Counter Ripening Question

Qweniden · July 29, 2010

Is there a general consensus on if this tastes as good as leaving them on the vine?

Is there a best way to counter ripen? In a bag? In the sun on a window seal?

Thanks!

Timmah! · July 29, 2010

I just set 'em on the counter, out of the sun.
They ripen within a couple few days.

Qweniden · July 29, 2010

Thanks. So they can have sun but just not direct sun?

TomatoDon · July 29, 2010

Refer to the thread, "I cooked my yellow cherries."

habitat_gardener · July 29, 2010

I don't have a counter, so I put mine in plastic clamshells (with air holes) as I pick them. I can stack the clamshells without crushing the tomatoes. I usually keep them there until they're near ripe, then put them on a plate on the table.

I pick my tomatoes when they're blushing because I don't get to the garden every day, and I get occasional bird or squirrel bites.

If the tomatoes are blushing, I'd keep them out of the sun. Once they're off the vine, I don't think extra heat is good for them.

TomatoDon · July 29, 2010

I hate to sound like the Village Idiot, but what's a plastic clamshell?

Timmah! · July 29, 2010

Handy idea!

TomatoDon · July 29, 2010

One could see if one would only open one's eyes. I see those things every day and never even thought about a name for them.

Thanks Timmah!

Timmah! · July 29, 2010

My pleasure.

Plenty of things obvious to others with which I've not made associations, I'm sure.

habitat_gardener · July 29, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomatoDon

I hate to sound like the Village Idiot, but what's a plastic clamshell?

They're the pint and quart containers that berries, tomatoes, and sometimes other delicate foods are sold in. They're called punnets in England. I buy blueberries in them and get them from other people and keep reusing them (for years!) until they fall apart. (The wintersowing site also talks about using containers like this to start seeds in the winter, but I like larger containers for that.)

http://www.formtex.com/sh/packaging/...sket.html?js=n

TomatoDon · July 29, 2010

Good info. From now on when I'm watching Jeopardy and "plastic clamshells" or "punnet's" are mentioned I can punch right in ahead of the others.

danwigz · July 30, 2010

If I'm hankering for a ripe tomato (like I am now, they are starting to ripen, but I want them NOW lol) I place the tomato between a few sheets of newspaper, I've heard that is supposed to help ripen them quicker.

Otherwise, I haven't noticed any substantial difference between off or on the vine.

Danwigz

July 29, 2010	#1
Qweniden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 267	Counter Ripening Question Is there a general consensus on if this tastes as good as leaving them on the vine? Is there a best way to counter ripen? In a bag? In the sun on a window seal? Thanks!

July 29, 2010	#4
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Refer to the thread, "I cooked my yellow cherries." __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

July 29, 2010	#6
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I hate to sound like the Village Idiot, but what's a plastic clamshell? __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

July 29, 2010	#8
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	One could see if one would only open one's eyes. I see those things every day and never even thought about a name for them. Thanks Timmah! __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

July 29, 2010	#11
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Good info. From now on when I'm watching Jeopardy and "plastic clamshells" or "punnet's" are mentioned I can punch right in ahead of the others. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

July 29, 2010	#2
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	I just set 'em on the counter, out of the sun. They ripen within a couple few days.

July 29, 2010	#5
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I don't have a counter, so I put mine in plastic clamshells (with air holes) as I pick them. I can stack the clamshells without crushing the tomatoes. I usually keep them there until they're near ripe, then put them on a plate on the table. I pick my tomatoes when they're blushing because I don't get to the garden every day, and I get occasional bird or squirrel bites. If the tomatoes are blushing, I'd keep them out of the sun. Once they're off the vine, I don't think extra heat is good for them.

July 29, 2010	#9
Timmah! Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky 6a Posts: 754	My pleasure. Plenty of things obvious to others with which I've not made associations, I'm sure.

July 30, 2010	#12
danwigz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 150	If I'm hankering for a ripe tomato (like I am now, they are starting to ripen, but I want them NOW lol) I place the tomato between a few sheets of newspaper, I've heard that is supposed to help ripen them quicker. Otherwise, I haven't noticed any substantial difference between off or on the vine. Danwigz