How to Identify Tomatoes

Check the location of the plant on which the fruit is growing. Tomato plants grow well in sunny areas, as tomatoes require at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. Tomato plants can range from 1 to 6 feet in height. Growers often control large tomato plants in wire cages that are hammered into the ground around the stalk of the plant. Tomato plant stalks are typically dark green, and the leaves have many jagged edges.

Look at the color of the tomato. When they first appear on vines, tomatoes are green. Over time, especially if they're exposed to ideal growing conditions, they'll turn a shade of orange, then bright red. If they're left on the vine too long, they'll eventually turn orange and yellow before falling off. Ripe, ready-to-eat tomatoes are easily discernible due to their vivid red color.

Examine the shape of the tomato, which is typically circular or slightly off-round. Some varieties of tomato, such as the Tiny Tim, are perfectly round. Others, such as the plum tomato, are longer and somewhat similar to the shape of a football.

Analyze the stem of the tomato if it's still hanging on the plant. Tomatoes are affixed to the vine with a dark green stem that attaches to an indentation in the fruit. Small leaves often appear around the base of the vine where it meets the tomato flesh.

Touch the tomato to feel the smoothness of its skin. Some vegetables, such as beans and cucumbers, have slightly furry or prickly skin. Tomatoes, on the other hand, have perfectly smooth skin from the time they form on the vine.

Cut into the tomato, noting the juicy flesh and yellowish seeds. Tomato pulp varies in consistency depending on the ripeness of the fruit, but if you cut into a ripe tomato, you'll note its watery consistency.

Taste the tomato to savor its combination of sweetness and acidity. Depending on the ripeness of the tomato, it may taste juicy and sweet or slightly acidic.