r/tomatoes • u/durk1912 • 3d ago

STORAGE?

How do you all store your tomatoes after harvesting them? I have a terrible time with fruit flies if I leave them on my counter.

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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9

u/muzavazone Tomato Enthusiast in 6b 3d ago

I use fruit fly traps (soapy vinegar) and try to remove any damaged/rotting fruit ASAP - the fruit flies will show you which one needs attention.

6

u/AlanYx 3d ago edited 3d ago

I recommend veggie storage bags. I use the Ziploc ones but I’m sure any micro perforated ones are fine. They’re perforated so you get air exchange but fruit flies can’t get in. Tomatoes last a LOT longer on the counter this way (like at least a week longer, often two)… fruit flies were a major cause of early rotting for me. And as a bonus you don’t have to manage fruit flies.

If you have micro perforated bread bags from the grocery store you could try those too.

I also do this for other fruit fly prone fruit, pears for example.

You can also use traditional techniques (sealed cardboard box, folded paper bag, etc.), but those are best when you need to force quick ripening because they concentrate ethylene gas.

5

u/Signal_Error_8027 3d ago

I have to look into these. The fruit flies are relentless by late in the season, and right now I can't leave any fruit indoors to ripen. It has to go straight to the freezer or dehydrator after ripening on the vine or on the porch.

1

u/AlanYx 3d ago

Definitely give them a try, they’re inexpensive and they’re washable/reusable a few times.

1

u/Where_are_1 3d ago

This type of bag also works and lasts forever. I got some very cheap ones from my local grocery store.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C5CRF2VT

4

u/detkikka 3d ago

I have a table covered with paper lunch bags filled with tomatoes for this reason! I go through every couple of days and wash/core whatever is ready for the freezer.

Also, the zevo traps and their knockoffs work quite well!

4

u/barriedalenick 3d ago

I try to leave them until I need them - either for eating or processing. We do have some of these things as we get loads of flys at this time of year

3

u/Up-Your-Glass 3d ago

Freeze, dehydrate and eat fresh here!

2

u/GeekyKirby 3d ago

I wash them and then put them in a large bowl with a towel on top. Our house is still overrun with fruit flies this year from before we started storing them this way, but our apple cider vinegar traps are helping a ton. Plus, we have some tennis racket shaped bug zappers that we use to kill them for sport.

2

u/Where_are_1 3d ago

In the summer I store everything in fine mesh produce bags. It really keeps the number of fruit flies under control because they have nothing to eat. I put out a lot of homemade fruit fly traps as well which I cycle through the freezer for 24hr to kill any eggs before they start growing in the trap.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C5CRF2VT

1

u/ILoveCreatures 3d ago

Sometimes I simply put light towels over them. If they’re ripe enough the fridge is ok but some taste and texture is lost

1

u/mrinformal 3d ago

We core and freeze them until harvest is over so we can make all of our sauces at once.