Can Wrinkled Tomatoes Be Consumed?

Tomatoes are a popular meal, but they do not keep for a long period. If you’ve ever opened a punnet of tomatoes and been angry or disappointed by the contents, you may be wondering whether wrinkled tomatoes are safe to eat.

Is it possible to consume wrinkled tomatoes? Yes, wrinkled tomatoes are edible as long as there are no apparent fractures in the skin and no mold is forming on them. They are not always as nice as fresh tomatoes, but they are safe to eat and may also be utilized in cooking to mask the loss of texture rather successfully.

Can You Eat Wrinkled Tomatoes?

Indeed, wrinkled tomatoes may be eaten, but only with caution. The wrinkling indicates that the tomato is beyond its prime, and you should scrutinize it for any other indicators that it has gone bad.

Take the tomato out of its container and inspect it. Check for skin cracks, black blotches, or soft places. If you see any of these indicators, or mold forming on the tomato’s surface, it’s time to compost the tomato; it should not be eaten.

If the tomato seems to be otherwise healthy, despite the wrinkled skin, it is fine to consume. Nevertheless, the tomato must be consumed promptly, and any others in the punnet are likely to become rotten as well. If you don’t utilize them right away, they’ll start to mold.

If you’re still not convinced, cut a tomato open and smell the interior. It should still have a pleasant and tomato-like aroma. It should not smell sour or nasty. You may also taste a bit. If the tomato smells or tastes odd, compost it rather than eating it.

For big tomatoes, it may be fine to remove brown or soft patches if they are limited and the remainder of the tomato is still edible. They are frequently caused by bruising or other damage and may not harm the remainder of the fruit.

Are Wrinkled Tomatoes Nice to Eat?

Many people believe that wrinkled tomatoes aren’t as good to eat fresh since their texture is mushy and part of their taste has faded. Some people dislike them because, like other overripe fruits, they are overly sweet rather than sour.

It is also an issue because the skin of the tomato becomes rough as it loses moisture, resulting in a chewy mouthful where parts of skin get lodged between the teeth or prove hard to break apart.

Yet, wrinkled tomatoes are ideal for cooking since their sweetness complements cooked meals so beautifully.

That indicates it’s time to get a pan out if you have wrinkled tomatoes! You may saute them with mushrooms for a tasty breakfast, or add them to pasta sauces, homemade tomato soup, shakshuka, salsa, and other sauces. Some folks even create their own tomato ketchup from scratch!

Cooking the tomato will also resolve any texture difficulties. Instead of seeming mushy and watery, it will taste just as it should, since boiling always breaks down the tomato and prevents it from remaining firm.

Similarly, the cooking process softens the skin by breaking down the cell walls and reducing hardness, therefore wrinkled tomatoes are perfectly wonderful when cooked.

Why Do Tomatoes Become Wrinkly?

You may be wondering what causes tomato skin to pucker up as it matures. This is usually an indication that the tomato is dehydrating. It will no longer be as juicy as it once was due to evaporation.

When you first pluck tomatoes, they are plump with water from the plant, which the plant regularly feeds by drawing water from its roots and distributing it to the fruit. But, once harvested, the tomato loses all of its water and rapidly becomes drier and dryer.

Drying is a way of preserving tomatoes that, by itself, has no mold hazards, which is why wrinkled tomatoes are safe to consume. But, if old tomatoes are not dried properly, they will mold.

What If You Can See Traces of Mold Around the Wrinkles?

black fuzz), either at the top of the tomato (where the stem used to be) or around any skin cracks. Bacteria may enter and spread as soon as the skin of a tomato is split. If you find mold on your tomatoes, don’t consume them. This is often manifested as soft white fuzz (or brown fuzz).

Any tomatoes that exhibit indications of mold should be discarded. These should not be consumed. You should not wash away the mold and eat the tomato since the mold will be present within the fruit as well, potentially making you sick. The tomato will not taste good, either, and should be composted.

If you grow tomatoes at home, it is a good idea to inspect them on a regular basis for those that are becoming rotten. A single rotten tomato may destroy a whole bowl of tomatoes, so remove any poor ones and rinse the rest.

How Long Do Tomatoes Last?

It all relies on how you keep them. Tomatoes stored in the pantry usually only last about five days, although those stored in the fridge should last approximately a week. Tomatoes, on the other hand, taste much better when eaten at room temperature, so if you store them in the fridge, allow them to warm up before eating!

Final Thoughts

Wrinkled tomatoes are absolutely healthy to consume raw or cooked, although they taste better and have a better texture when cooked. Toughness, mushiness, or an overripe taste are avoided as a result.

To cook the tomatoes, just rinse them and place them in a pan.