While tomatoes are readily available in markets and supermarkets, choosing the best ones can be tricky. Sometimes, you might buy tomatoes that look bright red and fresh, only to find that they lack flavor, tasting bland and wasting your money.
So, here are some tips from farmers to help you select the tastiest tomatoes. Don’t just look at the color; consider the following factors as well:
1. Male and Female Tomatoes
When buying tomatoes, observe their shape. Tasty tomatoes usually have a uniform size and shape. The “female” tomatoes tend to be thicker and juicier, offering a better flavor. On the other hand, “male” tomatoes have a pointed and slender shape, containing less water and a milder taste. Avoid tomatoes with edges and angles, as they may have been artificially ripened with chemicals.
2. Color
People often associate ripe tomatoes with a bright red color. However, naturally ripe tomatoes are usually red-orange, not necessarily bright red. Due to varying sun exposure, the color of the tomato’s surface may be uneven, often with a mix of red and yellow.
Some tomatoes have evenly distributed white spots on their skin. These are called “sand tomatoes,” and they have a natural, pleasant flavor.
3. Freshness
To choose fresh tomatoes, examine the stem. If you see a small area of bluish-green around the stem, it’s a good sign. If this area is predominantly green or yellow, the tomato is unripe. Also, a ripe tomato should feel slightly soft when gently squeezed, but not too soft, as that indicates overripe or poorly stored fruit.
4. Look at the Leaves on the Tomato Stem
When shopping for tomatoes, you might notice that some have a five-leaf cluster around the stem, while others have six leaves. This difference indicates a significant variation in taste. The number of leaves depends on the growth period; the six-leaf variety tends to ripen later and receives more sunlight, resulting in a sweeter taste and a sandier texture. So, it’s best to choose the six-leaf tomatoes for a better flavor experience.
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