?Your Definitive Guide To The Different Types Of Tomatoes At The Store
Although they’re technically available all year round, nothing screams summer quite like a super fresh tomato. From the funky heirloom tomatoes at your local farmers market to the irresistibly sweet basket of grape tomatoes at the store, these juicy orbs add a little burst of sunshine to your day. They’re jam-packed with nutrients like vitamin A, C, and K and minerals like potassium, copper, and manganese. Thanks to their bright colors, they’re full of antioxidants, too.
But first things first—Do NOT store your tomatoes in the fridge, says David Bell, Chief Marketing Officer for Houweling’s, a family-owned tomato grower. “It deteriorates the flavor and texture of the tomato,” he says. Instead, keep your bright red bounty on the counter until you’re ready to eat. Once cut, you can put it in a container and into the fridge. Or, better yet, eat the whole thing!
Tomatoes come in all shapes, colors, sizes and flavors, ranging from candy-sweet to earthy and mild to a sharp, acid bite. It all depends on the growing conditions—weather, temperature, and soil, says Bell. “The riper the tomato is picked, the more it has developed and the flavor is better,” he says. Depending on their variety, tomatoes are at their peak between June and September.
As for the age old question—is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? Well, per NPR, the Supreme Court decided that it’s officially a vegetable.
Here’s a look at five of the most popular tomatoes at the store: