Tomatoes are popular for their versatility and delicious texture – mostly soft and juicy though some come with a slight bite to them.

All of the most desirable qualities of tomatoes are quick to disappear when stored incorrectly, and in some cases, that may include putting them in the fridge.

Though controversial, it’s a sentiment that Too Good To Go’s UK Country Director, Sophie Trueman agrees with.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, she revealed that there’s a time and place for tomatoes to find a home in the cool environment of the fridge, and it’s certainly not as soon as they’re picked from the garden or bought back from the supermarket.

She explained that the optimal way to ensure tomatoes “last longer” is to control one common factor.

Sophie explained: “Oxygen is often what causes tomatoes (and other fruit and veg) to go bad as the microorganisms that cause spoilage need oxygen to grow, so by reducing how much oxygen can impact the tomato by covering the stem, you help to prevent this.

“If you turn the tomatoes and keep them upside down, you will prevent air from entering the part of their stem.

“You can also stick some masking tape on the white part of the stem so that it stays that way for longer!”

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Simply transfer the tomatoes from their original packaging and tape the stems to keep them fresh. You can cover the bowl with a clean tea towel or muslin cloth in a cool part of the kitchen.

Sophie elaborated: “Tomatoes may last longer in the fridge, but purists say they taste better when stored outside of the fridge. For the best of both worlds, store them outside of the fridge until they are fully ripe and then transfer them to the fridge.”

According to Martha Stewart, tomatoes refrigerated before their time will ruin their flavour. She explained: “It’s in the genes: tomatoes contain an enzyme that reacts to cold temperatures, causing the cell membranes to break down and leaving you with a piece of fruit that’s mushy and mealy.”

Doing so essentially ‘zaps’ the flavour from the once juicy and delicious fruits, leaving them watery and weak in taste.

“As for how long they last, tomatoes last two to five days if stored on the counter, and can last up to two weeks in the fridge”, added Sophie.

Tomatoes that have seen better days can be squashed and added along with a tin of chopped tomatoes to almost any recipe, just add a pinch of sugar to bring out their flavour.

As long as they’re not mouldy, simply roast them in a generous glug of olive oil alongside some garlic cloves, then spread the delicious concoction on some toast for a flavoursome topping. Season accordingly with salt and pepper.