We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Some Different Kinds of Tomatoes?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 38,063
Share

Tomatoes are annual plants native to South America, cultivated for their colorful and juicy fruits. When European explorers first came to the Americas, they were introduced to the tomato, and they brought the flavorful fruit back with them. While the nightshade relative was initially greeted with suspicion, it was ultimately embraced, and the tomato has become a ubiquitous feature in the cuisines of many nations.

As should come as no surprise, there are a number of different varieties of tomato. Commercially, scores are in active cultivation, and estimates suggest that there may be several thousand kinds. These tomatoes range in size from giant beefsteak to small cherry tomatoes, and they come in colors like yellow, green, and purple in addition to the classic red. Many also have unique flavors, and are more suitable for some applications than others.

The classic globe tomato group, which includes beefsteak, encompasses that that tend to be red and roughly round. Globe tomatoes can be eaten raw or cooked, and they tend to have firm, flavorful flesh. These varieties are among the most heavily cultivated, commercially, since they have such a wide range of potential uses.

Roma tomatoes, on the other hand, tend to be more oblong in shape, and they are more suitable for cooking and refinement into products like tomato paste. Some people call members of this group “paste tomatoes,” for this very reason. Plum tomatoes are also classified in this group, although they are much smaller than many other Roma varieties.

Many cooks enjoy working with small tomatoes such as cherry and pear varieties. These tomatoes are often packed with flavor, and they make an excellent addition to dishes like salads and salsa. They also tend to be sweeter than other varieties, especially when they are yellow, as yellow tomatoes are generally sweeter. In many cases, small tomatoes are sold on the vine, with consumers pulling fruits off as needed.

The umbrella term “heirloom tomatoes” is used to refer to a number of heritage varieties such as brandywines and zebras. Heirlooms tend to be more flavorful and fleshy, and they may be more abundantly seeded. They also come in intriguing color combinations, like striped green and white or purple and green, and they may have irregular shapes as well. This type of tomatoes are delicious raw and cooked, and they are available in many grocers and farmers' markets.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By Amphibious54 — On Aug 16, 2010

I used to eat at a small pizzeria in the northeast, and I swear they had the best tomatoes. During the early summer months, the pizzeria would run a special veggie pizza. The pizza was loaded with caramelized sweet onions, crimini mushrooms, serrano peppers, and the sweetest heirloom tomatoes. The flavor was incredible, and all of the ingredients were form local farms.

I have since moved out west, and I have to say I miss the good pizza. I still haven't found heirloom tomatoes in my city that compare with the farm fresh heirlooms that were served at this pizzeria. For this reason I have been contemplating learning how to grow heirloom tomato plants.

By sevenseas — On Mar 02, 2008

If you are growing your own tomatoes, you know that tomatoes are the best when picked ripe of the vine. However, if you buy them in the store, and that goes for all varieties of tomatoes, do not put them in refrigerator when you bring them home.

Store bought tomatoes are usually not completely ripe, so they will do well on your counter for a few days. Once they start turning soft, relocating them to the refrigerator will keep them a little bit longer. The cool temperature of the refrigerator will delay spoilage.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-are-some-different-kinds-of-tomatoes.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.