Here’s how to keep your tomatoes longer and prevent them from going moldy in three days.
It’s finally tomato season and the return of Greek salads, “mozza tomatoes”, stuffed tomatoes and even ratatouille. We see them on all the market stalls. But what a horror to open your fridge and realize that our tomatoes have started to mold only a few days after buying them. This is the problem with this fruit, it is difficult to keep them in good condition for a long time.
If you thought putting your tomatoes in the vegetable drawer when you got home from shopping was a good idea, think again! Of course, you can keep them there, but they risk losing their taste. So this is not the best way to store them in the kitchen. To keep their flavor, the best place to store them is in the ambient air, outside the refrigerator, in a cool, ventilated place, away from direct light, for example in a crate or basket. This is the first tip to keep in mind.
Then, to keep your tomatoes for more than three days without them wilting and molding, here is a proven preservation method that allows them to be kept for up to fifteen days. Should they be stored right side up or upside down? The answer is the other way around. When you place your tomatoes upside down, with the peduncle (the small green stem) facing down, you prevent air and microorganisms from entering through this sensitive area. The stem is a natural opening through which tomatoes can lose moisture and decompose more quickly. By turning them over, you virtually seal this entrance, reducing the risk of rot.
What to do if your tomatoes no longer have their stems? Get a roll of duct tape. Cut a piece and glue it where the stem was (you will see a small green circle). This helps cover the most sensitive part of the fruit and prevents it from losing moisture, which will help it keep longer. They can be kept for up to two weeks! Also remember to place them upside down.
Also take care to store them next to each other and not on top of each other. Regarding the location of the basket or crate with the tomatoes, put it away from windows and prefer a dark place with little temperature change. Another piece of advice is not to put them next to other fruits and vegetables, such as apples, avocados or even bananas which release gases which accelerate the ripening of the fruits.