Tomatoes will stay fresher for longer if stored in 'best but unexpected place'

You might think the fridge is the go-to spot for your , but you could be killing their flavour without even realising it. Tomatoes are a bit tricky when it comes to keeping them fresh because they need different storage methods based on their ripeness, and those just-purchased, green or unripe ones should definitely steer clear of the chilly confines of your .

OddBox's food waste expert Louise Huynh has the lowdown on why tomatoes and fridges don't mix. The cold temps stop them from ripening, leaving you with tasteless, mushy, and watery tomatoes. Louise advises: "Not-yet-ripened tomatoes are best kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

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"Store them stem side-down, not touching, and in a single layer. Don't put them in the fridge as this will impact the ripening process." If you've got green or unripe tomatoes, the countertop is your best bet, where they can hang out for two to five days.

A warmer spot will coax them into ripening naturally, boosting their taste, texture, and overall tomatoey goodness before they hit the pan. And that stem-side-down trick? It's all about avoiding bruises on the bottom, which can lead to spoilage.

But once your tomatoes have reached their full, ripe red glory, then it's time for a bag and a trip to the fridge to slow down any further ripening.

Louise adds: "If you find they've become overripe, popping them in the fridge will keep them at that stage of ripeness for three days."

If you're ever in a pinch and need to hasten the ripening of your tomatoes, pop them on the windowsill where the sun beams in or nestle them close to your fruit bowl.

Tomatoes emit ethylene gas, which is nifty for both growth and hastening the ripening process, but beware – it can accelerate the maturation of other fruits nearby.

It's wise to store ethylene-producing varieties like tomatoes, apples, and bananas apart if you don't want premature spoilage.

Yet, if quick ripening is your goal, then keeping these ethylene pals together does the trick naturally, reports .

When you're set to indulge in those juicy tomatoes, yank them out of the cold confines of the fridge to let their flavours truly shine at room temperature before serving.

Louise advised: "Make sure you take them out the fridge before eating, however, as the cold flattens their flavours."