Wrinkled Tomatoes: What to Do With Them and Are They Safe to Eat?

Have you ever grown tomatoes and had them start to wrinkle? It’s not the end of the world! In this article, I will discuss what you can do with your wrinkled tomatoes and let you know if they are safe to eat. So don’t throw them away just yet!

First of all, let’s answer the most common question.

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Can you eat wrinkled tomatoes?

Yes, that is usually not a problem.

But if a tomato looks like it’s been through the wringer, you don’t have to worry about its safety but proceed cautiously. Though not necessarily dangerous (hello, dry-cured tomatoes!), wrinkled fruit and vegetables may be more susceptible to spoilage due to age.

Scan your tomatoes for signs of sliminess, squishiness, or unexpected odors before you decide whether to eat this gardener’s bounty!

These are the most common reasons why your tomatoes wrinkle.

Age

Tomatoes can start to wrinkle as they age, but the age at which this occurs can vary depending on the variety, growing conditions, and storage conditions. In general, tomatoes will start to wrinkle as they begin to overripe. The overripe stage is characterized by a loss of firmness and a decline in flavor and nutritional quality.

This could happen within a week or two for fully ripe tomatoes stored at room temperature, while tomatoes stored in the refrigerator can last for up to a month.

It’s also important to note that tomatoes picked green and stored at room temperature will not ripen properly and may develop wrinkles and other spoilage. To ensure that tomatoes are at their best, it’s best to pick them when they are fully ripe and store them at room temperature until they are ready to be eaten.

I always have a bunch of tomatoes at room temperature in my kitchen. It’s a versatile vegetable, and we use them in many dishes.

Catfacing

Catfacing is more common in certain tomato varieties that are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations during the blooming time.

These varieties include:

1. Heirloom varieties: Some heirloom tomato varieties are more prone to catfacing than others.
2. Large-fruited varieties: Varieties that produce large fruit, such as beefsteak tomatoes, are more susceptible to catfacing.
3. Varieties that are more sensitive to temperature changes: Some tomato varieties are more sensitive to temperature changes, and are more likely to develop catfacing if the temperature fluctuates during the blooming time.
4. Some tomato varieties, such as “Big Boy” and “Celebrity,” are known to have a higher incidence of catfacing.

It’s important to note that catfacing can also be caused by environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, insect damage, and specific cultural practices. Even if the variety is prone to catfacing, proper care and management can reduce the incidence of catfacing.

Water loss

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Water loss can cause tomatoes to wrinkle. As the tomato loses water, its skin loses elasticity, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle as the tomato shrinks.

Tomatoes lose water through transpiration, which is water vapor loss through the surface of the tomato’s skin. This process can be accelerated by high temperatures, low humidity, and exposure to direct sunlight. Tomatoes left out in the sun or stored in a dry environment will lose more water and are more likely to wrinkle.

Additionally, if tomatoes are not adequately hydrated and irrigated during their growth, they may not have enough water to maintain their firmness and elasticity, which can also cause wrinkles.

To prevent tomatoes from wrinkling due to water loss, store them in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight.

I always keep my tomatoes on a plate in my kitchen, out of direct sunlight.

Disease

There are several diseases that can cause tomatoes to wrinkle, including:

1. Blossom end rot: This is a common disorder that affects tomatoes and other fruits that grow on a vine. It is caused by a calcium deficiency in the fruit and results in a sunken, leathery lesion on the blossom end of the fruit. As the lesion grows, the fruit may start to wrinkle and rot.
2. Fusarium Wilt: This is a fungal disease that affects the vascular system of the tomato plant, causing wilting and yellowing of the leaves. The fruit will not develop properly and will wrinkle.
3. Verticillium Wilt: This is another fungal disease that affects the vascular system of the tomato plant, causing the leaves to wilt and yellow. The fruit will not develop properly and will wrinkle.
4. Bacterial Wilt: Caused by a bacterium called Ralstonia solanacearum, it can affect the tomato plant’s vascular system, causing wilting of the leaves, and fruit to wrinkle.
5. Early blight: This is a fungal disease that causes circular, dark spots on the leaves and fruit of the tomato plant. As the spots grow, they can cause the fruit to wrinkle and rot.

