Karma: 324255

IS A TOMATO A FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE ?

Some one asked me at work and i have no idea, so i will ask you, i could have googled it but i would be more interesting to hear your answers.

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+4 Views: 717 Answers: 7 Posted: 12 years ago

bulletman

It is technically a Fruit, but when chefs use it with vegatables it becomes a Vegatable.

Commented 12 years ago

7 Answers

Poppy3

Karma: 81370

bulletman -Yes it is a fruit - although I used to think otherwise as it is quite often served with vegetables, meat etc. which is acceptable - fruit can be added to anything. Like them better with additives - and when grilling (not lately) i used to add a little sugar as they can be sour. What's with the bullets??

12 years ago. Rating: 8
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melandrupert

Karma: 450325

Fruit

12 years ago. Rating: 7
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bulletman

Very creative Mel.

commented 12 years ago

melandrupert

bulletman I thought so too xxxx

commented 12 years ago

eggplant

Karma: 385805

It's a fruit, bulletman.

12 years ago. Rating: 7
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bulletman

Eggie what i should have asked what classifies the tomato as a fruit, if it is a fruit.

commented 12 years ago

eggplant

The confusion about 'fruit' and 'vegetable' arises because of the differences in usage between scientists and cooks. 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). 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, such as tomatoes or bean pods, may be called 'vegetables' because they are used in savoury rather than sweet cooking. 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, the answer to the question is that a tomato is technically the fruit of the tomato plant, but it's used as a vegetable in cooking.

commented 12 years ago

bulletman

EGGIE, did you write the editorial for this question in google, you are one smart Egg.

commented 12 years ago

Ducky