what makes tomatoes red?

Answer 1

Lycopene is the pigment that gives tomatoes their characteristic red color.
It's one of a family of pigments called carotenoids, which occur naturally in fruits and vegetables.
http://www.lycopene.org/faq.aspx

The red color of tomatoes won't form when temperatures are above 86oF, & in extremely hot areas, leaving tomatoes on the vine may give them a yellowish orange look. In this case, picking them in the pink stage and leting them ripen indoors in cooler temperatures is a good idea.

Tomatoes need warmth, not light, to ripen, so there's no need to put them on a sunny windowsill. Place them out of direct sunlight -- even in a dark cupboard -- where the temperature is 65 to 70F.
http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/tomatoes_harvesting/374

If your outdoor temperature is below 86F & above 54F, you should let the tomatoes ripen on the vine, which increases their lycopene content
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040505064902.htm

"Most tomatoes today are picked before fully ripe. They are bred to continue ripening, but the enzyme that ripens tomatoes stops working when it reaches temperatures below 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Once an unripe tomato drops below that temperature, it will not continue to ripen."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomatoes

Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Tomatoes are triggered to turn red by a chemical called ethylene. Ethylene is odorless, tasteless and invisible to the naked eye. When the tomato reaches the proper green mature stage, it starts to produce ethylene. The ethylene then interacts with the tomato fruit to start the ripening process. Consistent winds can carry the ethylene gas away from the fruit and slow the ripening process.

Answer 3

The red is carotene, as is orange, yellow, If it,s green then chlorophyll The tomato is green when young and as it ripens the fruit reduces the production of chlorophyll and the carotene takes over. Ethylene forces the fruit to ripen if picked from the vine too early. It has nothing to do with making it red. It just fools the plant into thinking it,s still on the vine and ripens it. It will turn red with or without the gas.That is why they have "Vine ripened tomatoes"

Answer 4

Part of the natural process of ripening tomatos designed by Mother Nature

Answer 5

Is dependent on the context really. Which is better as a snack - fresh fruit to me. It's tastier and gives you that little of sweetness. Which can be better as a snack if you are trying hard to minimize back on sugar and lose weight vegetables

Answer 6

its part of the growing process. Why can't you google it instead of reposting your question?