Tomatoes are loved by many as a topping for burgers. But what tomatoes are best for burgers? There are many choices but not all are good to complement that great burger. There are varieties such as beefsteak, heirloom, Roma, and cherry, but not all are created equal.
You want a tomato that is the right size and flavor to add to your burger, whether it is made with ground beef or you opt for a chicken or turkey burger. So you wouldn’t want to use cherry tomatoes to top your burger unless you don’t mind them falling out from under the bun!
And tomatoes have different flavors – sweet, savory, tart. So you want to choose the one that will give you the flavor you are looking for to complete that great burger.
Here we are going to talk about some of the most popular Beefsteak and Heirloom tomato varieties to give you some ideas for what tomatoes are best for burgers!
Beefsteak Tomatoes
These are large globe-type tomatoes that can weigh anywhere from a pound on up. They can also be up to 6-inches in diameter so no trouble here getting lost in your burger.
The beefsteak has very few seeds with a big meaty flavor. They also have a tangy, acidic bite and a touch of that nice sweetness. A beefsteak variety tomato is juicy with lots of water and comes in more than 350 varieties. Because of their meaty texture, they are great stacked on a burger.
Large and firm their flavor is considered to be that of a classic tomato but some may be too sweet for your burger – depending on the flavor you are going for.
Most of the beefsteak variety of tomato is round and smooth in shape and the nice thing is they are available year-round with summer as the peak season. So you can enjoy your burger with your favorite beefsteak variety indoors if you live in a cold winter climate.
Beefsteak tomatoes are great roasted in a bit of olive oil with salt and pepper for a warm addition. This will add a wonderful smoky flavor to that grilled taste of your burger.
This tomato variety is rich in vitamins A and C and full of the fiber you need. A great choice when considering what tomatoes are best for burgers.
Varieties of Beefsteak Tomatoes Are. . .
Beefmaster
The Beefmaster Beefsteak tomato is meaty and juicy with just enough tartness. Since it is a beefsteak tomato there won’t be anything small about it as it can grow up to two pounds.
As with most tomatoes, it is a good source of vitamins and fiber.
A Beefmaster tomato can last a week or more in the kitchen so it will be ready when you are. They can also be frozen and stored for up to a year.
Due to its structure, it holds together very well when sliced.
Pink Caspian
This monster can actually grow as large as a pound so no problem here covering the burger.
They have a classic tomato flavor and a nice balance in the taste of sweetness and acidity. You know these are ripe when the shoulders have turned pink.
These are available throughout the warm months as they discontinue producing once frost has hit.
The Pink Caspian tomato is actually a bit flatter than other varieties so when slicing you will get a more uniformed straight slice to go on that burger. You will also find that they are great roasted or grilled.
As with most varieties, they are loaded with vitamins C and A along with lycopene. According to cancernetwork.com lycopene has been shown to have anticancer properties. It is an antioxidant that we all can use as it also fights the free radicals, which are unstable atoms in our bodies that can damage cells. So you not only get a great tasting tomato, but you are also keeping healthy.
Marmande
The tomato is about medium to large in size so sliced would be great on the burger. It is juicy and solid with very little seeds.
The flavor of this beauty is a bit savory even though a tomato is a fruit! It also has a subtle, tart taste along with a bit of sweetness. A really nice choice of tomato for your burgers.
The nutrition of this variety contains antioxidants such as lycopene, vitamins C, A and B., In addition, they are also a good source of iron and calcium.
If you want to go a different route with this tomato, instead of on top of your burger you can switch it around and stuff your ground beef into this tomato! Season your meat as you like and you have a stuffed burger tomato!
This variety is available during the summer months.
Heirloom Tomatoes
These types of tomatoes are seeds considered to have been passed down throughout generations of families due to their characteristics, according to tomatofest.com.
You can actually save the seeds from an heirloom tomato and plant them as they are open-pollinated, which means they have been pollinated naturally by birds, insects, and humans.
Heirloom varieties normally have a sweet taste and consist of various colors as they have not been genetically modified for a red flavor. They also come in many shapes and colors, and with the yellow varieties on the milder side and the red and green varieties being a bit tart.
Varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes are. . .
Brandywine Tomato
This heirloom variety of tomato weighs in at about a pound with a pink-red color. They are odd-shaped – not round like you might think of a tomato. As they are part of the heirloom variety this means they are also very rich tasting with lots of flavor.
With that flavor, they have been said to be the best tasking of all tomatoes. Due to its size, since it is a beefsteak type tomato, you won’t have any trouble with it being too small for your burger!
The Brandywine tomato is also non-acidic so it won’t overpower your burger to where the tomato is all you taste. It does have a very hearty tomato flavor.
The nutritional value of this tomato includes antioxidants, vitamins A and D, and potassium which can help in muscle strength and metabolism. They are also fat-free and are very low in sugar and caloric content.
This variety is ripe throughout the summer months.
Cherokee Purple
Due to this tomato having a purple/pink outer skin, this is where they get their name. Sweet with some tart flavor thrown in and a dense and juicy texture.
As with many of the tomato varieties these contain high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K for strong bones, and vitamin A antioxidant.
These tomatoes hold up well to grilling if you want that extra flavor on your burger. They already have a bit of a smoky flavor, so bonus! But they are wonderful as is because they do already have that bit of a smoky flavor.
The Cherokee purple tomato is available in the summer and fall so a great time when grilling.
Green Giant
If you are looking for a green rather than red tomato, this could be your choice. These tomatoes are large up to 32 ounces and their green skin remains that color.
They have a juicy, hearty flesh with a bit of a spicy flavor. So if you are looking to add a different kick to your burger, this could be just what you are looking for. Along with that spiciness comes a bit of sweetness to balance it all out.
The Green Giant tomato is packed full of vitamins C and A good for healthy skin and teeth. They are also a great source of folic acid for healthy cell growth and function, fiber and iron.
This tomato will keep in the fridge for up to two days once they are sliced. While whole, keep at room temperature for the best flavor.
Conclusion
Tomatoes are just one of the many toppings you can add to your burger. But using the one that will give you the taste and texture you are looking for without ruining your burger can be hard to do.
So as to what tomatoes are best for your burgers, try some of these varieties and others you might find at your local grocer. Let us know what you like to use and how they work with your burgers. We love to hear what you love to add to your burgers!