Stop Storing Your Tomatoes Wrong, and Try These Expert-Approved Hacks Instead

Starting at $10.

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

Unlike the jewel-toned sweet potatoes and beets that dominate fall, the heart of the estival season lies in its butter-yellow corn, crimson strawberries, and, most importantly, the various hues, shapes, and sizes that are summer tomatoes. Whether you’re making Sun Gold pasta or a multicolored caprese salad, a tomato is undoubtedly one of the most defining fruits of summer. But as with all of the ephemeral crops we eat, these precious berries tend to grow moldy and mushy far too quickly for our liking. Enter: the professionals. Avid gardeners and experienced chefs flocked to our aid, offering advice on the best way to prepare and store heirlooms and Romas alike. From the knives they use to the containers they buy, read on to discover how experts make the most of summer tomatoes. 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon

  • Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife, $28, originally $41 
  • Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife, $10 
  • Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife, $102, originally $144
  • OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer, $19 
  • Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, $15 
  • OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, $23
  • Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver, $13    

Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

$41

Yes, there are knives specifically designed for tomatoes, and multiple chefs recommended grabbing Mercer Culinary’s 5-inch model. Zachary Chancey, Executive Chef at The Alida Hotel in Savannah, GA, appreciates its serrated blade, which “slices cleanly through the delicate skin without bruising the flesh.” Another selling point is the handle. Shawna Clark of Healthy Foodie Girl swears by its comfortable feel in her hand, allowing her to slice with control and precision while cooking. 

Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

Another expert-endorsed tomato knife comes from Victorinox. Its blade is shorter than Mercer’s, which provides more control when slicing or cutting out cores, but might be a hindrance when dealing with extra-large heirlooms from the farmers market. This brand is a particular favorite of Tammy Sons, the founder and CEO of TN Nursery: “The small, serrated blade slices through even the ripest heirloom without crushing it, and the textured handle provides plenty of control.” For just $10, it’s not a big investment for a knife you will likely use a lot. 

Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

$144

If you would rather buy a knife that can be used more widely, multiple chefs recommended Shun. As with all of the brand’s Japanese knives, this model has a reputation for excellence, with a gorgeous design to match. While Chicago’s Chef Carlos Gaytán was partial to the 8-inch chef’s knife, Chef Melissa Araujo of Alma Café in New Orleans preferred the brand’s 6-inch utility. And even though neither style has the traditional serrated edge that most experts use when cutting tomatoes, Araujo assured us that it “glides perfectly through the skin without harming the flesh in any way.”        

OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

In addition to her tomato knife, Sons pulls out her trusty mandoline slicer if she’s cutting more than a handful of tomatoes. Not only does it produce “perfectly even slices,” but it also reduces her prep time by “half,” allowing her to move on to other tasks that need her attention. This OXO mandoline is also a favorite at Food & Wine for its price and utility.    

Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

Like most chefs who responded to this query, Chancey stores whole tomatoes at room temperature to preserve the flesh and flavor for as long as possible. Learning from his grandmother, he rests his crop on a “thick, absorbent kitchen towel that cushions them and keeps them dry.” Chef Colton Blagrove of Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa, similarly keeps tomatoes at room temperature, but also advised us to store them upside down. By turning them on their heads, he said it “creates a small barrier against the oxygen, slowing down the growth of potential bacteria."   

OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

If you would prefer to keep them off your counter, the OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper is the go-to container for Chef Kyle Timpson of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Clark agreed, stating: “The carbon filter slows down ripening, while the raised basket keeps moisture away so they don’t get mushy.” She also added that the adjustable vent lets her control the humidity levels based on how ripe her tomatoes are. 

Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

Pro-Approved Tomato Tools at Amazon, Mercer Culinary 5-Inch Tomato Knife , Victorinox 4.3-Inch Tomato Knife , Shun Classic 6-Inch Utility Knife , OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer , Cotton Craft Kitchen Towels, Set of 12, OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper, Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver 

When tomatoes are sliced, on the other hand, most experts advise you to store them in the refrigerator. Kyle Taylor of He Cooks recommended the Rubbermaid FreshWorks Saver for such a purpose, writing that the container’s design helps to maintain “optimal humidity levels” in the fridge. Will Conway, Farm Director at Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection, also suggested Rubbermaid since it does a “great job at keeping air circulating, which helps extend freshness.” Dylan Sedmak, Vegetable Portfolio Manager for PanAmerican Seed, agreed with all of the above, adding that any tomatoes stored in the refrigerator should come to room temperature before eating to restore their vibrant flavor. 

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