How long do tomatoes last?

Tomatoes really are one of the most amazing fresh ingredients you can use. They add so much flavor and depth to many different dishes, not to mention that they can be delicious eaten on their own.

Whether you have tomatoes at home waiting to be chopped up and added to a salad or used to make a warm chili, it helps to know how long you can keep tomatoes before they start to go bad.

How long do tomatoes last?

How long tomatoes last depends largely on when they were picked, how they are stored, and where they are kept. If stored correctly in the fridge, tomatoes can last up to 2 weeks. Left on the counter, fresh tomatoes can still be used for 1 week.

Storing and preparing tomatoes determine how long they can last, so it helps to know the different scenarios!

How long do tomatoes last in the fridge?

The best way to preserve tomatoes is to keep them in the fridge. Fresh tomatoes can have a fairly long shelf life when kept in the fridge compared to if left out on the counter.

If properly stored in the fridge, tomatoes can last up to 2 weeks. This is valid for fresh tomatoes and not for those that have already started to spoil.

When storing tomatoes in the fridge, you should either leave them loose in the crisper drawer, or place them in a protective crisper bag for further protection.

The only thing you should take into account is the degree of ripeness of your tomatoes.  Immature or green tomatoes are best left on the counter for 1-2 days to ripen before putting them in the fridge.

If you put immature tomatoes in the fridge, they may not fully ripen and may be tough and rather bland when it’s time to eat them.

Storing fresh tomatoes in the fridge is the best way to preserve their freshness and ensure they stay good for a long time . The fridge definitely prolongs the life of a tomato more than storing it on the counter would.

How long do tomatoes last on the counter?

Tomatoes can keep on the counter for some time, but their shelf life when kept on the counter is shorter than it would be if kept in the fridge.

If stored properly, tomatoes can keep on the counter for up to 7 days. Afterwards, it is very likely that they will start to break down.

To store tomatoes on the counter, take them out of their plastic packaging or blister packs. Place them on the counter away from direct sunlight or heat.

Keep them in a single layer whenever possible and try not to touch each other. This helps prevent bruising and breaking the skin.

Although tomatoes can last up to 7 days on the counter, this time can be reduced if you live in a humid area or if there are constant temperature changes.

For immature tomatoes, you can store them on the counter, but you should place them in a basket or fruit bowl that allows for air circulation, as this will help them ripen at the proper rate.

As in the case of ripe tomatoes, keep them out of direct sunlight and any heat source so that they last longer.

How long do cut tomatoes last?

Cut tomatoes can be successfully stored and made to last a little longer. The best way to preserve cut tomatoes is to store them in the refrigerator.

They should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the center of the fridge, where the temperature is around 55°F.

Cut tomatoes do not keep as long as whole ones, and you should eat them within 3 days of refrigerating.

However, this gives you a good opportunity to use any diced diced tomatoes for a salad or to top a burger if you have leftovers.

You shouldn’t leave cut tomatoes on the counter, because they won’t last long.

How long do whole tomatoes last?

Whole tomatoes keep much longer than cut ones, and it is recommended to keep whole tomatoes until you are ready to use them. Yes, you can store cut tomatoes, but for much less time than whole ones.

Stored in the refrigerator, whole tomatoes can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks if they were in good shape before being frozen. Stored on the counter, whole tomatoes can last up to 1 week.

Be sure not to crush whole tomatoes when storing or drop them, as this will bruise or break the skin, which could cause the tomato to spoil more quickly.

How long do garden-fresh tomatoes last?

Garden-fresh tomatoes that have been picked fully ripe can be kept in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.

If you pick the tomatoes before they are ripe, you can put them in the fridge, but this can hinder the ripening process and they may never soften.

Immature tomatoes can be left out at room temperature and should ripen in 1-5 days . Once matured, they can be placed in the refrigerator.

How long do grocery store tomatoes last?

Grocery store tomatoes are almost always sold ripe, so when you bring them home from the store, they should be fine to keep in the crisper drawer of the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

You should always try to keep store-bought tomatoes in the fridge if you don’t plan to use them for the next few days.

When store-bought tomatoes are left out on the counter, they can keep for up to a week. This will depend on the degree of maturity of the tomato and its conservation.

How long do canned tomatoes last?

Canned tomatoes have a wonderfully long shelf life, especially if kept in a cool, dark pantry, away from sunlight and heat.

Since tomatoes are a highly acidic food, canned tomatoes will last up to 18 months if the can is left unopened.

The tomatoes will likely last longer than this, but the quality will decline after this time, and the flavor and texture of the tomatoes will not be the same.

Avoid using canned tomatoes that have dents or leaks in the can, as this could allow a bacterium called botulinum to enter the contents of the can and spoil the canned tomatoes.

If you have opened the can of tomatoes but have not used all the contents, you can store the canned tomatoes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

It is best to remove the tomatoes from the can, place them in an airtight container and store in the fridge.

