Why is a tomato considered 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

Cut a tomato in half and you'll find seeds (tomato pips). If you sow these seeds they should grow into plants. Plants bear FRUITS which contain seeds; we tend to use tomatoes with savoury, rather than sweet food so some people therefore call them vegetables. Botanically speaking, they are definitely fruits just as any other seed- or pip-bearing parts of the plant.

Answer 3

In botany because it is a seed carrying part of a plant.

The term fruit has different meanings depending on context. In botany, a fruit is the ripened ovary—together with seeds—of a flowering plant. In many species, the fruit incorporates the ripened ovary and surrounding tissues. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants disseminate seeds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit

Answer 4

Tomato's form from flowers, they carry the seeds of the plant, they are therefore a fruit, though many people incorrectly think they are vegetables.

Answer 5

The tomato that you eat is the seed-bearing part of the plant. You wouldn't call tomato plant roots a fruit.

Answer 6

The tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant. It is the fleshy seed carrying part that forms after the flowers fade. Aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, squashes, chillis, peppers and pumpkins are also fruits.

Answer 7

Because it is one! The seed bearing part of a plant is the definition of a fruit. We use the term vegetable because it is commonly used as such being an ingredient of savoury dishes.
There are quite a few fruits mis-named as vegetables!
The reverse applies to Rhubarb, its not considered a Vegetable as it is used as a sweet dish. It is not seed-bearing and is the stem of the plant!

Answer 8

Anything grown in the ground is a vegetable. Anything grown on trees/vines are fruit. Tomatoes grow on vines.

Answer 9

Because it forms where the flower was. And it contains seeds

Answer 10

it is considered as a fruit as it contains seeds