Are tomatoes a vegetable or 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).

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

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 3

To really figure out if a tomato is a fruit or vegetable, you need to know what makes a fruit a fruit, and a vegetable a vegetable. The big question to ask is, DOES IT HAVE SEEDS?

If the answer is yes, then technically, you have a FRUIT. This, of course, makes your tomato a fruit. It also makes cucumbers, squash, green beans and walnuts all fruits as well. VEGETABLES such as, radishes, celery, carrots, and lettuce do NOT have seeds (that are part of what we eat) and so they are grouped as vegetables.

Now don't go looking for tomatoes next to the oranges in your grocery stores. Certain fruits like tomatoes and green beans will probably always be mostly referred to as "vegetables" in today's society.

Answer 4

Vegetable is a broad category refering to members of the Plant Kingdom, often as used for food. Thus, the tomato plant clearly falls into this category. The test question is "animal, mineral, or vegetable?", and the answer is clear. Fruit, or fruiting bodies, are organs that occur on flowering plants that are enclosed fleshy bodies that contain the seeds of the plant. Thus, fruits are parts of living things called vegetables. Therefore, all fruits are technically vegetables, but not all parts of plants consumed as vegetables are fruits. The distinction made for marketing purposes is arbitrary and not always scientific.
Tomatoes are clearly fruits. Their close relative, the huckleberry, makes this abundantly clear.

Answer 5

They call it a fruit,but eats like a vegetable.

Answer 6

tomatoes are part of the fruit family, not vegetables

Answer 7

With relation to the plant it is a fruit and on the basis of utility it is a vegetable.

Answer 8

well...i think that a tomatoe is a fruit,and, a vegetable because...well,because it's the same...(kind of)

Answer 9

According to the dictionary they are a fruit but to tell you the truth I really don't believe everything I read so I believe they are a vegetable.

Answer 10

LOL Scientifically, they are a fruit because they aren't a stem, root, leaf etc. Socially, though, they are a vegetable because they aren't as sweet as other fruits and they are often cooked and served with other vegetables.