It’s an age-old question—is a tomato a fruit, or a vegetable? Botanically they are a fruit, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that they are a vegetable (due to their use in cooking), so it’s kind of a tomato, tomahto situation (sorry, I had to!). Whatever you want to call them, one thing I am sure of is that tomatoes are absolutely delicious and versatile…and that it can be admittedly hard to know the difference between all the different varieties. Some are better for snacking on, and others for turning into sauces or cooking alongside protein into extra-summery dinners.
To help ease the confusion, I put together this guide (and the chart below!) to the 7 most common tomato varieties. You should be able to find any and all of these varieties at your local grocery store during tomato season, but you may find more success finding heirloom varieties at local farmers’ or produce markets: this list is just a jumping off point. These are some of the most common tomatoes that you’ll find, but there are more than 10,000 known varieties of tomatoes out there, so don’t stop at just these few. Take advantage of all tomatoes have to offer while they are still in season.
Roma Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes are a type of plum tomato—closely related to San Marzano tomatoes—that are categorized for having a high meat-to-juice ratio, which basically means they have thicker flesh with less seeds and juice inside. This gives them a more concentrated flavor and makes them perfect for canning and sauces. They are high in both sugar and acid content—which gives them a really nice pop in salsas—and become even sweeter as the sugars caramelize on the grill. Use Roma tomatoes in our homemade marinara, pizza sauce, or pico de gallo.
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes are likely the main tomatoes you’re used to seeing at the grocery store. They are big, red, and almost meaty. They're also fairly firm and have a classic tomato flavor that isn’t too sweet. Because of their texture and size, beefsteak tomatoes are great for tossing on the grill or in between bread. They make amazing grilled tomatoes and are awesome in a classic BLT, but they're also great for chunkier salsas. They can also be canned for long-lasting tomato flavor well outside peak season.
Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are a small tomato variety, like grape tomatoes, but with a thinner skin, more moisture, and an even sweeter flavor. They are my favorite for snacking, and go beautifully on a salad, especially alongside other summer fruits and vegetables. Try them in our cucumber, tomato & onion salad, our golden girl salad with sweet corn vinaigrette, or our blackberry-peach salad. Because of their sweetness and high-moisture content, cherry tomatoes are also great for roasting. You’ll see them in our roasted tomatoes recipe, our baked feta pasta, and more.
Grape Tomatoes
Grape tomatoes are bite-sized, oblong tomatoes which get their name from having a shape and size very similar to grapes. They are not quite as sweet as cherry tomatoes and have firmer skins and a more meaty texture. Smaller tomatoes, like grape and cherry tomatoes, tend to be sweeter than their larger counterparts, which, along with their size, make them perfect for snacking on their own. They are also fantastic whole or quartered in a salad. Keep things simple with our tomato salad or grilled chicken salad, or amp things up with our summer panzanella.
Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes are simply tomatoes, often beefsteak, that are harvested while still young and unripe. Some heirloom varieties are cultivated to be green when ripe, and those fall under this category too. Green tomatoes have a firmer, less sweet flavor and are often more acidic and even a bit tart. This makes them an excellent choice for pickling or frying. Fried green tomatoes are a Southern classic that everyone should try at least once, in which green tomatoes are sliced into rounds, coated in a cornmeal mixture, and fried until golden and crispy. If you want to hold onto the summer after the end of peak tomato season, that’s a great time to fire up the grill and start the BBQ off Southern-style with grilled green tomatoes.
Cocktail Tomatoes
Cocktail tomatoes (also known as Campari tomatoes or tomatoes-on-the-vine) are a nice in-between tomato. They are slightly larger than a cherry tomato, but have a similar sweetness, which makes them good for snacking. Because of their size and sweetness, they are also great for roasting, which brings out even more of that sweet flavor and juiciness. Try them on their own with a pinch of salt or in our Southern tomato pie or our grilled tomato feta pizzettes.
Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes are interesting, because they can look and taste a lot different based on the specific species. You can find them in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes, all with varying textures and flavors, but in general, heirloom tomatoes are bred for strong flavor, and they deliver. True heirloom tomatoes are selected by farmers from the seeds of the previous generations crop based on desired characteristics like flavor and texture. Because of this, there is less of a concern about the way the tomato looks and more concern on how it tastes. In general, heirloom tomatoes are great eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, and anywhere that you really want tomato flavor to shine through. Try them in our panzanella salad or Caprese salad, or our tomato galette.
