Is a tomato a fruit??

Tomatoes are fruits. Other vegetables are literally fruits of a certain plant too but they are classified as vegetables because they are the edible fleshy parts of a certain herbaceous plant. Calling plants a vegetable is another way to classify it from other plants. I think Botany is making things complicated with all these different classifications.

Biologically, it's the fruit of the plant (because it has seeds), like peppers, chilis, squashes and many other things but in the kitchen it is used as a 'vegetable'. In cooking terms, 'fruits' are generally served as sweet things (and that includes rhubarb, which is technically a 'vegetable' because it is the leaf stems of the plant). What are classed as vegetables in the kitchen are generally used in a savoury context, with more salt than sugar.

Hi, ANIME123. In the past, I used to wonder the same thing too. I would get mixed up into wondering what it would classify as. But, I found out that a tomato is a vegetable. You can tell because, it does not taste sweet like a fruit does. A fruit has more of a bitter taste that is juicy like.

Well, the confusion about 'fruit' and 'vegetable' arises because of the differences in usage between scientists and cooks. Some believes its a fruits and some vegetable. If the answer is yes, then botanically you have a fruit. This, of course, makes your tomato a fruit. Scientifically speaking, a tomato is definitely a fruit. True fruits are developed from the ovary in the base of the flower, and contain the seeds of the plant though cultivated forms may be seedless. Occasionally the term 'fruit' may be used to refer to a part of a plant which is not a fruit, but which is used in sweet cooking: rhubarb, for example. So a tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant, but can be used as a vegetable in cooking. Thanks.

I believe it's classified a fruit, but then I could be wrong.

it is a fruit though it is usually used in vegetable dishes.

A tomato is classed as a fruit, and is a berry too, because it has it's seedshoused on the inside.

Lol, I always have wondered about this when I was younger. A tomato is technically a fruit, but it is eaten as a vegetable. :)

The confusion about 'fruit' and 'vegetable' arises because of the differenes in usage between scientises and cooks.Scientifically speaking a tomato is definitely a friut.True fruits are developed from the ovary in the base of the flower,and contain the seeds of the plant (though cultivated forms may be seedless).Blueberries,raspberries,and oranges are true fruits,and so are many kinds of nut.Some plants have a soft part which supports the seeds and is also called a 'fruit'.though it is not developed from the ovary: the strawberry is an example.As far as cooking is concerned.some things which are strictly fruits may be called'vegetables' because they are used in savoury rather than sweet cooking. The tomato, though technically a fruit. is often used as a vegetable. and a bean pod is also technically a fruit. The term 'vegetable' is more generally used of other edible parts of plants. such as cabbage leaves. celery stalks. and potato tubers. which are not strictly the fruit of the plant from which they come. Occasionally the term 'fruit' may be used to refer to a part of a plant which is not a fruit,but which is used in sweet cooking: rhubarb,for example. So a tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant, but can be used as a vegetable in cookong.

well, i look at it this way. tomato is a fruit growing on the tomato plant and tomato is eaten as a vegetable. thus, to me is a fruit vegetable. similarly, when i eat the leaves of a plant as vegetables, i call it a leafy vegetable such as celery, parsley etc. i eat carrots, potatoes which are tubers or roots, then i call is root or tuber vegetables.does it makes any sense. thanks.

Tomato is definitely a fruit that is used as a vegetable. Fruits are mature ovaries of a flower. Some fruits are edible, while others are not. Some fruits like squash, cucumber, green papaya, okra, zucchini, pepper, eggplant, and beans are used as vegetables. Fruits like pineapple, apple, banana, peach, plum, apricots, melon ripe mangoes and the like, are sweet and used as dessert or made into juice or shakes. But to mention a few, that look like fruits, there's yam, ginger, carrots and rhubarb. They come from stems or roots that are specialized for food storage. Have a nice day, Anime.

i think tomato is both a fruit and a vegetable.as a fruit,it is good for our body,for example,ladies usually protect their skin by it.then,as a vegetable,it contains much vitamin,so we can get nutrition from it.

I thought tomato as a fruit before because it is always with our viands. Then I found out (according to my readings) that it is a fruit because it has the characteristics as a fruit.

Its w.e you think its been a vegetable when i was growing up like in 2000 people began calling it a fruit.

i dont know but they classified it as one of those vegetables. though i love to eat tomato, in fact i always have tomato salad every time i eat. i dont know why, but it helps add my appetite in eating. i really dont care if its a fruit or vegetable what matter is tomato is tasty.

I think tomato is both fruit and vegetables. It's called fruit cos it comes from a flower which grows up into a fruit. and it's called vegetables cos we meet tomato more often on our plate as mixed-vegetables such as soup, salad, or even curry, not in a basket of fruits. moreover, it's seldom people enjoy tomato as fruit, they like enjoying tomato as juice or vegetables.

You confused me by asking this question.Up to now I was thinking it as a vegetable.But you all say it is a fruit.What it is a fruit or vegetable.???? Can anyone tel.??

Scientifically speaking tomato is a fruit ,as far as cooking is concerned it is a vegetable.It means tomato is a fruit of a tomato plant used as a vegetable.Did you know banana is a herb ?The banana tree is technically regarded as herbaceous plant not a tree because the stem does not contain true woody tissue.Tomato is classified as a berry ,just like other fruits it develops from the ovary of the plant after fertilization.

It's a fruit according to my grade school teacher

Botanically, anything that contains seeds is a fruit so tomatoes are fruits but for culinary purposes we treat it as a vegetable.