why is a tomatoe called a fruit ?

Answer 1

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 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 cooking.

Answer 2

Botanically speaking, the tomato is a fruit and is classified as a berry. It is a fruit because it is a ripened mature ovary containing seed. One can confirm this by looking up both "fruit" and "tomato" in a dictionary. (No not the definition of old slang that says a "tomato" is an attractive woman). Things like peppers, eggplants and cucumbers are also fruits by this definition.

Horticulturally speaking it is defined as a vegetable for two other reasons:
1- it is a nonwoody annual (ok, what I want to know then why dont they say watermelons are vegetables?)
2- it was classified this way in 1893 by the Supreme Court for trade reasons (imposing import taxes to protect growers)

Answer 3

Botanically speaking, anything that bears seeds is a fruit. The fruit forms from the reproductive part of the plant, i.e., the flower. The ovary of the flower becomes the fruit and inside the seeds form. So a tomato comes from the flower and inside are the seeds. So it is a fruit. A nut is a seed and the shell is the fruit. Anything from a part of the plant that is not the flower is vegetative, i.e., does not reproduce. So leaves, stems and roots
are vegetables. So lettuce, carrots and potatoes are vegetables.

Answer 4

Because of the seeds inside, it makes it a berry which is a fruit. If you've ever had a proper vine ripened tomato, it tastes very fruity. Suprisingly, the roma tomatoes this year have been awesome. I bite into them just like a nectarine. I think the extra rain this year did something.

Answer 5

Botanically speaking, a tomato is the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant, i.e. a fruit or, more precisely, a berry. However, from a culinary perspective the tomato is typically served as a meal, or part of a main course of a meal, meaning that it would be (and is) considered a vegetable. As noted above, the term "vegetable" has no botanical meaning and is purely a culinary term.

Answer 6

they called a tomato a fruit because some people think its an apple

Answer 7

a tomato is a fruit because it's seeds are on the inside of it and it has a fruit like flesh--like watermelon, oranges, etc.
true vegetables, like carrots and broccoli come from the flower when it turns to seed.

Answer 8

because it has a high acidic level and it has seeds in them and because of its color. That what I been told. But in my opinion, its a vegtable because tomatoes are usually served with dinner or a main course of a meal. Plus the USDA considers it to be a vegetable.

Answer 9

the tomato debate has a winner? i didn't know! i think people still argue about it. i consider it a veggie because of the low carbohydrates.

Answer 10

because a fruit is anything that grows on a stem or vine

These all are considered frits.........squash, pumpkin, cucumber, eggplant, and sweet pepper and some spices, such as allspice and chillies.are too