The way you handle food can have effects for health...
THIS WEEK: Keep tomatoes out of the fridge
"EVEN once it’s detached from the plant, tomato fruit will continue to ripen and become richer in the antioxidant lycopene [a plant pigment that protects the cells from damage]," says James Wong, a botanist and author of How To Eat Better.
"However, the chemical reactions responsible for this transformation will not occur below 10C. Tomatoes can almost double their lycopene levels if stored at room temperature for a week or two."
Storing tomatoes on the kitchen counter will also boost taste. A 2016 study at the University of Florida, in the United States, found that keeping tomatoes below 12C hampers the enzymes that develop flavour, leading to the fruit tasting a bit washed out. Apples, berries and watermelon also develop extra nutrients if left out of the fridge.
© Solo dmg media
