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What Are Beefsteak Tomatoes? FAQs

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Posted 1.5.25

If you’ve ever cut a thick tomato slice that covers an entire piece of bread, you understand our fascination with beefsteak tomatoes.

Meaty texture. Substantial size. The name "beefsteak" dates back to at least the 19th century, when tomatoes were gaining popularity in American and European kitchens. The term underscores the tomato's robustness and utility, likening it to a familiar staple like beef steak.

What are beefsteak tomatoes?

Among types of tomatoes, beefsteaks are the largest. On average, they weigh 8 ounces to a couple of pounds – with some clocking in at four pounds.

Beefsteaks are prized for their rich, meaty texture, thick flesh, and balanced sweetness with low acidity, making them ideal for eating fresh.

Most beefsteak tomatoes are indeterminate. They grow continuously throughout the growing season and can reach 6-8 feet tall if supported properly.

What are beefsteak tomatoes good for?

1. Slicing

• Why they shine: Their large size allows for wide, uniform slices that cover bread or buns perfectly.
• Flavor profile: Sweet, tangy, and mild, which complements sandwich ingredients without overpowering them.
• Popular varieties: Brandywine, Big Beef.

2. Salads

• Why they shine: Beefsteak tomatoes are juicy yet firm, making them a great addition to salads without becoming mushy.
• How to use: Dice or wedge them and pair with greens, mozzarella, or a balsamic glaze.
• Popular varieties: Cherokee Purple, Pineapple (for added color and sweetness).

3. Caprese and other tomato-based appetizers

• Why they shine: Their firm texture and bold flavor make them ideal for dishes where the tomato is the star.
• How to use: Slice thickly and layer with fresh basil, mozzarella, and olive oil for a stunning Caprese.
• Popular varieties: Mortgage Lifter, Paul Robeson.

4. Roasting and grilling

• Why they shine: Their large size and meaty flesh hold up well to high heat.
• How to use: Slice thickly, season with olive oil and spices, and roast or grill for a smoky flavor.
• Popular varieties: Black Krim, Big Beef.

5. Fresh salsa

• Why they shine: Their balance of sweetness and acidity makes for a flavorful salsa.
• How to use: Dice finely, mix with onions, cilantro, lime, and peppers for a fresh dip.
• Popular varieties: Delicious, German Johnson.

6. Sauces

• Why they shine: Beefsteaks’ high flesh-to-seed ratio results in thick, flavorful sauces with minimal cooking time.
• How to use: Peel, puree, and simmer with herbs for pasta sauces or pizza toppings.
• Popular varieties: Beefmaster, Brandywine.

7. Stuffing

• Why they shine: Their large size and firm walls make them perfect for hollowing out and filling.
• How to use: Stuff with grains, cheese, or meat mixtures, then bake.
• Popular varieties: Pineapple, Big Beef.

8. Juicing

• Why they shine: Their juiciness and balanced flavor are excellent for tomato-based beverages.
• How to use: Blend and strain for fresh tomato juice or use as a base for Bloody Marys.
• Popular varieties: Black Krim, Cherokee Purple.

9. Preserving

• Why they shine: Their meaty texture is ideal for canning, freezing, or drying.
• How to use: Prepare sauces, puree, or slices for long-term storage.
• Popular varieties: Mortgage Lifter, Delicious.

Browse beefsteak tomatoes offered by our friends at Burpee.

Are beefsteak tomatoes determinate?

Most beefsteak tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning their plants grow and produce fruit continuously throughout the growing season until frost steps in.

How long do beefsteak tomatoes take to grow?

Beefsteak tomatoes generally take 70 to 90 days from transplanting to produce ripe fruit, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

What’s on a list of beefsteak tomato examples?

1. Brandywine

• Color: Pink or red, depending on the variety.
• Flavor: Sweet, tangy, and robust, often considered one of the best-tasting tomatoes.
• Size: Fruits can weigh 1-2 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; takes about 80-100 days to mature.
• Highlights: Heirloom variety with a history dating back to the late 19th century. Known for its potato-leaf foliage.

