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Penn Herb Wellness Guide

Tomatoes

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Related Topics

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Buying Tips

Tomatoes should be firm and juicy, with bright, unblemished skin. Buy them garden-ripe when possible, choosing those that give a little when squeezed and have a deep color. A good way to tell whether a tomato is ripe is to smell it. It should smell like a tomato; unripe ones have no aroma.

Varieties

There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, including large “beefsteak” types that are especially good for salads and for slicing on sandwiches; Italian plum tomatoes, called Roma tomatoes, which are ideal for cooked dishes like tomato sauce; and small, sweet cherry tomatoes. While red tomatoes are most common, these vegetables can also be yellow, green, pink, or orange.

Tomatoes are available fresh, and in a variety of canned products, such as stewed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato pure, and diced tomatoes. Tomatoes can also be dried and are sometimes packed in oil this way. Tomatoes are often juiced and can be concentrated to produce tomato paste.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of USregistered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2025.