KNOW YOUR TOMATOES AND THEIR USES

KNOW YOUR TOMATOES AND THEIR USES.  While there are over 15,000 varieties of tomatoes worldwide, they each share a specific use, whether is be for Sauces, Canning, Salads, Sandwiches, Fried and Snacks.  So before you go and plop the plant starts in your garden, KNOW YOUR TOMATOES and what their uses are.  Some are easy to grow and will yield hundreds, while others need a bit more TLC for a great crop.  Tomatoes are also very beneficial for good health as they’re all low in calories and rich in nutrients and antioxidants … like vitamin C, beta carotene, and lycopene.  So continue reading for some helpful  hints on the best types of tomatoes for various purposes:

SAUCES: Roma, heirloom, tomatoes on the vine, beefsteak
CANNING: Roma, heirloom, tomatoes on the vine, beefsteak, green tomatoes
SALADS: grape, cherry
SKEWERS: cherry
SANDWICHES: Beefsteak, tomatoes on the vine
FRIED: green tomatoes
SNACKS: grape, cherry, heirloom

7 TYPES OF MOST COMMON TOMATOES

1. ROMA TOMATOES:  Also know as plum tomatoes, are larger than cherry and grape tomatoes but not large enough to be used for slicing. They’re naturally sweet and juicy, making them especially good for canning, sauces and in salads.  One Roma tomato contains 11 calories and 1 gram of fiber

2. TOMATOES ON THE VINE:  These large and firm tomatoes are sold still attached to the vine to prolong their shelf life.  Research has told us that by keeping these tomatoes on the vine, they will contain a higher level of antioxidants and other nutrients than those picked before peak ripeness. Tomatoes On The Vine are great for canning, sauces and sandwiches.  One medium tomato on the vine has 22 calories and 3,160 mcg of lycopene — a potent antioxidant with heart-protective effects.

3. HEIRLOOM TOMATOES: are non-hybrids (meaning the seeds are saved and passed without cross-pollination).  They come in different sizes and colors, from pale yellow to bright green to deep purplish-red. And they tend to have a deeper, sweeter taste than store-bought alternatives.  They’re non-hybrids, and their seeds are saved and passed down without cross-pollinating with other types.  Perfect for canning, sauces, and just eating.  One medium heirloom tomato has 22 calories and 552 mcg of beta carotene, and a powerful antioxidant that is important for your vision.

4. BEEFSTEAK TOMATOES:  are large and firm, are perfect for hamburgers and sandwiches, and are great for canning and sauce making. One large beefsteak tomato has 33 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and vitamin C – great for your immune system.

5. CHERRY TOMATOES: are round, bite-sized, juicy and sweet.  Making them perfect for salads, skewers and kebabs, or just an eat alone snack. One cherry tomato has only 3 calories.

6. GRAPE TOMATOES:  are smaller than cherry tomatoes, are oblong in shape, making them perfect for salads, skewers, or eaten as a snack.  And what’s also great about the grape tomato – they’re only 1 calorie.

7. GREEN TOMATOES: are divided into 2 types – heirlooms that are green when fully ripe and unripened ones that have not yet turned red.  RIPE GREEN TOMATOES are firm, easy to slice, a little sour and tangy, and are 28 calories.  They’re great for canning and sauces, and are popular for making relish.
UNRIPE GREEN TOMATOES are used for making fried green tomatoes, which are sliced, battered with cornmeal and then fried.  These tomatoes cannot be eaten raw.  And also keep in mind that unripe green tomatoes also contain a higher level of alkaloids which makes them hard to digest and may also cause gastrointestinal issues to some people.

And there you have it – the 7 MOST COMMON TYPES OF TOMATOES AND THEIR USES.  Let me know what you think and which tomatoes you’ll be growing this year.  HAPPY GARDENING 🙂

If you’re growing tomatoes in containers, read up on our 10 TIPS FOR GROWING TOMATOES IN A CONTAINER.

Also click here for the health and nutrition benefits for tomatoes in our 150 HEALTHIEST VEGETABLES ON EARTH series, featuring TOMATOES.