FOOD NEWS
What Are Brandywine Tomatoes And How Are They Best Utilized?
BY EMMA SEGREST
Heirloom tomatoes are a beloved crop of late summer and early fall, and one heirloom variety, the Brandywine tomato, is one of the best-tasting tomatoes on the market.
Brandywine tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum) are large Amish heirlooms prized for their sweet flavor, firm texture, and large size. A single fruit can weigh 1 to 2 pounds.
The tomatoes come in yellow, deep pink, and reddish colors with a minimal amount of seeds inside. Plants can be identified by their large leaves that look similar to potato leaves.
Renowned as they are, Brandywine tomatoes aren’t a popular commercial crop, but you may be able to find them in the late summer at a farmers market, or you can grow them yourself.
If you find the tomatoes, darker-colored ones will be sweeter and softer while lighter ones will be firmer and tangier. Use them in salads, sandwiches, sauces, or even pies.
Cooking caramelizes the tomatoes, amping up their special sweetness, but you’ll have to plan ahead, because large Brandywines take slightly longer to cook than others tomatoes.
Store whole Brandywine tomatoes in a cool, dry area, or let them ripen in indirect sunlight. Once you cut them, store them in the fridge or in the freezer for up to six months.