A seasonal staple, fresh, juicy tomatoes are one of the most versatile additions to your kitchen. Whether you're slicing them up for burgers, tossing them in a salad, or transforming them into a savory sauce, these mouth-watering fruit graces most kitchen counters for a reason.
You've seen the basics in the grocery aisle, but there are so many other tomato varieties. If you want to elevate any meal, it's time to improve your tomato knowledge. From sweet to decadent, these tomato types mere made to melt your tastebuds.
This popular favorite is a sandwich lover's dream, as its meaty texture and sweet taste combine to create the perfect burger topping. This is one of the most cultivated tomatoes on earth, and it packs a punch with juicy flavor, thick consistency, and relatively few seeds.
The largest beefsteak variety can weigh up to 2 lbs and is readily available at your local grocer in red, pink, yellow, and even purple hues. It's quick and easy to cultivate, too, making this fine fruit the ultimate addition to any garden or fruit basket.
Grape tomatoes got their moniker from the fruit of the same name, as they have an oblong, grape-like shape that's easy to spot on the shelf. Packed with vitamins A and C, they make a wonderful snack filled with nutrition. Grape tomatoes have a mild flavor that isn't as sweet or watery as their counterparts.
Since they're only half the size of cherry tomatoes, they're great for sprinkling onto fresh dishes, and they also tend to outlast other varieties.
These classic cooking tomatoes are a tasty addition to any sauce and have become synonymous with Italian cuisine. They combine thick flesh with a rich and savory flavor that'll complement an array of meals, which makes them an ideal choice for food processing.
You may find this variety filling the sauce aisle at your local grocery store, where it packs vital nutrition into one appealing package. Key nutrients include lycopene and lutein, which help improve your immune system and reduce your risk of disease diagnosis.
Have a craving for sun-dried tomatoes? This plum variety is the type most commonly used, as it has a fuller, meatier flavor than most types you'll find on store shelves. With few seeds and an oval shape that's ideal for slicing, it's easy to see why these flavorful favorites are so popular. They're also commonly used in decadent pastes, sauces, and spreads.
They may be tiny, but cherry tomatoes are big on flavor. These minuscule fruits come in an assortment of shades, including red, green, and yellow. They have a soft texture and sweet burst of flavor that makes an excellent addition to salads, pastas, frittatas, flatbreads, and much more.
Rich in lycopene, antioxidants, and potassium, cherry tomatoes (like all varieties) help protect against free radical damage and could lower your risk of heart disease.
Throwing a party? Bust out the cocktail tomatoes because these golf ball-sized goodies are appropriate for any occasion. Tasty at any temperature, they're delicious raw, but the fact that they heat well makes them a go-to choice for lighter sauces. Expect a sweet, juicy flavor from these plump beauties, whether you're savoring them fresh from the vine or atop your next pasta dish.
High in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A and C, cocktail tomatoes are a nutritious choice for any meal.
Passed down by the Cherokee people, these rich-hued fruits are one of the most flavorful varieties out there. They're jumbo in size, with each tomato measuring 3 to 5 inches in diameter. They have a rich color and equally rich flavor, and since they grow rapidly, these extra-large fruits are readily available to grace your plate from sunup or sundown.
Add dusky pink Cherokee purple tomatoes to your omelettes, sandwiches, and sauces, or enjoy them as a solo snack.
These bright fruits come with a kick that's hard to describe until you try it. Equal parts tart and sweet, it's a tangy must-have with neon yellow and green stripes. You won't need any sauce or seasoning for these tasty tomatoes; slice and savor them raw, stir into salsa, or add them to your favorite recipes for a flavorful twist.
Great zebra tomatoes are popular among restaurateurs, so adding them is an excellent way to enhance signature dishes.
If you haven't sampled a Japanese black truffle tomato yet, you're missing out. Despite the name, they don't stem from Japan. These meaty tomatoes have a uniquely complex flavor and a one-of-a-kind pear shape that was developed just back in 1999, when it was first listed publicly in the annual Seed Savers Exchange yearbook.
This variety is highly durable, crack-resistant, and drought-tolerant, so they hold up under nearly any conditions and take heat well. Stuff them, bake them, stew them, or add them to your salad—they're delicious any way you prepare them.
If you want the best of both worlds, fill your fork with some Juliet tomatoes. They combine the sweet taste of grape tomatoes with the savory flavor of sauce varieties, making them ideal for a range of delicious dishes. Whether you want to snack on them raw or stew them into a homemade paste, this robust variety is a fresh addition to your pantry.