How to tell if a tomato is ripe

The clearest sign of a ripe tomato is that 90% of its skin has turned that classic red color.

• About 90% of the tomato's skin has turned that classic red color.
• The fruit is a bit softer to the touch.
• Color is visible at the blossom-end of the skin, which is the vine-ripe stage.
• Coloration has spread across the skin but not yet fully covered it.