How to Ripen Tomatoes Indoors – 5 Proven Methods that Work

Many gardeners want to know how to ripen tomatoes indoors when the growing season ends or the weather turns cold. Whether your tomatoes are completely green or only partially ripe, you can try the simple indoor methods below to finish the ripening process.

Basic supplies like paper bags, cardboard boxes, newspapers, sunny windowsills, bananas, and apples can help you ripen green tomatoes inside more quickly.

Tomatoes need warmth, time, and ethylene gas to turn red. When you control these factors, you can turn green tomatoes into ripe tomatoes to use in your favorite recipes.

In this guide, you will get step-by-step instructions for each of the tomato ripening methods. You’ll also learn when to pick the tomatoes and how long the ripening process takes. 

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Supplies you’ll need to ripen tomatoes inside

It’s easy to ripen tomatoes off the vine with only a few items. Depending on the method of ripening you choose, you’ll need these supplies:

• Paper bags, cardboard boxes, or wooden crates
• Ripe bananas, avocados, or apples (ethylene sources)
• Newspaper or paper towels
• Plates or trays
• Rope or jute
• A warm, dark location such as a pantry or cupboard

How to ripen tomatoes indoors

There are five ways to ripen green tomatoes indoors after you have picked them off the vine. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, depending on how many tomatoes you have and your available space. 

Ripening tomatoes in a paper bag

To ripen tomatoes in a paper bag, place mature, undamaged green tomatoes in the bag. Then add a ripe banana or apple. These ripe fruits release ethylene gas, which will help the tomatoes turn red more quickly.

Fold the top of the bag loosely to allow for good air circulation. Store it in a warm, dark place with a temperature of around 65-70°F (18-21°C).

Check the tomatoes each day, and remove any that have ripened. Close the bag to allow the rest of the tomatoes to turn red.

Box method to turn tomatoes red

The box method is a great way to ripen a lot of green tomatoes at once, especially if you have a large harvest. 

Choose a shallow cardboard box, a wooden crate, or a drawer that has good air circulation in it. Don’t use airtight containers since these can encourage rotting.

Line the bottom of the box with newspapers or paper towels to absorb moisture and protect the bottom of the tomatoes.

Place the green tomatoes in a single layer inside the box. Add ethylene gas producers such as apples, bananas, or avocados to the box.

Store it in a warm, dark area with a temperature of about 65-70°F (18-21°C). A pantry or cupboard works well. Keep the container out of direct sunlight.

Check the tomatoes each day for signs of ripening. Remove any that turn solid red to avoid spoilage or over-ripening. If the tomatoes ripen unevenly, gently rotate them so that all sides are exposed to the ethylene gas.

If you notice any damaged or rotting tomatoes, remove them immediately.

Wrapping tomatoes in newspaper

If you want more control over ripening and less risk of one bad tomato spoiling the batch, try wrapping green tomatoes in newspaper before placing them in the box.

This method traps ethylene gas close to the fruit and blocks out light, encouraging even ripening. It also protects the fruit from bruising.

Check the wrapped tomatoes daily and remove those that have turned red.

Since you will need to unwrap the tomatoes often to check them, it is more labor-intensive than the other methods.

Ripen tomatoes on windowsills

This method uses the warmth and available sunlight from windows to ripen green tomatoes quickly and naturally.

Choose firm green tomatoes that have the first signs of a blush. These will ripen better than hard, fully green tomatoes.

Place the tomatoes on large plates in a single layer. Position the tomatoes with the blossom end down (the side opposite the stem end) to minimize the chances of rotting.

Put the plates near a sunny window with good air circulation around them. A south-facing window is best.

If the sun is very hot, you may need to take the plates out of the window during the hottest hours of the day.

Turn the tomatoes every few days so that all sides are exposed to warmth and light. Check daily for ripeness and remove the tomatoes as soon as they are fully red.

In 10-14 days you’ll have ripe, red tomatoes. If you start with tomatoes that have some pink on them, they will take even less time to ripen. These tomatoes took only 4 days to turn red!

One benefit of this method, is that you don’t have to keep opening containers to check to see if the tomatoes have ripened.

Hang the tomatoes upside-down to ripen the fruit

If frost is coming and your tomato plants still have green tomatoes on them, you can ripen them by hanging the whole plant upside down.

Select healthy plants with several clusters of green tomatoes, ideally with a few fruits already starting to get a tinge of pink on them.

Loosen the soil and gently pull the plant up, keeping as much of the root system intact as possible. Shake off any excess soil.

Tie garden twine or rope around the base of the plant near the roots and hang the plant upside down in a cool, dry spot such as a garage, basement, or enclosed porch.

Inspect the tomatoes every few days. Pick them off the vines as they turn red.

This method works because the tomato plant will continue to supply moisture and nutrients to the tomatoes for a short time after being uprooted. Because of this, the flavor of these tomatoes is closest to that of vine-ripened fruit.

How long does it take to ripen tomatoes indoors?

The time needed for ripening depends on the color the tomatoes are when you pick them, the method you use, and your indoor conditions.

The times listed below are for fully green tomatoes. The more color the tomato has, the more quickly it will ripen. 

• Paper bag method – 7 to 14 days 
• Box method – 7 to 14 days
• Newspaper wrapping – 10 to 14 days
• Windowsill method – 10 to 14 days 
• Hang the plant upside down – 2 to 4 weeks

If you’d like a reminder of how long each method takes, you can print out this infographic as a high-resolution image here. You can also get this printable from the project card at the bottom of the post in a slightly smaller size.

When to pick tomatoes to ripen them indoors

While you might normally ripen tomatoes on the vine, it’s a good idea to bring them indoors if a frost is predicted.

Frost damage can ruin the texture and flavor of tomatoes, so it’s better to pick them early than to risk losing the whole crop.

Look for tomatoes that have reached their full mature size. If possible, choose fruits that have a faint blush or tinge of color. These will ripen better than very firm, green ones.

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🍅Do you have green tomatoes at the season’s end? Don’t toss them! Head to The Gardening Cook to learn how to ripen green tomatoes indoors with 5 easy, proven methods. 🌿🏡 #TomatoTips #GardeningHacks #GreenTomatoes #TomatoLovers Share on X

More tomato growing guides

Do you like to grow tomatoes in your garden? Get more information on growing tomatoes and common tomato problems with these posts:

• Growing tomatoes in pots – Get tips for tomato container gardening.
• Tomato bottom rot – Learn the cause and treatment for tomato blossom end rot.
• Tomato sunscald – Find out how to prevent sunscald on tomatoes.
• Black spots on tomato leaves – Discover natural solutions to treat this common problem.

Pin this post for ripening green tomatoes indoors

Would you like a reminder of this post on how to ripen green tomatoes off the vine? Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch this YouTube slideshow video about how to ripen tomatoes off the vine indoors!

Admin note: This article about how to ripen tomatoes off the vine first appeared on the blog in October of 2014. This post has been updated to add all new photos, a printable, and a slideshow video.