Finnish Kitchen: Tomato Flavor Changes in the Refrigerator Within Three Hours
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Finnish consumers are increasingly buying smaller tomatoes, with production and variety growing significantly in recent years.
- Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature, as refrigeration alters their flavor and texture within three hours.
- While consumers often refer to tomatoes by product categories like cherry or plum, specific varietal names are less known, hindering sales based on unique characteristics.
In Finland, the way we buy and enjoy tomatoes is undergoing a subtle shift. While we've long chosen tomatoes based on their shape – reaching for the familiar plum or cherry varieties – the market is now offering a wider array of choices. Production of small, snackable tomatoes has surged, meaning those colorful little gems are more abundant than ever in our grocery stores. This is great news for those who appreciate a sweeter, milder taste, as these smaller varieties often deliver just that.
In Finland, people know to ask for polkka or rosamunda when buying strawberries or potatoes. With tomatoes, however, general terms are used because varieties and their uses are not well known.
However, a crucial piece of advice for maximizing tomato enjoyment comes from the experts: keep them out of the refrigerator! It might seem like a sensible place to store them, but the cold air quickly degrades their flavor and makes them watery. Just three hours in the fridge can be enough to dull the taste. For the best experience, store them at room temperature, just as you would other fresh produce.
Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature, as the taste begins to become watery in the refrigerator after just three hours.
While the availability of specific tomato varieties like Brandywine or San Marzano is growing, most Finnish consumers still rely on general terms. This lack of awareness about specific varietal differences, unlike how we might ask for specific potato or strawberry types, means that selling tomatoes based on their unique qualities remains a challenge. Teemu Kanasuo, sales director at Agrifutura, notes that while consumer interest is slowly growing, likely fueled by cooking shows and social media, we still have a way to go before we routinely seek out tomatoes by their specific varietal names and understand their distinct uses.
For example, plum tomatoes are generally suitable for sauces or grilling because they contain less liquid. The best-known representative of this category is the San Marzano variety.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
