Picked Too Many Green Tomatoes? Here’s How to Ripen Them

You’ve been watching your tomato plants for weeks, waiting for those green fruits to turn red, but some seem to take forever. Maybe you picked them early to avoid pests or brought them inside ahead of a frost, and now you’re wondering whether they’ll ever ripen.

Green tomatoes are perfectly edible and have a tangy flavor that works well in recipes like pickled green tomatoes. If you’d rather enjoy their sweeter, softer flavor once ripe, a few easy tricks can help mature green tomatoes change color indoors.

Before you start, sort through your harvest and set aside tomatoes that are nearly full size and look mature. Tiny, hard green tomatoes picked too early may never ripen fully, no matter where you keep them.

Wrap Them in Newspaper and Place Them in a Box

A cardboard box gives you an easy place to store a larger batch of green tomatoes while they ripen. Wrap each tomato loosely in newspaper, leave a little space between them, and keep the box indoors in a warm spot around 65–70°F.

Check the tomatoes every day or two and remove any that develop mold or begin to rot. Some may start turning color within a week, while others need more time, and adding a ripe apple or banana to the box can help because both release ethylene gas that encourages ripening.

Try a Paper Bag for a Smaller Batch

A paper bag works well if you only have a few tomatoes to ripen and don’t want to use a whole box. Place them inside without packing them tightly, fold the top loosely closed, and leave the bag in a warm room.

Check the tomatoes every day or two and remove each one as it ripens. This is a handy option for tomatoes that were nearly ready when you picked them but still need a little time indoors.

Find a Warm Spot Near a Window

If you prefer to keep your tomatoes out in the open, arrange them in a single layer on a countertop or near a window in a warm room. Direct sunlight isn’t necessary, and too-hot spots may cause the fruit to soften or spoil before it ripens properly.

Leave space between the tomatoes, and turn them occasionally so you can check each side for soft spots or signs of rot. They may take a little longer to ripen this way than they would in a bag or box, but it’s easy to keep an eye on them.

Check Your Tomatoes Often

Whatever method you use, check your tomatoes regularly instead of leaving them untouched for days. Remove any spoiled fruit and bring the ripe tomatoes into the kitchen as soon as they’re ready.

Not every green tomato will turn red after picking, but mature ones often will with the right conditions and enough time. With a little patience, you may be able to save more of your harvest and enjoy ripe tomatoes long after you’ve brought them inside.