Beefsteak tomatoes are very aromatic and, with some weighing over 1,000 grams, are real heavyweights. We have an overview of the most well-known varieties for you.
Beefsteak tomatoes are large and flavorful, but not usable for everything. We have put together all the information about nutritional values, the best varieties and their use in the kitchen.
Typical characteristics of a beefsteak tomato
At first glance, it is only the size that distinguishes the beefsteak tomato from other tomatoes. However, there is more that makes this fruit special:
- Basic weight between 100 and 250 grams per fruit
- some subspecies weigh up to one kilogram
- have a lot of pulp and few seeds
- firm consistency
- needs longer ripening time than other tomatoes
- particularly aromatic taste
- They are available in the typical red color, but also in yellow, green, brown and black
- some varieties are even bicolored
Depending on the variety, the beefsteak tomato does not develop a spherical shape, but grows irregularly and ribbed, which is why it is easy to recognize.
For what purposes is the beefsteak tomato used?
Beefsteak tomatoes are mainly used in the kitchen for cooking - for example for tomato sauces - because they do not look good in salads due to their size. They are also used to fill burgers or sandwiches.
Beef Tomato Varieties - An Overview
Around 3,000 different varieties of beefsteak tomatoes are described worldwide. Some of them are relatively old, others are newer breeds that are particularly resistant to typical tomato diseases such as late blight or brown blight. The yield is usually moderate. As a rule, however, beefsteak tomato plants bear fewer fruits than other tomato plants.
These are the most popular varieties:
| Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Azoychka | • yellow beefsteak tomato • tender skin • lemony aroma • weighs about 100 to 350 grams |
| Bernese Rose | • pink in color • very aromatic • weighing about 100 to 250 grams |
| BosnianBeefsteak tomato | • red color • heart-shaped • mild taste • full flesh • weak rib with pronounced fruit tip • fruit weighs more than 200 grams |
| Brandywine | • bright red color • weight from 150 to 500 grams • has a light wine aroma |
| Bulgarian Pink Giant | • pink color • firm flesh • weight between 800 and 1,200 grams |
| Belriccio | • Beefsteak tomato with lush ribs • comes from Italy |
| Carbon | • black tomato • weight between 100 and 250 grams |
| Cherokee Green | • flat round shape • sweet taste • light ribbing • slightly more than 200 grams weight |
| Great White | • light yellow color • mild taste • weight between 150 and 350 grams |
| Indian Tomato | • also known under the names "Indian Flesh", "violet beefsteak tomato" or "Indian purple" • violet color • possibly also multicolored • round Fruit • aromatic taste • juicy and soft with a firm skin • light ribs • fruits weigh between 50 and 200 grams |
| small black beefsteak tomato | • brown or black color • flat round shape • light ribbing |
| Marmande | • traditional French beefsteak tomato • mildly sweet taste • light red to pink flesh • weight under 200 grams • round shape |
| Nonna Antonia | • red color • originally from Piedmont • weight between 400 and 800 grams |
| Chinese Beefsteak Tomato | • orange color • round fruits with full flesh • weigh between 50 and 200 grams |
| Pepper Tomato | • red colour • mild taste • juicy and soft with a soft skin • sunken fruit tip • breeding comes from Germany |
| Sandul Modovan | • light red color • fruits weigh between 300 and 700 grams |
| black pineapple tomato | • black color • juicy fruit with a sweet taste • tender flesh with fewer seeds • weight between 200 and 650 grams |
| Spanish aromatic meat tomato | • red color • round appearance • soft skin and flesh • slightly ribbed with a smooth fruit tip • fruits weigh more than 200grams |
| Bull Heart | • also known as "Oxenherz", "Coeur de Boeuf", "Cuor di Bue" or "Heart of the Bull" • originally from Italy • green-yellow Colour, turns red later • Fruits weigh between 300 and 500 grams |
| W altinger's Yellows | • yellow appearance • ripen in lush fruit clusters |
| Cypriot beefsteak tomato | • red color • originates from Cyprus • heart shaped • full flesh • weak ribbing • fruits weigh between 50 and 200 grams |
Nutritional values of beefsteak tomatoes
To complete the information about the beefsteak tomato, we have a nutritional table here. The information relates to 100 grams of raw beefsteak tomatoes:
- Bread units: 0.2
- Kcalories: 20
- kilojoules: 84
- Protein: 0.95 g
- Fat: 0.21 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.60 g
- Water: 93.94 g
- Fibre: 1.30 g
- Cholesterol: 0.00 mg
- Minerals: 0.61 g
Beefsteak tomatoes are rich in beta-carotene and niacin. In addition, there is a high content of vitamin C and folic acid. Among the minerals, potassium tops the list. Beefsteak tomatoes contain about 235 milligrams per 100 grams. There are also numerous amino acids.