Technically a fruit, tomatoes deliver a nutritional powerhouse of antioxidants in the form of lycopene, a rich red phytonutrient that has demonstrated an ability to protect against cancer, particularly prostate cancer. Men who consume a large quantity of tomato and tomato products gain protection from that disease, and women benefit too, from the significant supply of vitamin C and beta-carotene.
With several thousand varieties of tomatoes available, each with a different flavor and texture profile, the culinary uses of tomatoes borders on the infinite.
Tomatoes adapt well to greenhouses, so tomatoes can be found year-round in every state. Some people believe that greenhouse tomatoes even taste better than outdoor tomatoes, as shown in higher prices for greenhouse tomatoes, which are usually more smooth and uniform.
Even though they're available year-round, significant differences set apart winter tomatoes from summer tomatoes. Growers frequently select hardier varieties for winter production, and the difference in genetics plus less sunlight often accounts for less flavor and poorer texture.
Because the fully ripe fruit easily bruise and tear, tomatoes are often picked far before optimal ripeness and flavor occurs, so that the firm unripe fruit can be more easily transported to the market. So local tomatoes offer significantly more flavor than tomatoes that have to come from far away, and the best tomatoes will be those you can grow in your own back yard. Indeed, tomatoes are grown more often than any other fruit or vegetable by home gardeners.
What to Look for
Quality tomatoes should look smooth, with no wrinkles, blemishes or deep cracks, though small cracks near the stem are acceptable. The aroma indicates ripeness and its potential flavor, while a lack of odor indicates that the tomato was picked too early to mature properly.
Fully ripe tomatoes present a mouth-watering aroma, and their skin will yield easily to the touch.
Vine-ripened tomatoes generally come with the stem still on, and are usually grown nearby to local markets.
Organically grown tomatoes provide more flavor and nutritional benefits; the lycopene and other antioxidants are part of the plant's defenses against pests. Once the pests are killed off with chemicals, the plant has no incentive to produce the beneficial compounds. Fertilizers play a role in making conventionally grown tomatoes larger, but don't provide any more nutrition.
Common Pitfalls
Tomatoes easily degrade in cold temperatures, so look for tomatoes that have never been refrigerated, and don't refrigerate them at home. Never buy them from a refrigerated case. Tomatoes will last for 4-7 days at room temperature. If you must keep them longer, put them in warmest compartment of your refrigerator, the butter tray.
Overripe tomatoes still pack a nutritional wallop and tons of flavor, so you can make sauce of them by gently sauteing them, then freezing the sauce for future use.
Most people eat too few tomatoes. It's hard to get too much of this cancer-fighting fruit.
Member Comments