Beefsteak tomatoes are the classic large slicing tomatoes that are so delicious on toast, burgers, and sandwiches. These juicy tomatoes are gardeners' favorites! Beefsteak tomatoes have a long and colorful history from Mexico to Europe! Wild tomato varieties grew in Central and South America for centuries producing small tomatoes that were foraged and collected. Over many decades, these wild varieties were selected for larger and larger fruits until the beefsteak variety was created. Scientists now know that stem cells and sugars are related to the size of the tomato, but when Hernando Cortez brought large tomatoes back from Mexico to Europe in the 16th century, it is unlikely he or anyone knew this was the case. Instead, these tomatoes were selected over time to become the large juicy tomato varieties we love today. The term beefsteak is both a common category of tomatoes and a common variety. Several varieties can be a beefsteak type of tomato, and many carry that name as an identifier for the category of tomato. Suppose you are looking for a tomato that you can easily slice for pizzas, sandwiches, and lasagnas. In that case, beefsteak is a great choice! If your goal is to make sauces, salsas, or soups, we recommend choosing a Roma or sauce tomato. Beefsteak tomatoes are very juicy and can make delicious sauces but will require more cooking time to reduce the juices for the desired consistency.