When starting to cook, learning how to cut a tomato is a great first step! They can be used in a number of recipes such as fresh salads, homemade burgers, diced for a garnish or salsa, and more. Follow this simple step-by-step guide and learn how to cut tomato wedges, tomato slices, and a simple dice.
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📋 What is a Tomato?
Tomatoes are from the Solanaceae or nightshades family and are closely related to eggplant, potatoes, and bell peppers. Similar to cucumbers, tomatoes are classified as a fruit, but are typically used in savory recipes and enjoyed as a vegetable.
Tomatoes originated in South America, particularly Mexico, and are now commonly found in several cuisines. They're delicious raw and cooked and are incredibly versatile in home-cooking.
⁉️ What You'll Need
- A serrated knife - Although you can get away with a typical sharp knife for most home cooking, having a serrated knife or bread knife is imperative when cutting delicate things like tomatoes to prevent them from being squished.
- Cutting board - The larger the better! Using a small cutting board is going to make your workspace feel crowded and take you longer to prep.
🔪 How to Cut a Tomato
How to Cut a Tomato into Wedges
- Remove the stem. Using a serrated knife, cut the stem end off of the tomato.
- Cut the tomato in half. Place the tomato cut side down on the cutting board and cut it in half.
- Turn and cut again. Turn the tomato so that the first cut is now horizontal to you and slice the tomato 3 to 4 times across, creating tomato wedges.
How to Slice Tomatoes
- Remove the stem. Using a serrated knife, cut the top off of the tomato.
- Cut into slices. Once the stem has been removed, keep the tomato on its side and continue to cut it into even slices.
How to Dice Tomatoes
- Cut slices into strips. To dice tomatoes, follow the first two steps to cut the tomato into slices, then stack a few tomato slices on top of one another and slice into strips.
- Turn and cut again. Turn the tomato strips so that the strips are now horizontal to you and dice into small pieces.
How to Halve Cherry Tomatoes
- Cut in half. Using a serrated knife, gently cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Set aside and continue until all cherry tomatoes are halved.
❄️ How to Store Tomatoes
To store whole, uncut tomatoes: Whole, uncut tomatoes store best uncovered at room temperature and will keep for up to 5 days. Excess tomatoes can be stored in the refrigerator to prolong their life, but doing so can cause them to be more grainy and mealy in texture.
To store cut tomatoes: Once cut, tomatoes will need to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For best texture, cut tomatoes should be consumed within a couple of days.
🍽 How to Use/Cook Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be enjoyed raw and cooked. They are a versatile fruit to incorporate into home cooking. Here are a few of my favorite ways to cook with tomatoes:
- Making homemade Instant Pot Tomato Sauce.
- Used in salads like Jerusalem Salad (Israeli Salad), Fall Cobb Wedge Salad or Summer Tortellini Caprese Salad.
- Diced on top of Loaded Burger Bowls, Shredded Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps, or Air Fryer Nachos.
- In dips and salsas like Spicy Mango Habanero Salsa with Black Beans or Spooky 7 Layer Halloween Spiderweb Taco Dip.
- Serve sliced tomatoes on fresh burgers, such as Air Fryer Turkey Burgers or Air Fryer Chicken Patties.
🔍 FAQs
Use a serrated knife, also commonly known as a bread knife. These knives differ from your standard kitchen knife because they have a toothlike blade that allows you to saw through the tomato without smashing it. If you attempt to cut a tomato with a regular kitchen knife, you will be putting a lot of pressure on the tomato and squish it, ruining its shape.
Absolutely! Tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and folate. They're also known to have anti-inflammatory properties and are a great fruit to include in your diet.
Aside from making homemade Instant Pot Tomato Sauce, you can also make pico de gallo, homemade ketchup, tomato soup, or Bruschetta.
💭 One More Tip
Grow your own tomatoes at home! Store-bought tomatoes can be juicy and delicious, particularly in the summer months, but nothing beats home-grown tomatoes. They're picked at peak ripeness and are typically more flavorful.
If you found this helpful, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!
🍴 Recipe Ideas + More Cooking Tips
📖 Recipe
How to Cut Tomatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tomato or 1 pint cherry tomatoes
Instructions
How to Cut a Tomato into Wedges
- Remove the stem. Using a serrated knife, cut the stem end off of the tomato.
- Cut the tomato in half. Place the tomato cut side down on the cutting board and cut it in half.
- Turn and cut again. Turn the tomato so that the first cut is now horizontal to you and slice the tomato 3 to 4 times across, creating tomato wedges.
How to Slice Tomatoes
- Remove the stem. Using a serrated knife, cut the top off of the tomato.
- Cut into slices. Once the stem has been removed, keep the tomato on its side and continue to cut it into even slices.
How to Dice Tomatoes
- Cut slices into strips. To dice tomatoes, follow the first two steps to cut the tomato into slices, then stack a few tomato slices on top of one another and slice into strips.
- Turn and cut again. Turn the tomato strips so that the strips are now horizontal to you and dice into small pieces.
How to Halve Cherry Tomatoes
- Cut in half. Using a serrated knife, gently cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Set aside and continue until all the cherry tomatoes are halved.
Notes
Nutrition
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