Why you shouldn't refrigerate tomatoes

Whatever you do, don't tuck your freshly-purchased tomatoes in the fridge.

It might seem like a good way to store them, but in reality, the cold temperatures can wreak havoc on the flavor and texture of the produce.

While cold air can stop tomatoes from ripening — a good thing if you want to keep them around for longer — refrigeration also breaks down cell membranes inside the fruit, diminishing its flavor and texture.
 
But why? Turns out, these flavor changes happen on a genetic level, according to a study published this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

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