How to Select, Store, and Cook Summer Produce

Tomatoes

How to choose: Select tomatoes that are deeply colored and firm, with a little give. Sniff all tomatoes if you can. If they’re missing that sweet, woody smell, leave them behind. Check grape tomatoes for wrinkles, a sign of age.

How to store: Keep tomatoes at room temperature on a plate; never store them in a plastic bag. If you want to speed the ripening process, put the tomatoes in a pierced paper bag with an apple, which emits ethylene gas, a ripening agent.

Shelf life: Once ripe, tomatoes will last two to three days.

Best uses: Tomatoes can be grilled, roasted, or sautéed. Or make a juicy sandwich: Spread white bread with mayonnaise; top with tomato slices and a second piece of bread. One bite and you’ll wish fall would never come.

Recipes

• Perfect Tomato Salad
• Tomato and Mozzarella Burger
• Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomato and Eggplant
• Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Tomato Salad
• Pasta With Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
• Tomato and Mozzarella Quesadillas With Basil
• Steak With Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Feta
• Lamb Chops With Tomatoes and Olives
• Salmon With Oranges, Tomatoes, and Olives
• Crispy Fish With Tomato and Leek Saute
• Garlicky Broiled Salmon and Tomatoes
• Grilled Tuna With Tomato Salsa
• Herbed Tuna in Tomatoes
• Pico de Gallo
• Spiced Tomato Chutney
• Tomato-Caper Salsa