Why do people argue that a tomato is a fruit when it's eaten as a vegetable?

Answer 1

tomatoes are a fruit because of the way they bear their seeds. Most people think of fruit being sweet, but in the case of the tomato this proves that not all fruits are sweet. Squash also falls under the fruit catagory.

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

I've eaten a tomato like a fruit before (just like an apple), and I've eaten fruits like vegetables (apples and oranges are great in stirfry and in salads).
That's why method of consumption is not used to classify a plant.

Hell technically a peanut isn't a nut, its a legume like peas.
Doesn't really matter, they still taste good.

Answer 4

Probably people thought that tomato was a vegetable but then scienstist found out that it is tecnically a fruit. But nowadays it's good to cook different food, fruits can be cooked in hot dishes.

Answer 5

Because tomatoes have seeds.

That is the definition of a fruit. But relax, tomatoes aren't alone! Squash gets the same rap.


Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Technically a tomato is a fruit...but as it isn't sweet people regard it as a vegetable for cooking/eating.

Answer 7

When I eat tomato, it doesn't matter if it's fruit or vegetable. The important thing is tomato is good for our health and delicious. You can just eat it, juice it, cook it, or use for salad. And all taste good ;)

Answer 8

How a plant is eaten has nothing to do with how it's classified biologically.

Tomatoes are fruit because they are the edible part of the ovary of a flowering plant. Even if they're seedless, they're still a fruit.

Answer 9

Apparently it is because it contains it's seeds on the inside. So therefore, you could say that other "vegetables" such as a cucumber might also be classified as a fruit.

Answer 10

same as pumpkin its realy a fruit but not as versatile as most fruit so people call it a vegtable coz they are stupid
sorta like how the banana is not a fruit it is a succulant herb thing but NOT a fruit