A TikTok user has shared a method for preserving tomatoes in the refrigerator for up to two weeks by washing them with two common household ingredients: bicarbonate of soda and distilled vinegar.
How the Method Works
Aveon, the TikTok user, demonstrated the process in a video. She placed tomatoes in a sink, sprinkled bicarbonate of soda over them, and added a modest amount of distilled vinegar. She then filled the basin with water to rinse the fruits, ensuring they were fully submerged. After patting the tomatoes dry with kitchen paper, she placed them into a glass preserving jar with a paper towel at the bottom and stored the jar in the refrigerator.
"Take a mason jar, and place a paper towel in the bottom," she advised. "Put your tomatoes in the jar, and place in the fridge! Voila! Fresh tomatoes for 2 weeks."
Expert Perspective on the Technique
Consumer Reports offered their perspective on the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda technique. "If you want to remove bacteria, there's research that shows that soaking greens in vinegar or a vinegar-water solution can reduce bacteria levels, though it won't kill all bacteria," they explained. Regarding baking soda, they noted: "Soaking in baking soda and water can be an effective way of removing some pesticides. A 2017 study found that submerging apples in a baking soda solution for 2 minutes removed more pesticides than a 2-minute soak in a bleach solution or a rinse under running tap water."
Consumer Reports summarized: "As a general rule, we suggest washing all produce, including those that will be peeled, in cold running water for 15 to 20 seconds. Make sure you do it before you cut into the fruit or vegetable so that you don't transfer any bacteria or pesticides from the surface to the flesh. You can also use a vegetable brush or rub the produce with your hands if it has a tougher skin."
Signs of Spoiled Tomatoes
If tomatoes are past their best, clear signs include visible mould growth, a soft or shrivelled texture, and a strange smell, all of which indicate they may no longer be safe to eat.
