Tomato Shelf Life: How Long Do Tomatoes Last?

Raw1-5 Days5-7 Days12 Months
Cooked-3-5 Days12 Months
Frozen--12 Months

Shelf Life of Tomatoes

Tomato serves the purpose of fruit and vegetable at the same time. It is the essential ingredient across the globe for making different cuisines. Like any other vegetable, there is no label of best by date. However, the shelf life of tomatoes depends upon various factors. For instance, which type of tomato you are choosing or how you are storing it. If you are keeping it in the refrigerator, there is a possibility the shelf life can extend. In this way, it can stay fresh and juicy for up to 2 weeks. Otherwise placing it outside the refrigerator can reduce its life to 1-2 days.

Purchasing Tomatoes

Tomatoes which are free from any chemicals or pesticides are not harmful to health. Therefore, try to buy tomatoes from local farmers since they sell organic tomatoes. On the other hand, choose cherry tomatoes if you want to add it to salads. Pick the tomatoes in your hand and check the firmness, the fresh tomatoes should have a tight skin. Avoid purchasing the pieces which have wrinkles on their skin.

Storing Tomatoes

There are various ways to preserve tomatoes. Firstly, after peeling its skin, you can simply freeze them. Secondly, to save your time for making tomato paste, you can cook it and preserve it. In addition to it, you can also freeze the tomato paste in an ice tray so that there will be no mess.

Handling Tomatoes

It is always an excellent option to wash tomatoes before eating it. This will ensure that the tomatoes you are using are free from germs or pesticides. The handling of tomato is not an arduous task.

There are two ways of cleaning tomato from dust. First off take a bowl and place the tomatoes in it then keep it under the running water. Another method of washing tomatoes is by using vinegar. For trying the later approach, prepare a spray bottle by adding 1 part of vinegar with three parts of water. Although it cleans the tomatoes within 30 seconds, tomatoes absorb the smell of vinegar. You can place those tomatoes in chilled water to remove the odor.  

Cooking Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a component of almost every dish, and you can use it in different ways. Cooking tomatoes at lower temperature make them dehydrated, and you can enjoy it as sun-dried tomatoes. If you do not like grilling, then roast the tomatoes for 1 hour and sprinkle the seasoning on it.