You may have heard that you should not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator; store them at room temperature right on the kitchen countertop instead. But what do you do if you have a bumper crop of ripe tomatoes? To extend the shelf life of a ripe tomato, go ahead and put it in the refrigerator. The chill will prevent it from ripening more. When you're ready to enjoy it, bring it out of the fridge and let it warm back up to room temperature. It'll taste like you just picked it from the garden.
ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION