Time to store green tomatoes

The race is on.

Between sunny days and cooling nights, tomatoes still on the vine don’t know if it’s summer or fall, and we’re left wondering when frost will lower the hammer of doom on the plant.  Sure, we could play the “toss and pull” game of blanketing them at night and removing it in the morning, but the time will come when we get that fall squall of snow just as you’re trapped in a meeting, running errands, or caught in traffic trying to get home. 

Give it a few more days and then, when the weather trends colder at night, pick the green tomatoes to store them for later.  When frost starts showing up often, surrender the season and pull in the rest – breakers and pinks – to ripen on the counter.

Here’s how:
Pick: tomatoes from healthy vines, and prevent problems from rot by avoiding fruit that is diseased or has insect damage.
What:  Store only mature green fruit, which are full-sized, glossy, light green to white with a whitish ‘star’ on the blossom end.  Should your tomato begin to color at the blossom end, known as a ‘breaker’, it will ripen quickly for you on your counter, keeping the flavor of vine ripened. 
Tip:  Dark green tomatoes are immature and won’t store well.  Fry, stew, or use them in other dishes within days of harvest.

Sort tomatoes into groups that will ripen at the same speed - mature green, breakers, pinks and red.  At room temperature, red tomatoes are ready within a day or two; pinks (30 to 60 percent colored) seven to 10 days; mature greens and breakers, up to 14 days.  

Store green tomatoes:  Clip stems short, wash gently, and pat dry.  Wrap tomatoes in newspaper and place one to two layers deep in a box.  Keep in a cool, 55 to 60 degree room, out of sunlight (refrigerators are too cold).  Check frequently for spoiling.

Using frost kissed tomatoes:  Once hit by frost, tomatoes break down quickly and are not suitable for canning.  Cut off the bad spots, then use immediately in your favorite recipes, or chop and freeze them for winter dishes.

Tags: green tomatoes, storing tomatoes, tomatoes

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