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How To Cut a Tomato For Salad Recipe (The Right Way)

Red, tasty, perfect pieces of tomato adorning the top of your delightfully made green salad! Or beautiful tomato wedges of heirloom tomatoes and red onions decorating that classic tomato salad recipe! It’s EASY. With the article, “how to cut a tomato for salad recipe (The Right Way)” in hand, you’ll be the host with the most!

Bowl of tomatoes cut for a salad.

Whether you prefer a serrated knife or a paring knife and your cutting board, there are different ways to cut a tomato and you’ll want to know about them all! (A steak knife will even do when you are looking for the best way to remove the top of the tomato!

Here’s What You’ll Need

Tomatoes – grape tomatoes or large tomatoes, just use your favorite ripe tomatoes.
A sharp knife – The best knife for the job is a very sharp knife (like a chef’s knife) or a serrated knife (like a bread knife or a steak knife).
Cutting board

Here’s How To Cut a Tomato for a Fresh Tomato Salad


There are different cuts where the end result is a tomato for a fresh tomato sala, but our favorite way to cut these late summer in-season tomatoes is to cut into smaller wedges

STEP 1. The First Step is to Remove the fleshy core with these basic steps and Core the Tomato. Then cut in half from top to bottom.

STEP 2. Cut the tomato into 8 pieces cutting from top to bottom.

STEP 3. Cut the tomato slices in half!

STEP 1. Core the Tomato

Tomato slices on cutting board with knife
tomato slices cut into pieces

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)


What Size Tomato Should I Use For Salad?


Any size will work for a salad but for this type of cut, you’ll want to use one that is about the size of your fist.

What is the Right Knife to Cut Tomatoes?


No special knife is needed. Just use a sharp one because the tomato skin can be thick and hard to deal with.

What Type of Tomato Should I Use for Green Salads?


When cutting a tomato for salad, you’ll want to use one of these different tomato varieties.

  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Roma Tomatoes
  • Fresh Garden Tomatoes (usually a surplus of tomatoes for the best summer salads possible!)
  • On the vine hot house tomatoes.
  • In the winter, you’ll find that the cherry or roma tomatoes have the best flavor.
  • To Cut a Cherry Tomato for a salad, simply remove the stem and then cut in half or in quarters.

Tips and Tricks for Cutting Tomatoes for the Best Tomato Salad

  • When using a small tomato, simply cut in halves or quarters.
  • Tomatoes are best when kept at room temperature.
  • Always use your dominant hand and the tip of your knife to start a cut and then you may have to use a slight sawing action in the opposite direction to keep the cut going.
  • Use the smaller tomatoes in the winter time, they have a more reliable flavor.
  • Fresh tomatoes are always the best for salad and you’ll want to cut those in small pieces as the photos listed above.
  • On the vine tomatoes are great off season salads as well.
  • To store a partial tomato, place in an airtight container. This goes for thick slices, thin slices, half of a beefsteak tomatoes or any tomato mixture like pico de gallo or a caprese salad.
  • You can make a delicious simple tomato salad (italian tomato salad) by making parallel cuts in larger tomatoes and then dressing with fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar and a dash of extra-virgin olive oil. Let the tomato juices mix with the simple ingredients for a delicious dressing. Then sprinkle the top with green onions.
  • You’ll want to avoid green tomatoes for your simple salad and instead use red juicy tomatoes with a lot of visual appeal.

Watch Sarah Make These Tomatoes

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tomato slices cut into pieces

How to Cut a Tomato for Salad Recipe (The Right Way)

Red, tasty, perfect pieces of tomato adorning the top of your delightfully made green salad! It’s EASY, you just have to know how to cut a tomato for salad and you’ll be the host with the most!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to cut a tomato for a salad, how to cut tomato for salad
Prep Time: 3 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 6kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 Tomato

Instructions

  • Remove the tomato core with a sharp knife.
  • Cut the tomato in half from the stem to far end and continue cutting those slices in half until you have 8 slices.
  • Cut the slices in half at the equator. Remove any obvious seeds.
  • Your tomato is ready for your salad!

Notes

  • When using a cherry tomato, simply cut in halves or quarters
  • Use the cherry or roma tomatoes in the winter time, they have a more reliable flavor. 
  • Fresh garden tomatoes are always the best for salad and you’ll want to cut those as the photos listed above. 
  • On the vine hot house tomatoes are great off season salads as well.  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Cut a Tomato for Salad Recipe (The Right Way)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 6 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 73mg2%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 256IU5%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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1 John 4:3

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Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Russanna

Saturday 20th of January 2024

Thank you for your newsletters and these tomato tips. Growing up my Momma had two special identical tomato knives. From the 60s. Plastic handles, long very thin width serrated blade. Spent some time on line trying to find one but never did. Praying for peace for this world.

Wendi Spraker

Saturday 20th of January 2024

Wouldn't it be nice to have those knives in your hands today? Memories like that are so sweet.

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 13th of November 2019

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