"It might sound unconventional, but storing tomatoes in wood ash for preservation is a time-tested method that the Amish community is known for. Farmers in other parts of the world take this approach as well. All you need is the clean ash from a wood-burning fire and a box. You add a layer of ash, then your fresh, ripe tomatoes, and then more ash, making sure to fully surround and pack in each tomato. Then, cover the box and keep it somewhere cool and dry."
"You may have heard you're not supposed to refrigerate tomatoes. This is because at low temperatures, tomatoes shut down the production of substances that contribute to their delicious flavor. So, refrigerated tomatoes can equal flavorless tomatoes. The exception is when you notice your tomatoes may be about to start going bad. You won't notice too much flavor breakdown in just a couple of days in the fridge, and popping them in there can hold off the rotting for a bit."
Storing ripe tomatoes in clean wood ash preserves them by isolating the fruit from air and moisture. Place a layer of ash in a box, add fresh ripe tomatoes, then cover with more ash and pack each tomato fully before sealing and keeping the box in a cool, dry location. The Amish and farmers elsewhere have used this traditional technique. Tests indicate the method preserves tomatoes effectively for at least five to six weeks. Refrigeration slows flavor-producing compounds at low temperatures and can make tomatoes flavorless, though brief refrigeration for a couple of days can delay rotting when tomatoes begin to spoil.
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