Learn to Cook with 5 Types of Tomatoes
When choosing tomatoes, it is important to consider the type of dish you are making. For example, if you are making a salad, you might want to choose cherry or grape tomatoes. If you are making a sauce, you might want to choose Roma tomatoes. And if you are eating tomatoes raw, you might want to choose a variety that you enjoy the taste of.
No matter what type of tomato you choose, you are sure to enjoy the fresh, delicious flavor of this versatile fruit.
Cherry tomatoes are often sweeter than their larger counterparts, but can also come in several flavors including tangy, tart or salty. As suggested by their name, they’re as small as cherries, making them perfect for snacking right off the vine or tossing into salads or pasta dishes where their flavor can really shine through.
Grape tomatoes offer a sweet flavor that makes them ideal for snacking or pairing with more pungent ingredients in salads or pasta dishes. They're pear-shaped and come in colors ranging from red to yellow or even green. Thin-skinned grape tomatoes make good salsa ingredients while thicker-skinned varieties work best as side dish accompaniments.
Roma tomatoes are most commonly used for canning or sauce because of their thick skin. They can also be eaten raw when ripe and have a slightly tart and acidic flavor. They also have fewer seeds than other varieties and are great for adding texture to salads or sandwiches.
Beefsteak tomatoes are known for boasting a meaty texture that provides a heartier consistency when cooked down into sauces like marinara sauce or tomato soup. They’re characterized by being significantly larger than other varieties, with some reaching up to one pound each! Perfectly ripe beefsteaks are soft but still firm enough to slice and serve in salads or burgers without falling apart.
Heirloom tomato plants each produce unique fruits with varying colors, shapes and sizes which makes them incredibly interesting additions to any garden or meal! Each heirloom variety offers its own unique flavor profile; some are sweet, some acidic – so there’s something special to try from every heirloom plant!
