Roundup: Our Best Tips for Summer Tomatoes

The East Coast has finally caught up with the West Coast, and now we've all got tomatoes in the markets. Time for a perfect tomato sandwich—and a refresher course on the best way to store, slice, skin, and savor tomatoes...

We've offered a lot of suggestions on caring for tomatoes over the years, and these are some of the best. If you want recipes for using fresh, ripe tomatoes, click here.

• For starters, know where to store your tomatoes. (NOT in the fridge, but maybe on your dining table?)
• You can buy an All-Clad Tomato Slicer, but the easiest tool is really a bread knife.
• To give them a bit more dimension, roast them under the broiler before chopping them up for a recipe.
• Or skin them for a pretty salad.
• Got green tomatoes in your garden? Here's how to ripen them or use them as they are. Our favorite: fried green tomatoes.
• If you have a surplus, here's some encouragement for preserving them in jars.

Any more secrets for choosing, handling, or storing tomatoes? Add them to the list.

(Image: Flickr member jacki-dee, licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (2)

LOVE tomatoes!
I typically store them in one of those "green" bags...and it works really well! I was so glad to finally see tomatoes at the farmer's market a few days ago.

Here's a fun way to use them: tomato, avocado & mango salsa.

posted by orchidgirl1979 on July 6th 2009 at 9:04am
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MMMM I LOVE tomatoes. A friend of mine just made the most delicious tomato salad - if I get the recipe from her I'll be sure to pass it on. Another one of my favorites is this Tomato Salad with Green Beans and Anchovy Dressing. Enjoy!

posted by Hartley from Kitchen Caravan on July 7th 2009 at 4:04pm
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