Ingredient Name: Tomato
Traditional Chinese Name: 番茄 (fān qié)
What is this?
- The fruit of the tomato plant
- The most common types of tomatoes are usually orange to red in colour and are often found to be in varying shapes of oval
- They grow on the vined tomato plant, which can grow from 1-3 metres in height
- The tomato is acidic, which makes it easy to preserve
- There are over 7500 different varieties of tomatoes worldwide
How do I prepare it?
- Wash the tomato thoroughly under warm running water
- Slice into quarters, while removing the stems and ends
Where can I buy this?
- Tomatoes are available in any supermarket
- Pick tomatoes that are relatively firm with minimal blemish and red in color (this means they are ripe and ready to be consumed)
What is the cost?
- Tomatoes vary in cost depending on the variety and size, but on average do not cost very much
Any substitutes?
- If you can’t find fresh tomatoes, it is also sufficient to use tomato paste, canned tomatoes, canned chopped tomatoes
Any benefits?
- Tomatoes are extremely beneficial to the heart and prevent prostate cancer
- They contain lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants and are a good source of vitamin C
Any precautions?
- Tomatoes have been linked to Salmonella, so precaution must be taken when consuming – be sure to purchase tomatoes from a reliable source and read up on news regarding tomatoes within certain time frames
Additional Information?
- Do not store unripe tomatoes in the fridge as the enzymes that ripen the tomatoes stop working at temperatures below 12.5°C (54.5°F)
- Ripe tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but usually loses its flavour over time
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