Tips

Which Number of Sepals Should You Choose When Buying Tomatoes: 5 or 6?

When shopping for tomatoes, selecting a 5- or 6-celled fruit can be a daunting task.

2 May, 2024

Is it better to buy tomatoes with 5 or 6 sepals?

If you pay attention, you will notice that some types of tomatoes have 5 sepals at the stem of the fruit, while others have 6 sepals. In fact, these two types of tomatoes have different flavors.

According to experienced tomato growers, tomatoes with 6 sepals taste better than those with 5 sepals. The more leaves, the more water, nutrients and light the fruit can absorb, so the tomatoes will taste better.

In addition, tomatoes with 6 sepals are usually late ripening and get enough sun exposure, so they contain more sugar, are sweeter and have a grainy texture.

During growth, tomatoes need to absorb sunlight and nutrients. The stalk of the fruit will be blocked, but this part also needs to absorb nutrients, resulting in the stalk of the fruit having an uneven color distribution, which is lighter than the surrounding area.

If you see evenly ripe tomatoes when buying, you should pay attention, do not choose tomatoes with too even color at the stem.

Other notes when buying tomatoes

To buy fresh and juicy tomatoes, in addition to looking at the number of sepals, you need to pay attention to the following points.

Observe the appearance of the tomato

The “female” tomatoes usually have thick, juicy bodies and taste good. Meanwhile, the “male” tomatoes have a pointed and thin top, contain less water and do not taste good.

You should choose round tomatoes with a natural red ripe color. Illustrative photo

Tomatoes should be chosen round, do not buy those with edges or corners because they can be ripened with chemicals.

During development, if there is a lack of light or nutrients, tomatoes can also develop edges or become deformed. Most of these tomatoes are sour, and some tomato seeds inside are still green.

Note that naturally ripened tomatoes will have a sunken bottom. If the bottom protrudes more, it is possible that this tomato has been treated with hormones and forced to ripen quickly.

When buying tomatoes, you also need to pay attention to the size of the fruit. With fruits of similar size, you pick them up and find the ones that are heavier and firmer, which will taste better.

Some types of tomatoes are large in size but very light when picked up. You should not buy this type of tomato because the water content inside is extremely low and will not taste good.

Observe the color of the tomato

Some people prefer to buy bright red tomatoes because they believe that the ripeness of the tomatoes is sufficient. In fact, the color of naturally ripened tomatoes is usually orange-red.

The time each part receives sunlight is different, so the surface color of the tomato is not uniform, especially it often has a red color mixed with a little yellow.

When buying tomatoes, you should choose fruits with a natural red ripe color, and should not buy fruits with a pink or slightly yellow color.

However, you also need to be wary of beautiful bright red fruits. This type of tomato is often overripe or treated with ripening agents or hormones.

Check the firmness of the tomato

When you squeeze the tomato gently, you can feel that the flesh inside is very soft and elastic if the fruit is naturally ripe.

Tomatoes that are too soft to press and do not bounce back mean they are overripe and have been left for a long time. When cooked, the taste will no longer be fresh.

Checking firmness is a tip for buying fresh tomatoes. Illustrative photo

Frequently asked questions

Tomatoes with an additional sepal tend to ripen later and receive ample sun exposure. Consequently, they contain more sugar, resulting in a sweeter taste and a desirable grainy texture.

Look for an even ripeness throughout the tomato, but avoid those with an overly uniform color at the stem. Naturally ripened tomatoes will have a slightly lighter color at the stalk due to the need to absorb nutrients.

Apart from the number of sepals, look for round tomatoes with a natural red ripe color. Avoid tomatoes with edges or corners, as they may be chemically ripened. Also, check the bottom of the tomato; if it’s sunken, it’s likely naturally ripened, but if it protrudes, it may have been treated with hormones.

Choose tomatoes that feel heavy and firm for their size. Avoid large tomatoes that feel light, as they may have a low water content and won’t taste as good. Also, check the color; naturally ripened tomatoes are usually orange-red, while bright red tomatoes may be overripe or treated with agents.

Gently squeeze the tomato; if it’s naturally ripe, the flesh will feel soft and elastic. Overripe tomatoes will be too soft and won’t bounce back.