Tomatoes are delicious fresh out of the garden, on your pizza, or in your Sunday sauce or gravy but, are tomatoes acidic or alkaline?
Tomatoes are considered acidic. The level of acid in a tomato or tomato product depends on many factors including the variety and how it is prepared. Those that are sensitive to acid may want to consider trying an heirloom variety.
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Are Tomatoes Acidic Or Alkaline
Tomatoes are an acidic food when compared to others on the PH scale.
While tomatoes are considered acidic the acid level in tomatoes can vary depending on variety and how they are prepared.
What Is The PH Level Of A Tomato
Tomatoes range from 4.3 to 4.9 on a scale of 0 to 14 with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being alkaline or basic.
If a food has a PH level that is around 4.6 it is considered an acidic food.
How Acidic Is A Fresh Tomato
A fresh tomato has the highest level of acidity when it comes to tomatoes with a PH level of 4.3 to 4.9.
Are Cooked Tomatoes Acidic
Cooked tomatoes are more acidic than fresh tomatoes especially the longer they cook.
If you take a big pot of tomato sauce or gravy that has been simmering for hours the acid level will be much higher than a fresh tomato.
Avoid cooked tomatoes if you are sensitive to acid.
Do Canned Tomatoes Have Less Acid Than Fresh
You would think that canned tomatoes would have the same acid level as fresh tomatoes do but, that is incorrect.
Canned tomatoes require the use of preservatives which happens to decrease the PH level of the tomatoes making them more acidic.
The PH level of canned tomatoes is around 3.5 whereas a fresh tomato is 4.3 to 4.9.
Avoid canned tomatoes if you are sensitive to acid.
Do Some Tomatoes Have Less Acid
Some tomato varieties and preparation methods have less acid when compared to others.
What Tomato Is The Most Acidic
Some of the most acidic tomato varieties include.
- Beauty King
- Rutgers
- Tangella
- Purple Calabash
What Tomato Is The Least Acidic
Some of the least acidic tomato varieties are.
- Golden Boy
- Golden Jubilee
- Ace 55
- Banana Legs
Do Cherry Or Grape Tomatoes Have Less Acid
Cherry and grape tomatoes seem like they have a lower acid content since they taste sweeter.
In reality, both cherry and grape tomatoes have similar acid levels as large tomatoes.
The smaller tomato varieties have a higher sugar content making them taste less acidic.
If the acid in tomatoes bothers you don’t be fooled by the sugar that masks the acidic flavor in small tomatoes like cherry and grape.
Are Green Tomatoes Acidic Or Alkaline
Unripe green tomatoes are very acidic often having higher levels of acid when compared to ripe red, yellow, or orange tomatoes.
Are Yellow Tomatoes Acidic Or Alkaline
Yellow tomatoes often have less acid than red tomatoes but, that is not always the case.
Orange and yellow tomatoes often have more sugar in them when compared to red tomatoes making them taste less acidic.
Are Purple Tomatoes Acidic Or Alkaline
Purple tomatoes are acidic with comparable acid levels as red tomatoes.
Are Heirloom Tomatoes Acidic Or Alkaline
Heirloom tomatoes are considered acidic.
There have been three separate studies comparing the acid levels of heirloom tomatoes to standard tomatos.
In all three studies, the heirloom tomatoes had lower acid levels.
Is Tomato Juice Acidic
Tomato juice has all of the fiber removed from the fresh tomato leaving you with a concentrated juice.
What’s left is a tomato juice that is higher in acid compared to fresh tomatoes.
The PH level in tomato juice is closer to 4.1 whereas a fresh tomato is 4.3 to 4.9.
If acid is a concern for you, I suggest avoiding tomato juice.
Is Tomato Soup Acidic
Tomato soup is acidic since the fiber has been removed as well as the tomatoes being cooked.
Avoid tomato soup if acid is a concern for you.
Is Tomato Sauce Acidic
Tomato sauce is a concentrated as well as cooked tomato product making it very acidic.
Can You Eat Tomatoes If You Have Acid Reflux
Unfortunately, tomatoes are not a good food for you if you suffer from acid reflux.
Tomatoes contain two different types of acid citrus and malic acid that both can irritate and trigger acid reflux in those that are vulnerable.
Are Tomatoes One Of The Worst Foods For Acid Reflux
Unfortunately, tomatoes are one of the worst foods you can eat if you suffer from acid reflux.
I would discuss your diet and condition with your doctor to determine if tomatoes are a good choice for you.
Can You Eat Tomatoes If You Have Gerd
I would avoid eating tomatoes if you suffer from GERD, as always discuss the details of your health and diet with your doctor to make sure you are doing the best you can.
Final Thoughts
Tomatoes are delicious especially right of the vine in the garden, which may be the best way to enjoy a tomato.
Unfortunately, for those that are sensitive to acid in foods tomatoes are likely to cause irritation due to containing a high level of acid.
Raw tomatoes will always have the least amount of acid in them.
Cooking and preparing tomatoes into juices and sauces increases the PH levels of the tomatoes making them more bothersome for those sensitive to acid.
Small tomatoes like cherry and grape varieties as well as yellow and orange tomatoes contain more sugar masking the acid flavor and contents within.
Heirloom tomatoes often have lower levels of acid making an heirloom variety a better choice for some.