2. Cherokee Purple

• Color: Deep purplish red with green shoulders.
• Flavor: Smoky, rich, and complex.
• Size: Fruits average 12-16 ounces.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in 75-85 days.
• Highlights: An heirloom variety with a unique color and flavor. Originates from the Cherokee people.

3. Big Beef

• Color: Classic bright red.
• Flavor: Balanced sweetness and acidity, with a meaty texture.
• Size: Fruits weigh about 10-12 ounces.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 70-80 days.
• Highlights: A hybrid variety that is disease-resistant and highly productive.

4. Mortgage Lifter

• Color: Pinkish red.
• Flavor: Sweet and mild, with a rich, meaty texture.
• Size: Fruits can weigh 1-3 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in 80-85 days.
• Highlights: This heirloom was developed during the Great Depression by a gardener who sold his plants to pay off his mortgage.

5. Black Krim

• Color: Deep reddish-purple with greenish-brown shoulders.
• Flavor: Bold, slightly salty, and smoky.
• Size: Fruits weigh 10-16 ounces.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 70-80 days.
• Highlights: An heirloom variety originating from Crimea, with an exotic appearance and unique taste.

6. Pineapple

• Color: Yellow with red streaks.
• Flavor: Sweet, fruity, and mild.
• Size: Fruits weigh 1-2 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in 85-95 days.
• Highlights: A bicolor heirloom variety with a striking appearance and delightful taste.

7. Steak Sandwich

• Color: Bright red.
• Flavor: Classic tomato taste with balanced sweetness and acidity.
• Size: Fruits weigh about 10-12 ounces.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 70-75 days.
• Highlights: A hybrid variety bred for slicing, ideal for sandwiches and burgers.

8. German Johnson

• Color: Pink to reddish pink.
• Flavor: Sweet, tangy, and juicy.
• Size: Fruits weigh 1-2 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 75-80 days.
• Highlights: A popular heirloom variety from the Appalachian region, often used in BLTs and salads.

9. Beefmaster

• Color: Bright red.
• Flavor: Mild and slightly sweet.
• Size: Fruits can weigh up to 2 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 80 days.
• Highlights: A hybrid variety known for its productivity and disease resistance.

10. Paul Robeson

• Color: Dark reddish-brown with green undertones.
• Flavor: Sweet, tangy, and smoky with a hint of earthiness.
• Size: Fruits weigh about 10-16 ounces.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in 70-80 days.
• Highlights: An heirloom variety named after the African American actor and activist Paul Robeson, celebrated for its unique flavor.

11. Delicious

• Color: Bright red.
• Flavor: Rich and balanced.
• Size: Known for producing record-breaking large tomatoes, some exceeding 3 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in 75-85 days.
• Highlights: A variety often grown by competitive gardeners aiming for giant tomatoes.

12. Green Giant

• Color: Bright green, even when ripe.
• Flavor: Sweet, tangy, and tropical.
• Size: Fruits weigh 1-2 pounds.
• Growth: Indeterminate; matures in about 85-95 days.
• Highlights: An heirloom variety with a unique color and flavor profile.

Browse beefsteak tomatoes offered by our friends at Burpee.

Can I grow beefsteak tomatoes in pots?

Yes, you can grow beefsteak tomatoes in pots. While beefsteaks are large and vigorous plants, with proper care, they can grow successfully in small spaces. Plus, container tomatoes are mobile. You can move the pots to the sunniest areas of your patio, balcony, porch, or yard and protect them from the frost.

