Why do green tomatoes turn red?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do green tomatoes turn red?

The Big Idea

Tomatoes start out green! Then they turn red. What makes them change color?

Green First

Step one: Green First. A green tomato is full of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves. That's why young tomatoes look green, just like the leaves around them.

Turning Red

Step two: Turning Red. As the fruit ripens, the plant breaks down chlorophyll and builds a red pigment called lycopene. Yellow and orange pigments show up along the way, so a ripening tomato can look streaky.

Ripe and Sweet

Step three: Ripe and Sweet. The fruit also turns softer and sweeter as its starches change into sugars. A ripe tomato tastes best when it is picked fully colored.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Chlorophyll. Starting. Getting close. Lycopene!

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Cooking tomatoes helps your body take in more lycopene. Chlorophyll breaks down. Lycopene is red. Riper is sweeter.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Pick a full-sized green tomato. Set it on a windowsill. Draw its color each day. Watch for streaks. How long did it take to turn red?

Outro

A green tomato is full of green chlorophyll. As it ripens, the plant breaks that down and builds red lycopene, with yellow and orange along the way, and the fruit gets softer and sweeter. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! The more you look around, the more wonders you will find, so keep your eyes open! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!