How to ripen green tomatoes

Many recipes use tomatoes as one of their primary ingredients, but these dishes can easily be spoilt by using unripened, green tomatoes. This article covers everything you’ll need to know about ripening tomatoes.

How to ripen green tomatoes

Green tomatoes growing on the vine will eventually ripen, usually turning red to indicate they’re ready to eat. However, if you have bought or already harvested tomatoes that are green and want them to ripen, you’ll need to follow one of the following three techniques. 

How to ripen green tomatoes off the vine

To ripen tomatoes that have become detached from their vine:

• Place the green tomatoes into a breathable container, such as a muslin or paper bag (don’t use plastic).
• Next, put in another fruit that will emit the right sort of gas (ethylene), which will encourage the green tomatoes to ripen — bananas are an ideal choice.
• Seal the bag so that the gas is trapped close to the tomatoes.
• Without opening the bag, gently squeeze one of the tomatoes to feel if it has softened, a sure sign that it is now ripening.

How to ripen green tomatoes indoors

If you have bought green tomatoes still attached to the vine, or just cut away a section of your tomato plant to ripen the fruit indoors, then it is best to simply place the fruit in a bowl on a window sill. This will mean they’re exposed to plenty of sunlight, which will help the ripening process. The lack of water from the plant’s roots will also encourage quicker ripening. Don’t let the fruit become too hot, however, because this won’t help ripening. Bring them into the home, rather than placing them in a greenhouse.

How to store green tomatoes to ripen later

Wrap each tomato in paper and pack them in a box or crate that you can close. This will prevent them from ripening too quickly, allowing you to consume them long after the growing season has passed. Put your stock of green tomatoes somewhere dry and dark, where they won’t be exposed to sub-zero temperatures.

Fried green tomatoes recipe

To enjoy green tomatoes, a delicious option is to fry them. This recipe is suitable for unripe red tomatoes that are still green, as well as fully ripened green tomatoes:

• Heat some vegetable oil or a generous knob of butter in a frying pan.
• Slice the green tomatoes, working your way from the top of each tomato (the stalk end) to the bottom.
• Lower the temperature of the pan and use a spatula to transfer the tomato slices into it.
• Once the tomatoes are sizzling, you can season them with salt and pepper.
• Add optional herbs for flavour, such as parsley, oregano, thyme or basil.
• After a few minutes, flip the tomato slices over to cook them on both sides and serve.

Popular tomato recipes

Ripe tomatoes freshly picked off the vine are great for salsa sauces, because they have a strong depth of flavour. A tangy tomato recipe ideal for using ripened tomatoes is this Beef Chilli Burrito Bowl with Tomato Salsa. For a spicy vegetarian tomato dish, try this simple Chilli Glazed Halloumi with Bulgur, which only takes 20 minutes to prepare.

FAQs

Can you pick tomatoes green and let them ripen? 

Yes, you can. It is best to leave them to ripen on the vine. However, if the plant is too weighed down with fruit or pests are eating your crop, it is often advisable to pick them green and bring them inside to ripen.

What to do with green tomatoes that won’t ripen? 

Tomatoes often ripen better when exposed to ethylene, a natural gas. If you put unripened green tomatoes into a paper bag next to a ripening banana or kiwi fruit, they’ll be exposed to this gas and become much more likely to ripen.

Why are my tomatoes staying green on the vine? 

Some tomatoes are supposed to be green when ripe, but most turn red. If yours aren’t, then there’s likely too much fruit on the plant, so you should remove some. You may also have too much nitrogen in the soil or need to feed your plant. Also, if the tomatoes are getting too hot, you should move them somewhere with a limited amount of shade.

Can you eat green tomatoes before they ripen? 

Yes, you can eat green tomatoes before they’ve ripened, but they won’t taste as sweet and will also be harder to digest. If you want to eat them, cook them to break them down, so that they’re not consumed raw in an indigestible state.

How do you speed up the ripening of tomatoes? 

Pinch out any flowers that appear on your tomato plant so that its energy goes into the fruit. Remove some green tomatoes and leave the others on the vine so they get more of the plant’s resources. Tomatoes you want to ripen off the vine should be placed in a breathable bag alongside ethylene-emitting fruits, such as bananas, apples or kiwis, which will help them redden faster.