• Use a pot with a minimum capacity of 15-20 gallons (about 18-24 inches in diameter). Beefsteak tomatoes have extensive root systems and need ample space.
• Select a compact variety, such as Bush Beefsteak or Patio Beefsteak, bred specifically for container gardening.
• Follow container gardening best practices: choose a lightweight, well-draining potting mix enriched with compost or organic matter. Provide sturdy staking to support plants, especially because these varieties produce heavy fruit. Keep the soil moist – water daily in hot weather. Use a balanced fertilizer. And prune suckers and lower leaves to direct energy to producing fruit.

When should I harvest beefsteak tomatoes?

Time until maturity fluctuates according to the beefsteak variety and your growing conditions, but look for these general indicators that your beefsteaks are ready to pick:

• Color. The tomato should have a rich, vibrant color (red, pink, orange, yellow, or even purple, depending on the variety). Its skin will be evenly colored with no green patches, except for some heirlooms that naturally have green shoulders, like Cherokee Purple.
• Texture. The tomato should feel firm, with a slight give when pressed.
• Size. Beefsteak tomatoes are large and heavy, often weighing 1-2 pounds each. If the tomato has reached its mature size for the variety, it’s likely ready to pick.

Extra tips

• Check your tomatoes every day during the ripening stage – especially in warm weather, when they ripen quickly.
• Harvest tomatoes in the morning when temperatures are cooler to prevent stress on the plant

What’s the difference between beefsteak tomatoes and globe tomatoes?

Beefsteak tomatoes and globe tomatoes are two popular types of tomatoes. Each has distinct characteristics that make them suitable for different uses.

1. Size and shape

• Beefsteak tomatoes are large and hefty, often weighing 8–16 ounces or more per fruit. They may have a slightly flattened, ribbed, or irregular in shape.
• Globe tomatoes are medium-sized. On average, they weigh 5–8 ounces on average and are smooth, resembling the shape of a globe – hence, their name.

2. Texture

• Beefsteak tomatoes are dense and meaty with fewer seeds. Thick flesh makes them ideal for slicing.
• Globe tomatoes are juicier, softer, and have more seeds. With a more balanced flesh-to-juice ratio, globes are versatile in the kitchen. You can eat them raw, sliced, diced, in cooked dishes – even for canning and freezing.

3. Flavor

• Beefsteak tomatoes have a rich, robust flavor with a slightly sweet and earthy profile. Lower acidity enhances their sweetness.
• Globe tomatoes are bright, tangy, and slightly acidic on your tongue. They’ve got what’s considered a "classic tomato flavor."

4. Uses

• Beefsteak tomatoes are best for raw dishes like sandwiches, burgers, and Caprese salads because of their size and texture. Want a thick tomato slice for layering? Beefsteaks are your choice.
• Globe tomatoes are great for chopping into salads, making sauces, and adding to cooked dishes. Their manageable size and versatility make them popular in everyday recipes.

5. Habit

• Beefsteak tomatoes are typically indeterminate, meaning they grow continuously throughout the season and require sturdy support. They take longer to mature … 70–90 days, depending on the variety.
• Globe tomatoes can be either determinate (bush-type, maturing all at once) or indeterminate (vine-type, continuous harvest). Thanks to their size, globes mature more quickly than beefsteaks (60–80 days, depending on the variety).

Which should you grow?

• Grow beefsteak tomatoes if you love hearty, flavorful slices for fresh eating and have space for tall plants.
• Opt for globe tomatoes if you want versatile fruits for both cooking and fresh use, or if you prefer faster-growing, compact plants.
• Or … grow both!

Why should you grow beefsteak tomatoes?

Homegrown beefsteak tomatoes offer unparalleled flavor compared to store-bought ones, which are often picked before fully ripening to extend shelf life. And a beefsteak’s yield is impressive. Each plant can produce a significant number of large fruits over the season, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

If you’re a beginner gardener, then beefsteak tomatoes give you momentum. They can offer an impressive start to a lifelong love for digging in the dirt. And if you’re an experienced gardener or tomato enthusiast, you don’t want to miss out on growing these icons of the vegetable garden.

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