What is a mealy tomato, and how would one use one?
When people say a tomato is or isn't mealy, what does that really mean? I've never had a tomato that was grainy, as it's sometimes described. Is that even possible? That sounds like a tomato with sand in it. How would you personally describe the consistency without using the dictionary definition?
Also, what are mealy tomatoes good for?
Best Answer
Yup, tomatoes can most definitely be a bit grainy. It's not a hard graininess like sand, but a softer graininess. The best comparisons that come to mind are hydrated but uncooked cornmeal or slightly wet breadcrumbs. Instead of being juicy and smooth (whether firm or soft), you'll notice a bit of small texture. It'll probably also be less juicy, and the flavor may not be as fresh and full as you'd like. If you've never had one, awesome - you've had good tomatoes!
It's also a common texture in some varieties of apples, especially when not too fresh. It's especially noticeable there; instead of a crisp crunch as you bite through it'll feel a little crumbly.
They'd be all right for things where you're going to cook them thoroughly so you won't notice the texture, like spaghetti sauce, though again the flavor may suffer as well. For anything remotely fresh, they're still edible, just noticeably not as good.
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How do you use mealy tomatoes?
I put them them in a salad with some red leaf lettuce, sauteed chicken, and goat cheese, with just some olive oil and balsamic vinegar as dressing. They'd also be good with pasta and parmesan, or with some mozzarella on a piece of bread, or mixed in with scrambled eggs\u2026or\u2026or\u2026What does mealy tomato mean?
Often, the first tomatoes of the season or tomatoes grown in containers may have a mealy texture. The culprit is inconsistent soil moisture levels. This is more common in tomatoes in pots because it's difficult to maintain consistent moisture in a contained area.Can I eat mealy tomatoes?
A mealy tomato has a texture that's not unlike cornstarch mixed with water. It's a bit gritty and definitely less pleasant than a normal tomato. The texture is a result of the plant converting its natural sugars into starch. They're totally safe to eat.Why are tomatoes red but mealy?
The most likely causes are nitrogen being too high and potassium being too low. Nitrogen should be in the range of 4 to 5.5% in the leaf tissue.How Many Tomatoes Can You Get From One Tomato Plant?
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Answer 2
Mealy tomatoes are good candidates for sauce. They tend to be of the meatier, less juicy varieties like Roma and pear tomatoes. Beafsteak and brandywine varieties and hybrids generally don't get mealy, they just started getting leaky, and making a mess. Bunch tomatoes like Grape and Cherry tomatoes usually just get moldy and shrivel up.
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