Preventing and controlling these diseases involves using disease-free seeds or seedlings, avoiding overhead irrigation, using crop rotation, and using appropriate fungicides or insecticides.

It’s important to note that these diseases can cause other symptoms in addition to wrinklings, such as discoloration, rot, and wilting. If you suspect that your tomatoes have a disease, it’s best to consult with a local extension agent or a plant pathologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Genetics

Certain tomato varieties are more prone to wrinkling than others due to their genetics.

Some tomato varieties have been bred to have thicker, more elastic skin that is less prone to wrinkling, while others have been bred to have thinner, less elastic skin that is more prone to wrinkling.

Heirloom tomato varieties, which were grown in the past, are often more prone to wrinkling than modern hybrids. Heirlooms are known for their great taste, but they are not always as uniform in shape, size, or resistance to disease as hybrids.

Large-fruited varieties, such as beefsteak tomatoes, are also more susceptible to wrinkling because their larger size puts more stress on their skin.

It’s also important to note that some tomato varieties are more sensitive to temperature changes and are more likely to develop wrinkles if the temperature fluctuates during the growing season.

Temperature

Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can cause tomatoes to wrinkle. High temperatures can cause the tomato to lose water more quickly, which can cause the skin to sag and wrinkle as the tomato shrinks. Cold temperatures can cause the tomato to become damaged, which can also cause the skin to sag and wrinkle.

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Tomatoes are a warm-season crop and prefer temperatures between 60 and 85°F during the growing season. Temperatures below 50°F or above 90°F can cause damage to the tomato plants, including fruit cracking, blossom-end rot, and reduced fruit quality.

Additionally, if the tomatoes are exposed to temperature fluctuations during the growing season, they may develop wrinkles. Sudden changes in temperature, especially during the blooming time, can cause the flowers to fall off, and the fruit to develop catfacing.

To prevent tomatoes from wrinkling due to temperature, it’s important to protect them from extreme temperatures and to maintain consistent temperatures during the growing season. This can be done by providing shade, using row covers, or by choosing varieties that are more tolerant of temperature fluctuations.

Overripe

Tomatoes can wrinkle when they are overripe. Overripe tomatoes are those that have been left on the vine for too long and have reached the peak of ripeness. As tomatoes overripe, they lose firmness and their skin loses elasticity, which can cause wrinkles to appear.

When a tomato is overripe, it also loses flavor and nutritional quality. The texture becomes softer and may develop a mealy texture. The color also changes, and it may turn from green to yellow, orange or red depending on the variety.

To prevent tomatoes from becoming overripe and wrinkling, it’s best to pick them when they are fully ripe and store them at room temperature until they are ready to be eaten. If you have a surplus of tomatoes, you can also preserve them by canning, freezing or drying.

It’s also important to note that tomatoes that are picked green and stored at room temperature will not ripen properly, and may develop wrinkles and other signs of spoilage.

What can you do with wrinkled tomatoes?

There are several things you can do with wrinkled tomatoes instead of just throwing them away, even if they are not suitable for fresh eating:

Cooking

Wrinkled tomatoes can still be used for cooking. They can be used to make sauces, soups, stews, or canned tomatoes. The wrinkling will not affect the taste of the cooked tomatoes.

Juice

Wrinkled tomatoes can still be juiced, and the juice can be used to make sauces, soups, or drinks.

Fermenting

Wrinkled tomatoes can be used to make fermented products such as salsa, ketchup, or hot sauce.

Compost

If the tomatoes are too far gone to be used for anything else, they can be added to a compost pile.

Sun-drying

Tomatoes that are slightly wrinkled but still firm can be sun-dried to make dried tomatoes.

It’s important to note that, if the tomatoes are spoiled due to disease or other reasons, they should not be consumed and should be discarded. Tomatoes that are wrinkled due to age or overripe, but still safe to eat can be used in any recipe that calls for tomatoes, as long as you are aware that the texture will be different, but the flavor will be the same.

Now go make good use of your wrinkled tomatoes! 🙂

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