Should tomatoes go in the fridge?

There is much debate about the correct storage of tomatoes. There are two main options available to consumers: Storage in the refrigerator or at room temperature. A research team from the University of Göttingen has now investigated whether there are differences in the flavor of ripe tomatoes depending on how they are stored and taking into account the chain of harvesting from farm to fork. No perceptible difference was found: the variety of tomato is much more important. The results have been published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science.

The researchers sought to establish flavor differences between ripe, picked tomatoes from a commercial post-harvest chain stored either in the refrigerator (7 degrees Celsius) or at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius). Researchers from the Division of Quality of Plant Products at the University of Göttingen analyzed flavor-related attributes in new tomato strains drawing on the expertise of a "sensory panel." The sensory panel consisted of experienced and trained assessors who use their senses to perceive and evaluate the sensory properties of products. Among other attributes, this panel examined the discernible sweetness, acidity and juiciness of tomatoes. No significant differences in flavor were found between the two storage options when the entire post-harvest chain was taken into account.

"It is the variety of tomato in particular that has an important influence on the flavor. Therefore, the development of new varieties with an appealing flavor can be a step toward improving the flavor quality of tomatoes," says Larissa Kanski, lead author of the study. "The shorter the storage period, the better it is for the flavor and related attributes. However, we were able to show that, taking into account the entire post-harvest chain, short-term storage of ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator did not affect the flavor," reports Head of Division Professor Elke Pawelzik.