With the warm summer months quickly approaching, it will soon be time to swap your winter and spring menus with fresh summer dishes such as crisp garden salads, grilled vegetable medleys, and colorful fruit combinations. Tomatoes are one of the most versatile staples when it comes to summer fruits. That’s right, tomatoes are indeed fruits! In fact, there are thousands of tomato varieties, and a long list of which types of tomatoes are best used for certain meals.
To make your life in the kitchen easier, our produce merchants have put together an infographic that covers different types and uses for tomatoes.
First, let’s learn more about the most common types of tomatoes you’ll find at your local farmers markets and grocery outlets.
Types of Common Tomatoes:
In your local farmer’s market, it is quite overwhelming to decide on which tomato to choose for your dish of choice. Here is a quick list of the most common types of tomatoes that you’d come across in your local farmers market and or supermarket.
Beefsteak Tomatoes (Green & Red)
- Commonly known as the ruler of all tomatoes, the red beefsteak tomato is a stereotypical go-to. It serves many purposes in the kitchen, including its use in sandwiches, salsa, and grilling sides.
- Don’t mistake a green beefsteak tomato for being unripe! Green beefsteak tomatoes offer a tangier taste and are well-known as a southern appetizer staple, Fried Green Tomato (also a famous film from the 80s!).
Cherry Tomatoes (Red, Orange, & Brown)
- Cherry tomatoes are the most versatile of all tomato varieties. They are easy, off-the-vine tomatoes that can be tossed in a salad, added to soups, skewed on the grill, or even eaten fresh as a quick snack with cool ranch dip. Cherry tomatoes are sweet in flavor so it’s nice to use them in contrast to spicy or savory dishes like pastas.
Grape Tomatoes (Red & Yellow)
- Crisp, grape tomatoes complement main courses such as broiled or sautéed seafood dishes (salmon, cod, or tilapia) and meats (chicken, steak, or pork). They also add fun pops of color to oil-based pasta dishes like scampi and lemon-garlic-olive-oil sautés.
Heirloom Tomatoes (Green, Red, Yellow & Orange)
- Heirloom tomatoes are the “tomato cultivator”, meaning that a lot of other tomato varieties stem from heirloom tomatoes. Heirlooms grow in a diverse range of colors and are great to mix with fried eggs, thickly slice with mozzarella and balsamic salads, and of course to top sandwiches or burgers. Try grilling an heirloom tomato as a side this summer!
Roma/Plum Tomatoes (Red & Yellow)
- You may know Roma tomatoes as plum tomatoes. These sweet tomato varieties are the best for your sauces, pastes, or stews. This tomato has fewer seeds, fuller flavor, and is a well-balanced tomato to use in your sauce bases, the Italian’s delight!
Tomato Types & Their Uses
Now that you have a basic understanding of the different names of tomatoes, it’s time to figure out which tomatoes are best for the dishes you’re mixing up in your kitchen!
The Best Tomatoes for Sandwiches & Burgers:
- Beefsteak Tomatoes
- Heirloom Tomatoes
The Best Tomatoes for Sauces, Pastes, & Stews:
- Beefsteak Tomatoes
- Roma/Plum Tomatoes
The Best Tomato for Salsa:
- Beefsteak Tomatoes
The Best Tomato for Snacks or Dipping:
- Grape Tomatoes
The Best Tomatoes for Salads or Pasta Dishes:
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
