How to store ripe and unripe tomatoes
Quick answer
- Best
Room temperature
Keeps for until ripe, then 7 days
Keep tomatoes at room temperature, such as in the pantry, until they're ripe, then use them within 7 days.
Watch out Cherry tomatoes have their own time, 10 days in the pantry.
-
Freezer
Keeps for 2 months
FoodKeeper counts the 2 months from the date of purchase.
Watch out FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for cherry tomatoes.
Let tomatoes ripen at room temperature, then use them within 7 days. USDA recommends pantry storage because refrigeration may affect flavor. Tomatoes keep 2 months in the freezer, and cherry tomatoes keep 10 days in the pantry or 5 days in the fridge.
Buying tomatoes this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Ripe tomatoes keep 7 days at room temperature, according to USDA FoodKeeper. The USDA recommends pantry storage, and it notes that refrigeration may affect flavor.
FoodKeeper counts a tomato as ripe when it’s tender, fully developed, and ready to eat. Until then, leave it at room temperature.
How to store tomatoes
Keep tomatoes at room temperature, such as in the pantry, until they’re ripe, then use them within 7 days. This is the way the USDA recommends storing them.
Start with tomatoes that aren’t bruised or damaged, as the FDA advises when you buy produce.
Should tomatoes be refrigerated?
Not as a rule. The USDA recommends pantry storage for tomatoes, and FoodKeeper notes that refrigeration may affect flavor.
Pre-cut and packaged tomatoes are the exception. The FDA says to refrigerate all produce you buy pre-cut or packaged.
How long do tomatoes last?
Ripe tomatoes last 7 days at room temperature, according to USDA FoodKeeper. The table adds its freezer time and the separate times for cherry tomatoes.
| Kind | Where | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Room temperature | Until ripe, then 7 days |
| Tomatoes | Freezer | 2 months |
| Cherry tomatoes | Room temperature | 10 days |
| Cherry tomatoes | Fridge | 5 days |
How long do tomatoes last in the fridge?
FoodKeeper gives no fridge time for tomatoes in general, and it recommends the pantry instead. Only cherry tomatoes have a fridge time, at 5 days.
How long do cherry tomatoes last?
Cherry tomatoes last 10 days in the pantry and 5 days in the fridge. FoodKeeper lists them separately from other tomatoes, so use these times for cherry tomatoes only.
Can you freeze tomatoes?
Yes. USDA FoodKeeper gives tomatoes 2 months in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase.
Can you freeze cherry tomatoes?
FoodKeeper’s cherry tomato line lists a pantry time and a fridge time but no freezer time. The 2 months belongs to its general tomatoes line.
Can you freeze whole or green tomatoes?
FoodKeeper gives tomatoes 2 months in the freezer, counted from the date of purchase. It has no separate line for whole tomatoes or for green tomatoes.
That makes 2 months the freezer time to go by for whole tomatoes. FoodKeeper gives green tomatoes no time of their own. Its general tomatoes line is the closest it comes, and that line says to keep tomatoes at room temperature until they’re ripe.
When to throw out tomatoes
Throw out a tomato that has mold or looks rotten. The USDA says soft, high-moisture produce such as tomatoes can be contaminated below the surface when it’s moldy.
If a tomato is only damaged or bruised in spots, cut those areas away before you eat the rest, as the FDA advises. Cover cut tomatoes with plastic wrap to keep them moist and away from mold spores in the air.
How to wash tomatoes
Wash tomatoes thoroughly under plain running water before you prepare or eat them. Gently rub them as you rinse, then dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel to reduce bacteria further.
There’s no need for soap or produce wash, and the FDA doesn’t recommend them, because produce is porous and can absorb them. Washing reduces bacteria but doesn’t eliminate them. The FDA’s tips for cleaning fruits and vegetables cover the same steps.
Sun-dried tomatoes and tomato sauce
An unopened jar of sun-dried tomatoes keeps 1 year in the pantry, counted from the date of purchase, and homemade canned tomato sauce keeps 9 to 12 months.
Opened jars of sun-dried tomatoes
Once you open the jar, sun-dried tomatoes keep 3 to 6 months in the pantry and 3 to 6 months in the fridge, according to FoodKeeper.
Homemade canned tomato sauce
Keep it in the pantry, where FoodKeeper gives it 9 to 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
What does ripe mean for a tomato?
USDA FoodKeeper says a tomato is ripe when it's tender, fully developed, and ready to eat.
Do tomatoes need to go in the fridge?
No. The USDA recommends pantry storage for tomatoes, and refrigeration may affect flavor.
Can you cut the mold off a tomato?
No. The USDA says soft, high-moisture produce such as tomatoes should be thrown out when moldy, because it can be contaminated below the surface.
How long do sun-dried tomatoes last after opening?
They keep 3 to 6 months after opening, in the pantry or in the fridge, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Can you use soap to wash tomatoes?
No. The FDA doesn't recommend soap, detergent, or produce wash, because produce is porous and can absorb them. Use plain running water.
