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Heirloom Tomatoes Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to heirloom tomatoes
About heirloom tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes get their name because they come from saved seeds that are at least 50 years old, with some that are well over 100 years old. The seeds are passed down from generation to generation. Commercial heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated, which means they are pollinated out in the open by bees, birds, and insects without any intentional intervention. These tomatoes are special because farmers pass the seeds down from season to season in order to produce the best fruit. The process allows farmers to select seeds based on juiciness, shape, color, and size.Â
Heirloom tomatoes come in many different varieties, and you'll find them in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Some of the types that you might find in the store include:
- Brandywine, Sudduth strain: This Brandywine has a sweet flavor with a notable acidity to balance it out.Â
- Caspian Pink: The Caspian Pink has a similar flavor to Brandywine, with a more robust flavor.Â
- Prudens Purple:Â Prudens Purple is another Brandywine variety with a sweet and juicy flavor. This tomato has a lot of meat.
- Purple Calabash: The Purple Calabash is often compared to red wine. It has a rich taste with a perfect blend of acidity and sweetness. It has smooth flesh and evenly distributed seeds.
- Cherokee Chocolate: The Cherokee Chocolate is exceptionally rich with a complex flavor. It has a nice chocolatey appearance on the outside and the inside.Â
- Black Krim:Â This heirloom tomato has a purple and green color and an intense and slightly salty taste.
- Cherokee Purple:Â The Cherokee Purple gets its name from the dusky-rose color. It is a beefsteak-style tomato with rich flavorful flesh. It is delicious on its own or when added to sandwiches or salads.
- Black Cherry:Â Just as its name suggests, the Black Cherry heirloom tomato looks much like a black cherry. It has a dark purple exterior and a sweet flavor.
- Persimmon: This is one of the sweetest and most delicious orange heirloom tomatoes. It's meaty with a creamy texture and very few seeds.
How to pick out heirloom tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes bruise very easily, so it is important to use your nose and eyes instead of your fingers to check for ripeness. It should smell earthy and slightly sweet. A ripe heirloom tomato should have a shiny look and be taut without wrinkles, splits, or bruises. When you gently pick it up, it should have a slight give, and the bottom should be dark. Heirloom tomatoes vary wildly in flavor and color, so the best way to determine which ones you like the best is to experiment by trying different varieties.Â
How to store heirloom tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes have a very short shelf life, and they tend to bruise easily. These tomatoes are best if eaten within a few days of ripening. If you want some that will last longer, choose a few that are slightly underripe and let them sit on the counter for a few extra days. In most cases, you don't put tomatoes in the fridge. If you have some that are very ripe that you can't use right away, place them carefully upside down in the refrigerator away from other fruit. This will keep them from ripening further for a day or so.
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Heirloom Tomatoes Near Me
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FAQS about heirloom tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes don't need much preparation. Just slice and enjoy. If you have a bunch you need to use, you can turn them into a delicious gazpacho or toss some heirloom cherry tomatoes with olive oil, sea salt, buffalo mozzarella cheese, and basil for a Caprese salad. You can also cook heirloom tomatoes. Burst cherry heirloom tomatoes are cooked just enough to let the flesh expand, so the skin splits open. Toss these with cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese or put them on top of your favorite white fish and add some chopped basil.
Heirloom tomatoes taste better than commercial tomatoes because they haven't been bred for quantity over quality. These have the same robust tomato flavor that they had over one hundred years ago. In many cases, the yellow tomatoes have a more bland flavor than the deep red and green varieties. If you see a mix of color on the skin, you will likely see a beautiful mix on the inside too. Slice these up and put them on a platter to serve for company. It makes an impressive display.
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