Will tomatoes keep for longer if you keep the stalk in?

Will tomatoes keep for longer if you keep the stalk in? - Background of wall full of many similar aged shabby vintage wooden drawers with metal round handles

I know that avocados are supposed to keep longer with the stalks; I would like to know if it is also true for tomatoes?



Best Answer

Removing the stem from a tomato opens up a hole where air, moisture, and bacteria can pass through. Keeping the stem in, or somehow sealing the "scar" from the stem, will prolong shelf life.

(Published in Cook's Illustrated - requires subscription - http://www.cooksillustrated.com/howto/detail.asp?docid=1173)




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Quick Answer about "Will tomatoes keep for longer if you keep the stalk in?"

Removing the stem from a tomato opens up a hole where air, moisture, and bacteria can pass through. Keeping the stem in, or somehow sealing the "scar" from the stem, will prolong shelf life. Show activity on this post. Yes, leave the stalks in.

Do tomatoes last longer with stems on?

The Florida Tomato Committee recommends storing tomatoes with their stem end up. According to the Tomato Committee, "The shoulders are the softest part of the tomato; leaving them stem-side down will almost always result in bruising of the product."

Should I store tomatoes on the vine?

Keep tomatoes tasty by storing them on the counter, vine side down. Transfer them to the refrigerator when fully ripe. Tomatoes give off ethylene gas, so keep them away from other fruits on the counter to avoid over-ripening.

Should you store tomatoes stem up or down?

Ripe tomatoes should be kept stem side up, at room temperature and away from sunlight. Eat them within a few days for best taste. Overripe tomatoes develop very red flesh and are soft to the touch. Refrigerate to get about 3 more days of freshness.



Best way to keep Tomatoes Fresh for a long time without freezing - Delay Tomato Ripening Naturally




More answers regarding will tomatoes keep for longer if you keep the stalk in?

Answer 2

Yes, leave the stalks in. It was by accident that I discovered this works. I was in a rush and I picked a bunch with all the stalks attached. By the time I got home one was knocked off. It turns bad much faster. So I purposely did it again, with the same results. Once the stalk dries out, that’s when I notice the tomato starts to turn. Sometimes I had them for a couple of weeks to my surprise. If you would have told me, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Answer 3

The tomatoes may continue ripening if you keep the stalks in.

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