom.

  • @alanjohnson2613
    @alanjohnson2613 Před 3 lety

    My wife leaves them on the kitchen counter for weeks

  • @zzRider
    @zzRider Před 4 lety

    If you have stink bugs in your house, refrigerate them.

  • @Adentalgrl
    @Adentalgrl Před 4 lety +1

    Never knew this was a thing 🤷🏼‍♀️

  • @maryandchild
    @maryandchild Před 4 lety

    how is this even a video, you put a tomato in the fridge if it ripens and you aren't going to use it that day or the next.

  • @TruthTroubadour-xi9cc
    @TruthTroubadour-xi9cc Před 4 lety +1

    Not unless it's already in a dish that needs to be refrigerated. I never refrigerate any tomatoes....makes them mealy textured and they lose their flavor. I never buy more of them than I can use in a few days.

  • @j.r.1903
    @j.r.1903 Před 4 lety

    many of those odd tips are from restaurant owners, that use a 10kg box of tomatoes in one day unlike anyone at home. or from italians that, you know, love their pseudoscience

  • @moemoney718
    @moemoney718 Před 2 lety

    Good information but the video is way too long.

  • @paulwootton5378
    @paulwootton5378 Před 7 měsíci

    When you go to the store and but tomatos are they in the fridge ?...(in Europe)...
    No.
    If you chill them in the fridge they will lose there flavour
    Do you keep fruits in the fridge...apples, bananas..oranges?
    If you do, you are weird!

  • @philipphematty6699
    @philipphematty6699 Před 4 lety

    I also sometimes just refrigerate tomatoes when I simply want to enjoy a cool tomato. Unless I turn Inuit, room temperature won't help.

  • @brycewalburn3926
    @brycewalburn3926 Před 4 lety +1

    I like tomatoes, but I could never eat that many raw tomatoes at one time.

  • @KINGIBEXX
    @KINGIBEXX Před 4 lety +1

    That green coat hurts my eyes.

  • @jacktheripperVII
    @jacktheripperVII Před 4 lety

    Why would you buy unripe tomatoes?

    • @Mp57navy
      @Mp57navy Před 4 lety

      Beause... It's winter, and the tomatoes are picked unripe on the other side of the planet, to arrive at your place fresh?

    • @jacktheripperVII
      @jacktheripperVII Před 4 lety

      @@Mp57navy buy cans no need to suffer

    • @Mp57navy
      @Mp57navy Před 4 lety

      @@jacktheripperVII I got the choice between Euro Shopper and Ora. Both suck.

    • @jacktheripperVII
      @jacktheripperVII Před 4 lety

      @@Mp57navy can them yourself while they are in season?

    • @Mp57navy
      @Mp57navy Před 4 lety

      @@jacktheripperVII Thing is. I live 100 km from the arctic circle. Help?

  • @MrSeattledan
    @MrSeattledan Před 2 lety

    Does it supposed to be sweet? Tomato in Mediterranean is a bit acidic the way it should be. As live here in USA everyday more disgusted by Americans love of Fckn sweet. It’s not supposed to be sweet. Maybe you all grow up with GMO

  • @Dontmakemereregister
    @Dontmakemereregister Před 4 lety +1

    These 6 haters must have been sent by my wife after I made her watch this and pointed loudly in her face that she's wrong.

  • @dr.kraemer
    @dr.kraemer Před 4 lety +1

    The music is SO LOUD.

  • @tib0980
    @tib0980 Před 4 lety +3

    Don’t waste food pls

    • @catofthecastle1681
      @catofthecastle1681 Před 4 lety

      Obviously you’ve never seen the dumpster behind a grocery store or any restaurant!

  • @cristianramos5947
    @cristianramos5947 Před 4 lety +1

    Where's stella?