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    Home » Knife Skills

    How to Core, Seed, & Chop Tomatoes

    Published: Apr 30, 2021 · Modified: Mar 15, 2024 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Tomatoes are a star ingredient in dishes such as pico de gallo or bruschetta. They also feature prominently in tacos, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Knowing how to core, seed, and chop tomatoes not only makes those dishes prettier, but also tastier as there’s less liquid to water down the dish.

    It takes just a few minutes to core, seed, and chop your tomatoes, and your meals will really benefit from it!

    two cheese topped bruschetta on plate next to a glass of wine. this …

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    Jump to:
    • Why do this
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Recipes that Call for Chopped Tomatoes
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    • How to Core, Seed, & Chop Tomatoes

    If you’ve ever made a recipe with tomato, you know that tomatoes can bring a lot of juice to the table. This is great if you’re making something juicy, but not so great if you’re making something that wouldn’t benefit from extra liquid. Soggy pizza? Mushy tacos? No thank you.

    That’s why it’s important to core, seed, and chop your tomatoes before using them in recipes.

    Why do this

    It reduces the liquid. No one likes soggy foods.

    It makes a prettier dish. Gushy seeds aren’t super pretty atop your tacos. Or anywhere for that matter.

    It takes just a minute or two extra. Yes, it takes a little more time, but just a little. The end result is more than worth it.

    large display of roma tomatoes with price tag at the grocery store.

    There are many different varieties of tomatoes available today. Some are juicier or meatier than others, so some are better suited for some recipes than others.

    Roma tomatoes, also called plum or Italian plum, are often the most affordable year-round and most often used in the recipes that might call for seeded tomatoes, like fresh salsas. Romas are very meaty with fewer seeds and the surrounding gel than other tomatoes which makes them easy to seed.

    Instructions

    How to core a tomato:

    cored tomato on white cutting board with knife and core

    Anyway you slice it, you’re going to want to remove the core from the tomato. Insert the tip of the knife around the edges of the core and cut at an angle. Once you go all the way around, the core should come right out.

    Once you have cored the tomato, you can slice, seed, and chop it.

    How to seed and chop a tomato

    • slices of the tomato fanned out on a white cutting board.
    • pile of seeds and gel next to slices that have been seeded on cutting board.
    • slices of tomato that have been cut into strips on white cutting board.
    • hand cutting the strips of tomato into small dice on cutting board.
    1. Slice the tomato into ¼-inch slices. You can do this horizontally and veritcally.
    2. With the tip of the knife, push away the seeds and accompanying gel, leaving just the meat of the tomato behind.
    3. Cut the slices into ¼-inch strips.
    4. Cut the strips into ¼-inch dice.

    That’s all there is to it! Now you can use your seeded and chopped tomatoes in your recipes.

    If you need to store them, place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

    FAQs

    How do you dice a tomato without squishing it?

    For best results, you’ll need a very sharp chef’s knife to easily cut the tomato without squashing it. You can purchase a knife sharpener fairly inexpensively. Alternatively, you can use a serrated knife to make sure you cut through the tomato skin without smashing it.

    What can you do with the seeds you remove?

    Composting the seeds you remove is probably the best use of them, as some people say the seeds will give a bitter flavor to your recipe.

    How do I choose a good tomato?

    Choose firm, heavy-for-their-size, and deeply colored tomatoes that don’t have any bruises, cuts, or blemishes. Store them at room temperature and use within a few days.

    chopped tomatoes in a glass pyrex measuring cup.

    Recipes that Call for Chopped Tomatoes

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      Easy Pesto Pizza Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes & Feta
    • overhead shot of a bowl of creamy ham pasta with peas.
      Creamy Ham Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
    • greek pizza baked and sliced on white cutting board.
      Easy Greek Pizza Recipe
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    chopped tomatoes in a 2-cup glass measure

    How to Core, Seed, & Chop Tomatoes

    Knowing how to core, seed, and chop tomatoes not only makes those dishes prettier, but also tastier as there's less liquid to water down the dish.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 11kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $0.30

    Equipment

    • chef's knife
    • cutting board

    Ingredients

    • 1 roma tomato

    Instructions

    • Insert the tip of the knife around the edges of the core and cut at an angle. Once you go all the way around, the core should come right out.
    • Slice the tomato into ¼-inch slices. You can do this horizontally and veritcally.
    • With the tip of the knife, push away the seeds and accompanying gel, leaving just the meat of the tomato behind.
    • Cut the slices into ¼-inch strips.
    • Cut the strips into ¼-inch dice.

    Notes

    Choose tomatoes that are firm, heavy-for-their-size, and deeply colored without any noticeable bruises, cuts, or blemishes. Store them at room temperature to preserve their flavor.
    Ripe tomatoes can be refrigerated to stop them from over ripening, but you may notice a loss of flavor. 
    Use chopped tomatoes right away in the recipe or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 11kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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