📺 Your Complete Guide for Cutting Tomatoes

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Cutting Tomatoes 101

If you’re looking for the best ways to slice, dice, and chop your Tomatoes, you’ve come to the right place! We asked Chef Zach, our company’s culinary expert, to show us exactly how to cut Tomatoes so that they are perfectly prepared for your salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and more.

While there are many different types of Tomatoes (which you can find in our Tomato Guide!) we’re looking at how to cut Tomatoes of the larger variety: specifically, Beefsteak Tomatoes and Tomatoes-on-the-Vine. Since these larger Tomatoes are also meatier, they are your best choice for many classic Tomato cuts.

Check out our guide and see just how easy it is to start cutting Tomatoes like a pro!

The Best Ways to Slice & Dice Your Tomatoes

There are so many ways to cut Tomatoes, but we want to look at some of the most popular styles. In this guide, we will show you how to dice Tomatoes, how to cut Tomato wedges, and how to prepare julienned Tomatoes!

How to Dice Tomatoes

Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to dice Tomatoes using a meaty Beefsteak Tomato:

1. Before you start dicing your Tomato, make sure you thoroughly wash it with cold water.
2. Use a paring knife to remove the core of the Tomato. Slowly spin the Tomato to guide the paring knife around the Tomato’s stem and pull the core out.
3. Switch to a chef’s knife to cut the Tomato vertically into slices. Your slices should be roughly half an inch thick.
4. Place the slices flat on your cutting board and start cutting them lengthwise. Once you have cut across the entire slice, rotate the slice and start cutting the opposite way.
5. And there you have it–freshly diced Tomatoes!

You can always use other types of Tomatoes for dicing, including Tomatoes-on-the-Vine and Roma Tomatoes, but Beefsteak Tomatoes will yield the firmest diced Tomatoes and produce the least mess.

Best Uses for Diced Tomatoes

Diced Tomatoes are ideal for a wide variety of dishes. From salsas and soups to salads and appetizers, you can add diced Tomatoes to just about any meal to give it a healthy dose of fresh flavor!

Here are some of our favorite recipes that call for diced Tomatoes:

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Mexican Chicken Tinga

Fresh Guacamole

Feta Bruschetta Chicken

Sweet & Spicy Salsa

How to Cut Tomato Wedges

Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to cut Tomato wedges using a firm Tomato-on-the-Vine:

1. Before you start cutting your Tomato, make sure you thoroughly wash it with cold water.
2. Use a paring knife to remove the core of the Tomato. Slowly spin the Tomato to guide the paring knife around the Tomato’s stem and pull the core out.
3. With the paring knife, start from the core and cut down the middle of the Tomato to slice it in half.
4. Next, slice each half again to make quarters, and then cut the quarters into eighths.
5. And there you have it–fresh Tomato wedges!

Tomatoes-on-the-Vine will be your best option for cutting Tomato wedges as they are the meatiest Tomato that still has a juicy bite.

Best Uses for Tomato Wedges

Tomato wedges can be used in salads, appetizers, or as a flavorful garnish. Here are a few different serving ideas for Tomato wedges to get you inspired:

• Our Caesar’s Heart Salad recipe includes Tomato wedges, red onion, hearts of palm, and Caesar salad dressing.
• Try a salad mixed with Tomato wedges, spiralized Cucumbers, red onion, feta cheese, and a light balsamic dressing.
• Build caprese skewers with Tomato wedges, bocconcini cheese, freshly ground salt and pepper, and a balsamic glaze.
• Make avocado toast topped with Tomato wedges, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.

How to Prepare Julienned Tomatoes

Julienne is a culinary term that describes food cut into short, thin strips. Here’s a step-by-step guide for preparing julienned Tomatoes using a meaty Beefsteak Tomato:

1. Before you start dicing your Tomato, make sure you thoroughly wash it with cold water.
2. Use a paring knife to remove the core of the Tomato. Slowly spin the Tomato to guide the paring knife around the Tomato’s stem and pull the core out.
3. With a chef’s knife, slice the Tomato vertically into slices.
4. Place the slices flat on your cutting board and start cutting the slices into long strips roughly a quarter of an inch thick.
5. And there you have it–Tomatoes julienne!

To perform a julienne cut on Tomatoes, you will want to choose a meaty, firm Tomato that isn’t going to fall apart when cut into thin strips. Choosing a Beefsteak Tomato for julienning Tomatoes will be your best bet!

Best Uses for Julienned Tomatoes

One of the best ways to enjoy julienned Tomatoes is in a salad. Here are some recipes to get you inspired:

• Try our Spiralized Mini Cucumber Salad with Tomatoes julienne instead of halved Cherry Tomatoes.
• Prepare this Chicken Fajita Salad and julienne your Beefsteak Tomatoes rather than dicing them.
• This Niçoise Salad will taste great with julienned Tomatoes alongside all the other fresh ingredients it features, including niçoise olives, radishes, and spinach!

Extra Tips for Cutting Tomatoes

Here are a few extra things to keep in mind when cutting Tomatoes:

• Sharp knives are key – Before you start cutting Tomatoes, look at your paring knife and chef’s knife to make sure they are nice and sharp. A sharp knife can make cutting Tomatoes a cleaner, more careful process. Cutting with sharp knives is also safer because you avoid the risk of a dull knife slipping mid-cut.
• Use a non-slip cutting board – Especially when cutting Tomatoes with lots of juice and seeds, a non-slip cutting board that won’t move around on your countertop is essential.
• Cut your Tomatoes last – If you have lots of vegetables to cut up for a meal, start by cutting up the least messy vegetables and work your way up to the juicier, fall-apart foods like Tomatoes, broccoli, or cauliflower. This will keep your mess minimal and allow you to use just one cutting board for all your vegetable prep.

More Tomato Resources

Now that you know how to cut Tomatoes like a pro, you may want to get even more out of this fresh food! Check out these guides for extra Tomato tips, tricks, and resources.

The Tomato Lover’s Guide to Every Type of Tomato

Veggie Storage Guide

Produce Buying Guide

How to Use Up Extra Tomatoes

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