Tomatoes are a topic I feel strongly about. When the season rolls around every summer it’s cause for celebration in my house. We eat tonnes of them; in simple salads with mozzarella, alongside fried eggs for breakfast; or even just on their own as a snack.
I think my love of tomatoes runs in my blood. My grandparents were from the south of Italy, where red fruit reigns supreme. Tomatoes there are a thing of wonder: sweet, juicy, firm and complex, with a pleasant acidity and savouriness counteracting the sugar.
But it seems that we’re all tomato-mad this summer. At Sainsbury’s there’s been a 30 per cent year-on-year sales uplift across its entire tomato range with its cherry tomatoes among the best sellers.
Emma Joslin, technical manager at Sainsbury’s, says: “Tomatoes are at their best when they’re juicy, sweet and full of flavour, and at this time of year, British tomatoes are at their seasonal peak. At Sainsbury’s, we work closely with our long-standing British growers to maintain that quality.” To get the best out of your tomatoes, Emma says keeping them out of the fridge is key – instead try a cool, dry place which helps retain their natural sweetness. But not in a fruit bowl next to bananas, in particular, as this will cause them to ripen further; and not piled on top of each other as they can bruise easily under their own weight.
