Tomatoes are one of our most popular vegetables. We love them on pizza, on our burgers, in soups, on pastas, and in salads - we even fry them!
Tomatoes are native to Mexico and Central America. They were introduced to Spanish settlers by the Native Americans who cultivated them. Though tomatoes were used in cooking by the Italians as early as the 1500s, they didn't become popular in the United States until the 1800s. Tomatoes were long considered poisonous, perhaps because of the fact that the leaves and stems do indeed contain a toxic alkaloid.
It's a fact that tomatoes are high in nutrients, and because of their lycopene content, they're now touted as a cancer-prevention food.
For best flavor, store tomatoes at room temperature. Most tomatoes sold in supermarkets are firm and not fully ripened. To speed up the ripening process, place tomatoes in a brown paper bag or fruit-ripening bowl. Refrigerate only if fully ripe, and then only for a few days.
