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Old August 19, 2010   #1
BigdaddyJ
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Default Do You Store Your Tomatoes Stem Side Up or Down?

How do you store yours? Stem side up or down? I have always stored mine stem side up on my kitchen table or counters. Some people say store them stem side down which to me means upside down because they will fully ripen better. What say you guyz?
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Old August 19, 2010   #2
Talon1189
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I split the time about 50-50 here
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Old August 19, 2010   #3
FILMNET
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stem down until the final days, because it might be to soft,on the top.
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Old August 19, 2010   #4
Stepheninky
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Stem side down here, Squirrels have been a problem this year but they must be picky cause they only eat vine ripened tomatoes. So I have been having to pick a bit earlier what I have found is that if you remove the stem and place them stem side down that in a few days were the tomato is green where the stem was, will turn brown when the tomato is fully ripe. Just thought I would share that so far its held true for the varieties I have grown this year.
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Old August 19, 2010   #5
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Stem side down here as well since the shoulders are last to ripen. That way I don't miss seeing something that's become overripe. (The only exception is if there's a blemish on the shoulders that looks like it could spoil quickly).
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Old August 19, 2010   #6
TZ-OH6
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Stem down to protect the soft bottom. Too many times I have looked in a box of tomatoes and seen juice running out of a good looking fruit because the bottom rotted out.
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Old August 19, 2010   #7
greyghost
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I also store mine stem-side down--also, I love looking at my newly
ripened tomatoes and the blossom end is so much more attractive.
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Old August 19, 2010   #8
neoguy
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Stem down for the same reasons.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TZ-OH6 View Post
Stem down to protect the soft bottom. Too many times I have looked in a box of tomatoes and seen juice running out of a good looking fruit because the bottom rotted out.
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Old August 19, 2010   #9
duajones
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Interesting thread. I have run into the same issues that have been mentioned here. Will have to try the stem side down deal and see how it works
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Old August 20, 2010   #10
matereater
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stem side down.
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Old August 20, 2010   #11
BigdaddyJ
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Wow I am a minority! LOL Is there evidence that keeping them stem down makes for better ripening? Or are they gonna ripen the same way at the same speed no matter how you place them on your table?
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Old August 20, 2010   #12
Sunsi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigdaddyJ View Post
Wow I am a minority! LOL Is there evidence that keeping them stem down makes for better ripening? Or are they gonna ripen the same way at the same speed no matter how you place them on your table?
I belong to your group, BigdaddyJ, never knew that I should put stem side down--great thread, btw. I'll start storing the tomatoes stem side down and see if there's difference I'd like to know if it improves ripening too.
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Old August 20, 2010   #13
ddsack
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Quote:
Wow I am a minority! LOL Is there evidence that keeping them stem down makes for better ripening? Or are they gonna ripen the same way at the same speed no matter how you place them on your table?
It's not going to affect the speed of ripening, but what you're avoiding is the physical squishing down on the soft bottom of the tomato which ripens faster than the stem end, especially for big heavy tomatoes. Flipping them upside down puts the pressure on the thick greener core/stem end.

Actually I do it both ways. If there are cracks that might get moldy without light and air, I store stem up, or even prop on their side. Or turn them now and then as I admire my take.
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Old August 20, 2010   #14
coloken
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Oh my gosh. Here I am 81 years old and find out that I have been doing some thing wrong all my life. I promise to change, so that if one gets a little over ripe it will not make a mess on the table.
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Old August 21, 2010   #15
ubergoober
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I put them stem side down on the counter. I am not sure if it ripens anything better. But the tomatoes ripen bottom up so the bottoms tend to get soft first. So I just do it stem side down to protect the softer bottom.
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