An award-winning food producer from Tarleton has revealed why you should never store your tomatoes in the fridge!
Brian Ascroft and his family have been growing tomatoes at Croftpak Nurseries in Tarleton for more than 75 years.
The tomatoes are so good that they take pride of place at the two Michelin starred Moor Hall restaurant with rooms in Aughton and are sold at Booths supermarkets across the country.
The firm regularly supplies Moor Hall Chef Patron Mark Birchall with green tomatoes called Montenegro for his green tomato sauce, which featured in the lobster dish that Mark cooked on Saturday Morning with James Martin TV show in May.
But Brian is adamant that his beloved tomatoes should be kept at room temperature to guarantee the best flavour.
He said: “I will say it again and again – do not refrigerate your tomatoes!!! It’s my biggest frustration.
“I genuinely think we’re the only long season grower in the country that does not put their tomatoes in the fridge.
“The Booths delivery vans know now to turn off their chillers before they collect from us – I insist the tomatoes are never kept in temperatures less than 10 degrees.
“It’s such a misconception. Leave your tomatoes on your worktop in the kitchen and they’ll last a fortnight. Once they’ve been in the fridge they just won’t keep if taken back out.
“If you do have some in the fridge already, take them out for at least 12 hours at room temperature before eating, you’ll taste the difference. But best to not fridge at all.”
- Tomatoes from Brian Ascroft of Croftpak Nurseries will be on the menus at Moor Hall Restaurant and The Barn at Moor Hall in Aughton in the coming weeks. For more details visit: moorhall.com
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