Cherry Vs Grape Tomato: What's The Difference?

What are cherry tomatoes?

Cherry tomatoes are small spherical tomatoes about 1 inch in diameter, the closest in shape to wild tomato ancestors. They're typically red but also come in yellow, orange, purple, and green varieties. The flesh has high water content with thin skin that bursts pleasantly when bitten. Cherry tomatoes have sweet, intensely tomato flavor with good acidity balance. The sugar content is higher than most full-size tomato varieties (8-10 percent sugar vs 4-6 percent in larger tomatoes), giving them their candy-like sweetness. Common varieties include Sweet 100, Sungold (the famous orange variety), Black Cherry, and Yellow Pear. Cherry tomatoes are popular in salads, on cheese boards, halved on pasta, or eaten as snacks. They're also excellent for slow-roasting, which intensifies the sweetness further.

What are grape tomatoes?

Grape tomatoes are small oval-shaped tomatoes about 3/4 inch long, named for their elongated grape-like shape. They were introduced to American grocery stores in the late 1990s, developed as an alternative to cherry tomatoes with better shelf life and shipping durability. Grape tomatoes have firmer skin than cherry tomatoes, which makes them less likely to split during transport but also less juicy when bitten. The flavor is slightly less sweet than cherry tomatoes (about 6-8 percent sugar) with more pronounced acidity. Common varieties include Santa Sweet, Juliet, and Sweet Hearts. Grape tomatoes are mostly red, with yellow varieties available occasionally. They're popular in salads, as snacks, in lunch boxes, and roasted; the firmer skin holds up better to roasting than cherry tomatoes.

How do cherry and grape tomatoes compare?

Shape differs obviously: cherry tomatoes are spherical; grape tomatoes are oval. Size differs slightly: cherry tomatoes are about 1 inch diameter; grape tomatoes are about 3/4 inch long. Sweetness differs: cherry tomatoes are sweeter (8-10 percent sugar); grape tomatoes are slightly less sweet (6-8 percent). Skin differs: cherry tomatoes have thin skin that bursts easily; grape tomatoes have firmer skin that resists splitting. Juiciness differs: cherry tomatoes are juicier; grape tomatoes are firmer with less liquid. Shelf life differs: grape tomatoes last 1-2 weeks at room temperature; cherry tomatoes last 5-7 days. Heirloom variety differs: cherry tomatoes have more variety colors and heritage varieties; grape tomatoes are mostly modern commercial hybrids. Price is similar at $3-5 per pint at most grocery stores.

Can you substitute one for the other?

Yes, cherry and grape tomatoes substitute for each other in nearly all recipes with minor adjustments. For salads, both work well; cherry tomatoes are juicier when bitten, grape tomatoes hold their shape better when tossed. For roasting, both work, but grape tomatoes hold their shape better at high temperatures; cherry tomatoes collapse and release more juice (which can be desirable in pan sauces). For raw snacking, the choice is personal preference; cherry tomatoes have sweeter flavor, grape tomatoes have firmer texture. For lunch boxes, grape tomatoes travel better due to firmer skin and longer shelf life. For sauces, both work; cherry tomatoes release more juice for sauce body. For sun-dried tomatoes, either works but the smaller size of grape tomatoes is more efficient.