How To Ripen Green Tomatoes

How To Ripen Green Tomatoes

How To Ripen Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes have to be “ripe” before they turn red and finish the process. To see if your tomatoes are ripe, cut one of your green tomatoes in half, if the inside is yellowish and has a jelly like consistency, it is mature enough to ripen.

To prepare your green tomatoes to ripen. Remove all vines, stems, leaves, and wash your tomatoes to make sure they are clean.

Watch for any decay or mold during the ripening process.

Some methods suggest using a “ripening” banana or apple. Use bananas when they are yellow with green on the ends. “Ripening” fruit releases ethylene, a gas that helps ripen fruit. Bananas produce more ethylene during ripening than other fruits, giving your green tomatoes an extra dose of ethylene to force ripening.

Too much humidity will attract fruit flies, watch the ripening tomato to make sure those pesty fruit flies don’t appear.

The Jar Method

For Ripening Green Tomatoes

Ripening your green tomatoes in jars is a method best for only a few green tomatoes and should take 1 to 2 weeks.
Put in two to four medium-sized green tomatoes per jar. Do not overfill the jar, or the tomatoes might bruise. Screw on lid tightly. Leave in a warm, semi-humid place, out of direct sunlight. Check regularly.

The Cardboard Box Method

For Ripening Green Tomatoes

Ripening your green tomatoes in a cardboard box is a method best for lots green tomatoes and should take 1 to 2 weeks.

Line a cardboard box with some foam or simply line with newspaper. Place a layer of tomatoes in the box, each one next to the other. If you have a lot of tomatoes, a second layer on top is okay but be gentle. Do not make any more than two layers in case you bruise the fruit at the base. Do not overcrowd!

Add some ripening bananas if you’d like. The tomatoes are likely to ripen anyway, as they release their own ethylene and influence each other. However, using bananas will help to speed up the process. Place in a cool, slightly humid room away from light.

The Plastic Bag Method

For Ripening Green Tomatoes

Ripening your green tomatoes in a plastic bag is a method best from only a few green tomatoes to lots of green tomatoes and should take 1 to 2 weeks.

Punch a few “air circulation” holes in each bag you are going to use.
Place 3 – 4 tomatoes with 1 banana in each bag. Use a large bags for lots of green tomatoes and a small bag for a few. Don’t overcrowd!!!
Store in a warm, semi-humid area away from direct sunlight.

The Paper Bag Method

For Ripening Green Tomatoes

Ripening your green tomatoes in a paper is a method best for only a few green tomatoes and should take 1 to 2 weeks.

Insert ripening banana and as many tomatoes as will fit without overcrowding.
Store in a warm, semi-humid area away from sunlight.

The Ole Window Sill

For Ripening Green Tomatoes

The good ole standby. Ripening your green tomatoes on your window sill is a hit or miss method best for only a few green tomatoes and should take 1 to 2 weeks.

Place green tomatoes on a sunny window sill.

Easy enough….

Green Tomato Recipes

If All Else Fails

When you have lemons, you make lemonade….When you have green tomatoes you make….

Green Tomato Soup With Country Ham
Green Tomato Marmalade Recipe
Green Tomato, Apple and Grape Relish
Green Tomato Cake
Fried Green Tomatoes

 Fannie Flagg’s Original Whistle Stop Cafe CookbookView Now The green tomato cookbookView Now The Tomato Festival CookbookView Now Green Tomato RecipesView Now

 

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2 Comments

1. 

   Gypzeerose

   April 6, 2016

   I can’t wait for summer tomatoes, here is how to hurry summer along.

   Reply
2. 

   MareeT

   April 6, 2016

   Good ideas! I will keep these in mind for tomato season.

   Reply

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