How to Pick the Perfect Tomato at the Market

# How to Pick the Perfect Tomato at the Market Summer's the season when tomatoes are at their best—juicy, flavourful, and worth the hunt. Here's what to look for when you're picking one out: **Give it a gentle squeeze.** A ripe tomato gives a little, but doesn't feel mushy. If it's hard as a rock, it needs more time. If your thumb sinks right in, it's past its prime. **Check the colour.** Deep red, orange, or yellow (depending on the variety) means it's had time in the sun. Pale tomatoes are still working on their flavour. **Smell the bottom.** Cup your hand under the stem end and take a sniff. A sweet, earthy smell means you've found a good one. No smell? It's probably not quite there yet. **Feel the weight.** A ripe tomato feels heavy for its size—that's the juice inside. Pick tomatoes that were picked recently. A tomato picked yesterday will taste way better than one that's been sitting for a week. And here's the secret: eat them at room temperature. Cold tomatoes lose their flavour. Let them sit on the counter after you get home, and you'll taste the difference.