Why are you not supposed to refrigerate tomatoes?

Question

I live in Florida and do it all the time, is there a health risk or what. Thanks

Answer 1

With tomatoes, they tend to absorb the smells of the fridge, no real health risk.  If you do keep the tomatoes in the fridge, they will keep a little longer, but they lose flavor if they're not fresh and can get a woody texture.  One thing you don't want to do with tomatoes in the fridge as far as shelf life is keep them in bags, since the chemicals they emit while ripening will be contained and spoil them quicker.  If you want them "separated" tear a whole in the bag they're in, or put them next to something solid like a fridge pack of soda outside of a bag.  If you are like me and over purchase groceries, and food does start to spoil in the fridge, the first thing to spoil on tomatoes should be the stems actually.  If the tomatoes are getting mushy to quickly, and you note the milk separating before "due date", you've probably got your fridge set to cold, causing partial freezing.  The best place to store fresh tomatoes is actually in sunlight.  They'll have a fuller flavor and more of a vine ripened taste, even if from the grocery store.  

Answer 2

You have to or they will get to ripe. I think you aren't suppose to frig them until they turn perfectly red and soft, then its OK. If you put them in there green, they will never get ripe.

Answer 3

I've never head of that.  I fridge mine all the time.

Answer 4

Because cold tomatoes lose their taste. It is not a health risk to do so.

Answer 5

I do it all the time too. But sometimes they're just stay outside in room temperature. That's ok for 2 or 3 days.

Answer 6

I put all of my tomatoes in the fridge, nothing has ever happened to me

Answer 7

Tomatoes taste better at room temp.  

Tomatoes should never be refrigerated until they (1) have been cooked, (2) have been cut or put into a raw dish like a salsa, or (3) are fully ripe and would spoil if left further at room temperature. Place tomatoes stem end up, and don't put them on a sunny windowsill to hasten ripening. Instead, put tomatoes in a sealed paper bag with or without ethylene-producing fruit such as bananas. Ripe tomatoes will hold at room temperature for two or three days. Ripe tomatoes you've refrigerated to keep from spoiling will taste better if you bring them to room temperature before eating.

Answer 8

I do it all the time too!

Never heard of it being not healthy or anything!

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Answer 9

tomatoes dont like cold temperatures,also the flavour is so much better at room temp.they will ripen faster but they dont last that long in my house,they are eaten fast,toasted tomatoe and canadian bacon sandwich,lots of mayo and salt &pepperMMMMM!MMMMM!

there is a gas that is emitted from most fruits called ethylene,this will ripen any produce thats in your fridge as well.not always a good thing.leave them on the counter,they make a great soup for those rainy days too!