How to Store Tomatoes the Right Way

Sweet and juicy tomatoes have the ability to transform a meal. Whether the fruit is sliced and layered on bread, puréed into a gazpacho, or starring in a refreshing summer salad, tomatoes are a delight.

But while there's no denying their allure, there is confusion about how to properly preserve their taste and texture. Should you refrigerate tomatoes or leave them out on the counter? Does the storage method change depending on their level of ripeness? To help you answer these questions, we consulted the experts.

The Short Answer: Don't Refrigerate Tomatoes

The standard rule is to keep tomatoes out of the refrigerator. It all comes down to science: Tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that's mushy and mealy.

"You're essentially zapping flavor and texture from a tomato when you refrigerate it," says Gregory Lofts, the former deputy food editor at Martha Stewart Living. Lofts also points out that tomatoes very quickly take on odors from other foods in the refrigerator, which can further degrade their quality and taste. "My general rule is to never refrigerate a fresh tomato," he says.

Why You Should Store Whole Tomatoes at Room Temperature

Whether you purchase a ripe or unripe tomato, you should store it at room temperature. "Tomatoes are most flavorful at peak ripeness and when stored at room temperature," says Maddy Rotman, head of sustainability at Imperfect Foods. "Try eating a cold tomato and a room temperature tomato. You'll see that all the flavor of the tomato is hidden when it's cold, and you can taste all of the sweetness when it's ambient."

A tomato at peak ripeness should be eaten right away, while still-ripening tomatoes will benefit from the warmer temperature in your kitchen (as opposed to the cooler temperatures in your refrigerator).

How to Store a Ripe Tomato

If your tomatoes are on the edge of becoming overripe and you don't want to lose them, you can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days to halt the ripening process, Lofts says. While some research suggests that allowing the tomatoes to come back to room temperature can counteract the effects of refrigeration on taste, Lofts recommends using refrigerated tomatoes only in cooked dishes; they will have already lost too much flavor and texture, he says.

Rotman loves to put just-past-perfect tomatoes in red sauce, add them to a pizza before baking it, or throw them onto a sheet-pan with a protein or other vegetables. "Cooking tomatoes that may be soft is a great way to keep [them] from being wasted," she says.

How to Store a Cut Tomato

If you're only planning to eat half of a tomato, you'll need to store the other half in the fridge, says Anina von Haeften, co-founder of Farm to the People. When left on the counter, it will dry out. "If you plan on using the other half in the next day or so, the flavor and texture shouldn't be affected," she says. "If you do store it in the fridge, it's best to let it come to room temperature before using." For the best results, Rotman recommends storing part of a tomato cut-side down in a container in the refrigerator.

How to Freeze Tomatoes

Not able to use up all of those heirloom tomatoes from your latest garden haul? Good news: You can freeze them. Doing so is as simple as boiling whole tomatoes for 30 seconds to loosen the skins and placing them in freezer-safe bags; alternatively, you can slice them into 1/2 inch pieces and freeze in air-tight containers, per the University of Minnesota Extension. It's best to use thawed tomatoes in recipes, since the freezing process impacts their texture.