How to Tell If a Tomato Has Gone Bad (And How to Keep Them Fresh)

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Plus, get tips on how to grow and eat juicy tomatoes

Co-authored by Chef Jeff Woodward and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: June 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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Signs of a Bad Tomato

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Storage

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Additional Resources

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Video

Tomatoes are delicious when they're ripe and vibrant in color, but they can go bad pretty quickly if left at room temperature. It’s usually easy to tell if a tomato has gone bad, as it will become soft and mushy. In this article, we’ll teach you how to tell if tomatoes have gone bad, how to store them to keep them fresh, and provide additional resources on how to grow and eat them.

How can you tell if a tomato is bad?

Chef Jeff Woodward says the best way to spot a bad tomato is to cut it open. Even if the outside looks dull or bruised, the tomato is still ok to eat if the inside looks bright and fresh. If the flesh inside is brown or has spots, however, the tomato has gone bad and you should throw it away.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Tell If a Tomato Is Bad

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Look for lots of bruising and leaking juice. If your tomato has one or two bruises on it, it's still safe to eat—but it's going bad fast. Cut around the bruises and eat the tomato or use it in a recipe as soon as possible. If the tomato is covered in bruises and leaking juice from the inside, it's probably rotting and needs to be tossed.^{[1]
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- A bad tomato might also appear dull in color. Ripe tomatoes are always vibrant!
- Is it okay to eat a bruised tomato? Yes, as long as it's only bruised in a couple of places. Make sure it's not moldy or leaking juice.
A good, ripe tomato is plump with juice and firm to the touch (but not rock hard).^{[2]
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Research source} A rotting tomato is soft and mushy to the touch. It's best to throw it away rather than try to eat it.

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Check for black, white, or green mold spots. When mold grows on tomatoes, it tends to show up as black, white, or green spots. If you see these, it's game over. The USDA recommends discarding moldy tomatoes immediately.^{[3]
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Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA
Food safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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- Is it okay to eat a moldy tomato? No, never eat a tomato with mold on it. Throw it away even if you only see one or two fuzzies.
A ripe tomato should smell floral, hearty, and well, tomato-ey.^{[4]
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Research source} If it smells sour or foul, don't eat it, even if it looks okay from the outside. It's probably already begun to rot underneath the skin.

Section 2 of 3:

How to Store Tomatoes for Maximum Freshness

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As a rule of thumb, eat your ripe tomatoes within one or two days after buying or picking them. Set them stem-side down on your kitchen countertop or another flat surface. At this stage, it's okay to keep them at room temperature.^{[5]
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Set unripe tomatoes out at room temperature until they ripen. If you buy or pick unripe tomatoes, let them sit in your kitchen at room temperature for as long as it takes for them to ripen.^{[6]
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- How can you tell if a tomato is ripe? A ripe tomato is plump and firm when you squeeze it (but not rock hard) and has a bright, vibrant color.
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Tape the stems of ripe tomatoes and store them stem-side up for 10 days. Don't put them in the refrigerator! Tomatoes tend to lose their color, taste, and freshness faster when chilled. Instead, store them at room temperature, but cover the stem side of each with a piece of clear adhesive tape. Then, keep them stem-side up for up to 10 days. The tape acts as a barrier and protects the tomato from bacteria and mold.^{[7]
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- Should you refrigerate tomatoes? Tomatoes taste better when stored at room temperature. If you can't leave them out for some reason, place them stem-side down on the top shelf of the fridge close to the door. This area tends to be slightly warmer than the other shelves.^{[8]
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  - When you're ready to cook with or eat the tomatoes, take them out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature first. This step makes them taste better.
After you cut or slice a tomato, set the pieces cut-side down on a paper towel inside an airtight container. Put the lid on the container and place it in the fridge.^{[9]
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Research source} Eat the cut-up tomato within 2-3 days.

Section 3 of 3:

Additional Resources for Growing & Eating Tomatoes

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Looking for advice on growing, cutting, and storing tomatoes? We've got you covered! Tomatoes come in a ton of delicious, juicy varieties that pair well with all kinds of dishes, from sauces to salads and sandwiches. They're also fun to eat on their own! Make this amazing fruit (yes, it's a fruit, not a vegetable) a staple in your kitchen with these helpful resources: