Chapter 20
How to Store Your Big Tomato
If your tomato stops growing and begins to ripen ahead of schedule for an event, all is not lost. You can store the tomato in a refrigerator. A tomato will keep very nicely at 50˚ in a refrigerator for up to three weeks. You will need a designated refrigerator, or you will have to turn the temperature down on the one you regularly use. During the time in the refrigerator, the appearance of the tomato will not change noticeably and the weight will remain about the same. If your timing for an event is off, storing your tomato in the refrigerator may save the day. Pack your tomato in some soft cotton material so that there will be no chance of damaging it. Don't even think about freezing your tomato. It will break down as it thaws out. After a while tomatoes in the refrigerator will begin to lose weight so they cannot be stored there indefinitely but they will do well for about 3 weeks.
Grower Comments on Storing Tomatoes
"Tomatoes should be picked before they are completely ripe. They can then be kept in the refrigerator at 50˚ for up to 3 weeks without losing any weight." Minnie Z.
