How to Cut a Tomato (3 Ways)
Say goodbye to soggy crushed tomatoes for good, and learn how to cut a tomato three ways for the perfect healthy addition to salads, sandwiches, and more!
Learning how to cut a tomato the right way is well worth the time! Not hard to do, it’s an easy way to elevate the flavor and appearance of all your favorite meals. Plus, they’re budget-friendly and loaded with nutrients! We’ll teach you how to cut a tomato into slices, cubes, and wedges for all your cooking needs.
How to Pick the Perfect Tomato
The first step in learning how to cut a tomato easily is actually choosing the best tomatoes for the job! You can read all the details about how to pick the best tomatoes here. However, to keep things short, we’ll summarize it below.
- Color – You want bright red tomatoes that are free from blemishes, bruises, or dark spots.
- Weight – You want your tomato to feel heavy for its size. Don’t be afraid to pick them up when shopping!
- Firmness – A good tomato will be firm when squeezed without being hard. It should give just slightly under pressure.
- Smell – Give your tomatoes a sniff! They should have a strong tomato-y smell near the stem.
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Technically a fruit, tomatoes are loaded with nutrients and health benefits. For instance, they’re an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, folate, and antioxidants. As a result, consuming them as part of a healthy diet may help to:
- Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
- Reduce the Risk of Cancer
- Support Immune Function
- Protect Brain Health
How to Cut a Tomato – 3 Ways
When it comes to cutting a tomato, there are three effective ways to do it. Depending on what you need the fruit for, you may want to cut slices, cubes, or wedges. We’ll show you how to do all three!
Slices
This method is great if you want to add tomatoes to a sandwich, burger, or as part of a stack like in a Caprese salad.
- Place the tomato on its side on a cutting board so the stem faces out. Slice off the top of the tomato, removing the stem.
- Working backward from the sliced end, continue to cut thin slices from top to bottom.
Cubes
We love tomato cubes in salsas, dips, omelets, stir-fry dishes, casseroles, and chopped salads.
- Start by creating tomato slices with the method listed above.
- Next, lay the tomato slices flat on the cutting board stacked on top of one another. Cut them into thin strips.
- Then, still holding the stack together, rotate the cutting board, and continue to cut strips in the opposite direction. You will be left with chunks!
Wedges
Who doesn’t love a good wedge salad with all the fixings?
- Remove the green stem from the tomato, and place it upright on a cutting board. Slice the tomato in half from the stem down to the bottom.
- Turn the half over, laying it flat, and cut it in half again moving from the stem to the bottom of the fruit. Repeat this step with the other half.
- If you want even smaller wedges, slice each quarter in half again working from the top to the bottom in the center.
Common Questions When Learning How to Cut a Tomato
Uncut tomatoes should be stored outside of the fridge in a cool, dry space. Once cut, they’re best used right away. However, if you have leftovers, they should be transferred to a sealable bag or airtight container and stored in the fridge.
Stored in the fridge, cut tomatoes will stay fresh for up to 3 days. To help extend their lifespan, try adding a paper towel to the bottom of the container to absorb any excess moisture.
Yes, if you want to freeze tomatoes, we recommend cutting them into slices. Then, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and transfer them to the freezer. Once solid, they can be moved to a sealable bag and frozen for up to 8 months. To eat, let them thaw in the fridge overnight, and enjoy!
Ways to Use Cut Tomatoes
Now that you know how to cut tomatoes, let’s put them to use! To get you started, some of our favorite tomato-containing recipes include:
- Whipped Feta with Tomato and Cucumber Salad
- Easy Focaccia with Tomatoes
- Turkey Caprese Sandwich
- Caprese Avocado Toast
More How-To Guides for the Kitchen
Looking for more kitchen tips, tricks, and guides? We’ve got you covered with the resources below!
How to Cut a Tomato (3 Ways)
Ingredients
- 1 ripe tomato
Instructions
- For Sliced Tomatoes: Place the tomato on its side on top of the cutting board so the stem is facing outward. Slice off the top of the tomato, removing the stem. Working from the sliced end, cut parallel strips down the tomato, creating slices.
- For Cubed/Diced Tomatoes: Slice the tomato using the method above. Then, stack the tomato slices on the cutting board, and slice them into thin strips. Rotate the cutting board, and cut thin strips in the opposite direction.
- For Wedge Tomatoes: Place the tomato on the cutting board with the stem facing up. Slice the tomato in half starting from the stem and moving toward the bottom. Flip one half of the tomato over, and cut it in half again moving from the stem to the bottom. Repeat with the second half. For smaller wedges, cut each piece in half another time.
- Store cut tomatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.