How to Cut a Tomato with Step-by-Step Instructions

Bright red, juicy, and slightly sweet—a fresh ripe tomato can’t be beaten. From salads to sauces, there are many ways to use the fruit of the tomato plant. Native to South and Central America, tomatoes are actually a type of edible berry that can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Of course, you’ll need to learn how to cut a tomato before you can use it.

The biggest mistake people make when cutting a tomato is using the wrong knife. In addition to using the right kitchen tools, you can use a few techniques to make cutting a tomato an easier process. Continue reading to learn all of the best ways to cut a tomato.

What you need to cut a tomato

Before you begin, you will, of course, need to pick your tomatoes! Whether you purchase from the store or pluck it from your backyard garden, choose fully ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes turn red when they are fully ripe. They should also feel firm, but the skin will give just a little when you apply some pressure with your thumb. Tomatoes past their prime are soft, mushy, and wrinkled. If they are not too far gone, you can use them to make sauces instead of cutting them.

Once you have your tomatoes in hand, you just need a few more tools:

• A serrated knife (or sharpened chef’s knife)
• A cutting board
• A tomato corer (optional)
• Water for rinsing
• A towel for drying

When it comes to cutting your tomato, nothing works better than a serrated knife. This is because tomatoes are soft and squishy. A serrated blade cuts through the skin and flesh of a tomato with ease, while other types of knives are more prone to ripping and tearing your tomato into a mangled mess. If you don’t have a serrated knife, a sharpened chef’s knife will work. The sharper, the better, as the pressure needed to cut through the skin with a dull blade will likely result in a ruined tomato.

With everything you need, you’re ready to start cutting your tomatoes.

How to core a tomato

No matter how you cut your tomato, there is one thing you need to do first: remove the stem scar. When pulled from the vine or bush, there is often a small piece of green stem left behind. Even if the stem has been completely removed, there will be a crusty remnant left behind on the top of the tomato—this is the stem scar.

Below the stem scar, you will find the core. While edible, the hard white core isn’t delicious. An easy way to remove the core is by using a tomato corer. This tool resembles a small scoop with serrated edges. Just push the serrated edge of the tool around the stem scar and scoop out the core, which should only extend less than half an inch from the top of the tomato.

If you don’t have a tomato corer, don’t worry. You can use a paring knife to remove it easily. Just insert your paring knife into the top of the tomato at a slight angle. While holding the knife, simply rotate the tomato in a full circle. You don’t need to move the knife; just let the rotation do all the work. When the circle is completed, you should be able to pry out the core easily.

With the stem removed, you are ready to continue cutting your tomato according to one of the following methods.

How to cut a tomato

How you cut your tomato depends on how you plan to use it. Tomatoes are typically sliced into rounds, wedges, or diced.

How to slice tomatoes

To slice tomatoes for sandwiches (or perhaps a Caprese salad), lay your tomato on its side, with either the top or bottom of the tomato facing your knife edge. Use your serrated knife to cut the tomato into slices. Move the knife in a slight forward motion as you cut down each time.

How to cut tomatoes for a salad

The best way to cut tomatoes for a green salad is into wedges. To begin, cut your tomato in half from top to bottom. With the skin side down on the cutting board, take each half and cut them in half again. You should be left with four large wedges. Again with the skin side down, cut each wedge in half again longways through the center. This will give you eight wedges total.

How to dice tomatoes

Dicing tomatoes is a snap, especially if you aren’t worried about removing the seeds. If you are making salsa, for example, there is no need to remove them. If the excess liquid affects your recipe, you will want to start with sliced tomatoes. Stack 2-3 slices on top of each other and cut them into strips. Then cut the strips crossways to finish dicing.

How to cut tomatoes for tacos (diced tomatoes without seeds)

To cut tomatoes for tacos, you will want to dice them—but with the seeds removed first. If you don’t remove the seeds and the jelly surrounding them, your diced tomatoes will be liquidity and make your tacos soggy. Nobody likes soggy tacos.

To dice tomatoes without the seeds, you will want to start with wedges—quarters will do just fine. Use a paring knife to cut out the insides of the tomato from each wedge. Then cut the outer skin into strips. Finish by cutting the strips crossways.

Enjoying your cut tomatoes

Sliced, quarter, or diced—tomatoes add a healthy dose of vitamins and antioxidants, primarily lycopene, potassium, vitamin C, and folate. Cut tomatoes are best enjoyed right away, but you can refrigerate your tomatoes in an airtight container for 2-3 days without losing too much flavor. Freshly cut tomatoes can also be frozen for 12-18 months in a tightly sealed plastic bag.

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