ShelfLife
How long do tomatoes last?
Keep tomatoes on the counter until they're ripe, then they keep about 7 more days. Cherry tomatoes keep about 10 days at room temperature, or 5 days in the fridge. Whole tomatoes freeze for about 2 months.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| TomatoesOn the counter until ripe, then about 7 days. | — | 2 monthsfrom purchase | Until ripe |
| Cherry tomatoes | 5 days | — | 10 days |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if tomatoes have gone bad
- Mold, often white, gray or black, especially around the stem.
- Leaking juice, or a skin that has split and turned soft or slimy.
- A sour, fermented smell.
- Wrinkled skin and a soft feel mean the tomato is past its best: fine for sauce if there's no mold or bad smell.
How to store tomatoes
- Keep tomatoes at room temperature, out of direct sun, stem side down, until they're ripe. The USDA recommends the counter over the fridge.
- Cold stops ripening and dulls the flavor, and below about 10 °C (50 °F) the flesh can turn mealy.
- Once fully ripe, the fridge buys a few extra days if you can't eat them in time. Let them come back to room temperature before eating for better flavor.
- Refrigerate cut tomatoes in a sealed container and use them within a couple of days.
Can you freeze tomatoes?
Yes, for about 2 months. Freeze ripe tomatoes whole, cored, in a freezer bag. The skins slip off easily under warm water once frozen. Thawed tomatoes are soft and watery, so use them in sauces, soups and stews rather than salads.
Questions
Should tomatoes be kept in the fridge?
Not until they're ripe. Unripe tomatoes stop ripening in the cold and lose flavor. Fully ripe tomatoes you can't eat in time can go in the fridge for a few extra days.
How do you ripen tomatoes faster?
Put them in a paper bag with a banana or an apple. The ethylene gas these fruits release speeds up ripening.
Can you eat soft, wrinkly tomatoes?
Yes, if they show no mold, leaking or sour smell. They're ideal for cooking: sauces, soups or roasted tomatoes.
Add tomatoes to ShelfLife, and get a reminder to use the ripe ones while they're at their best.
Related foods
Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.