Choosing the best steak tomato involves identifying its purpose, considering its source, checking for ripeness, and knowing signs of overripe or rotting tomatoes. Local markets and farmer’s markets are good places to find them. Look for bright colors and firm texture, and consider the origin and intended use.
Choosing the best steak tomato is a process of correct identification and careful selection. Steak tomatoes are known for their generous size and exquisite flavors, but they’re harder to find than the more easily grown tomato varieties. When choosing a steak tomato, it’s important to determine its purpose, consider its source, check for ripeness, and know the signs of an overripe or rotting tomato.
Steak tomatoes are not simply one variety, but an entire category of tomato. Learning to recognize the most common cultivars is a good way to tailor the right type of steak to the right recipe. For a classic red tomato that pairs perfectly with a BLT or cheeseburger, the bright red Big Beef is an excellent choice. For maximum flavor and unusual color, beautiful pink-purple Brandywine or deep mauve purple Cherokee are excellent choices. Some yellow steaks, such as Hazel Mae, are known for their low acid content and may be a good choice for those with sensitive stomachs.
Finding a steak tomato might be a little trickier than a trip to the local supermarket. Specialty or local markets may be more likely to carry some varieties of steak. One of the easiest places to hunt for the perfect tomato is at a local farmer’s market during tomato season, which is usually late spring to late summer. Garden centers may also carry steak seeds and plants that start in the early spring; growing these meaty tomatoes indoors is the easiest way to get a fresh, fully ripe flavor.
Once a beefsteak variety has been tracked to a market stall or bush plant, it’s vital to inspect each tomato for signs of ripeness, disease, and overhandling. A mature steak will have bright colors, but will retain a firm texture. Cracks in the skin, mold spots, or a bruised appearance can signal an inferior tomato. Tomatoes that are soft to the touch may be overripe or may have been damaged by juicing. Diseased or damaged tomatoes may not have the same beautiful flavor or texture found in an ideal fruit.
The last step in choosing a great steak tomato is to consider the origin and fate of the fruit. Some people may prefer buying organic tomatoes to avoid possible contamination or flavor problems caused by pesticides; others may want to buy locally grown tomatoes to help support nearby farms and the local economy. A person’s plans for a steak tomato can also influence purchasing decisions; if tomatoes are going to be roughly chopped in a salad, a rainbow of colors and irregular shapes can add contrast and style to a dish. For a backyard barbecue, choosing tomatoes that are evenly shaped can make slicing easier and lead to better-proportioned burgers.
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