Store at Room Temperature Keep tomatoes at room temperature, away from sunlight. Refrigerating can alter their texture and flavor, so only refrigerate ripe tomatoes you won’t eat immediately.
Keep Stems Up Place tomatoes stem-side up to reduce bruising at the bottom. This prevents moisture loss and helps tomatoes maintain their shape longer.
Avoid Washing Until Use Moisture can accelerate spoilage, so avoid washing tomatoes until just before use. Washing removes natural oils that protect the tomato skin.
Use Breathable Containers Store tomatoes in breathable containers like paper bags or cardboard boxes. This prevents moisture buildup and allows gases to escape, delaying ripening.
Separate From Other Fruits Keep tomatoes away from ethylene-producing fruits like bananas and apples, which can speed up ripening and shorten their shelf life.
Use the Fridge for Overripe Tomatoes If tomatoes become overripe, store them in the fridge to extend freshness by a few days. Let them sit at room temperature before eating to restore flavor
Freeze for Long-Term Storage For a longer shelf life, freeze tomatoes. Simply blanch, peel, and freeze whole or diced. Frozen tomatoes work well in sauces or stews.
Store Unripe Tomatoes in a Paper Bag Place unripe tomatoes in a paper bag to ripen evenly. Check daily to avoid overripening, and transfer ripe ones to room temperature for storage.