Researchers at the INRA demonstrated that when you store tomatoes in the refrigerator, they lose up to 2/3 of their taste! But this process is not irreversible…
Researchers at the INRA institute demonstrated that when you store tomatoes in the refrigerator, they lose up to 2/3 of their taste! But this process is not irreversible… Tomatoes don´t like the cold! Although cold has little impact on the texture, the volatile components that are contained in the tomatoes are very sensitive to it: cold kills the aromas. At 4°C, the temperature inside our fridges, up to 2/3 of the components are destroyed while they develop at room temperature. To eat tasty tomatoes, you need to avoid the cold. So how do you keep tomatoes fresh?
The best solution is to avoid the fridge and to store fresh tomatoes in a cool, airy place. Ventilation is vital, because tomatoes secrete ethylene and this gas is a powerful ripening agent. (see the feature about storing fruit in a fruit storage unit:
why store fruit in a fruit storage unit You can also restore flavours!
Once again according to the INRA institute in Avignon, tomatoes that have spent less than one week in the fridge can get their taste back. Simply take them out and leave them for 24 hours at room temperature before eating them.
Source: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - February 2013