Use opened canned tomatoes within a week for the best quality, and to make sure you use them before the tomatoes go bad.

Do different varieties of tomatoes have different shelf life?

Different varieties of tomatoes have different shelf lives, so it’s a good idea to know what kind of tomatoes you have so you know how long you can keep them.

Full-size tomatoes can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and on the counter for up to 1 week. However, cherry tomatoes and smaller tomatoes have a shorter shelf life than this.

These smaller tomatoes can keep in the fridge for up to 10 days and on the counter for up to 5 days.

Most tomatoes sold in grocery stores have an expiration date on the package, and it’s worth looking at this date before you buy your tomatoes, to ensure you’ll use them before they go bad.

Can tomatoes be frozen?

Tomatoes can be frozen, and freezing them is a good way to keep them from spoiling if you won’t be using them before they expire.

Here’s how to freeze tomatoes:

1. Wash the tomatoes under the tap and pat them dry once clean.
2. You can leave the skin on the tomatoes, or you can remove it by putting the tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds, then peeling off the skin.
3. You can also leave the tomatoes whole or cut them into chunks before freezing, depending on how you want to use them later.
4. Arrange the tomatoes or tomato chunks on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer.
5. When the tomatoes have frozen on the cookie sheet, you can remove them from the freezer and place them in freezer bags or plastic freezer containers. If you use freezer bags, squeeze out as much air as possible before closing them.
6. Label freezer bags or containers with the freeze date.

You can divide the tomatoes into smaller bags or place them in a larger container.

If you freeze them first on a cookie sheet, they won’t stick together when frozen, so you can grab as many as you want from the frozen stock without having to thaw the whole batch.

If stored properly, tomatoes can keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Keep in mind that tomatoes soften and become mushy during freezing, so it’s best to use frozen tomatoes in cooked recipes, rather than eating them straight out of the freezer.

How to make tomatoes last longer?

Aside from freezing your tomatoes, the best way to make tomatoes last longer, especially ones that are ripe or overripe, is to store them in the fridge.

The cold air in the refrigerator prevents the tomatoes from ripening quickly and reduces the chance of mold growing.

Do not put the tomatoes in the coldest part of the refrigerator, and rather store them loose in the vegetable tray or in a food bag.

If tomatoes are stored below 55°F, enzyme activity will slow down too much, and the tomatoes may never develop good flavor, color, or texture.

How to tell if tomatoes have gone bad

If you’ve had your tomatoes in the fridge for some time and you’re not sure if they’re still safe to eat or use, you should look for signs of spoilage.

There are a few ways to tell if a tomato has gone bad, and knowing what to look for will help you avoid eating tomatoes that are past their expiration date, and will also help you avoid throwing away tomatoes that are still usable.

This is what you should look for:

soft skin

One of the first signs that a tomato may be overripe is that the skin begins to soften.

Since tomatoes are already quite soft, this can be hard to spot at first, but as the tomato continues to spoil, the skin becomes loose and even starts to split.

fluid leak

A tomato that is going bad will begin to lose liquid . The skin will have cracked or there will be some kind of damage to the tomato, where the liquid will come out.

You may be able to use the tomato, but if there are other signs of spoilage, it’s best to throw it away.

Change of appearance

A spoiled tomato will change quite a bit in appearance, and the appearance of the tomato will change depending on how spoiled it has been so far.

Spoiled tomatoes will have cracks in the skin, discolored areas, and even spots of mold . These are sure signs that the tomato is spoiled and needs to be thrown away.

soft to the touch

You can squeeze or touch the tomato very gently, and if the skin gives way with a little pressure or you notice that the flesh is very soft, the tomato has started to spoil and should be thrown away.

unpleasant odors

A sure way to tell if your tomato is bad is to smell it. If you detect any stale or “off” odors, there’s no point in trying to eat it!

Foul or stale odors mean the tomato is well past its expiration date and you should throw it away.

How long do tomatoes last?

How long a tomato will last will depend on how it is prepared, where it is kept, and how it is stored.  Whole tomatoes stored in the fridge can last up to 2 weeks, while stored on the counter would only last 1 week.

Be sure to check that your tomatoes don’t go bad too quickly so you can get the most out of this amazing product.

Related questions

Now that we’ve reviewed how long tomatoes keep, let’s look at some related questions!

Can whole tomatoes be frozen?

Tomatoes can be frozen whole, or they can be chopped or sliced before freezing. Use frozen whole tomatoes to make pasta sauces, casseroles, chili, and casseroles, as they will be soft and mushy once thawed.

Do frozen tomatoes still taste good after being thawed?

Frozen tomatoes will never taste as good as fresh tomatoes, but if used within 3 months of freezing they will continue to add a fresh flavor to different foods.

After 3 months of freezing, the tomatoes will start to lose quality and flavor and become too soft to finally use.