What Are Tomatoes and How Can I Use Them?

Tomatoes rewards a little know-how: how to choose them, cook them, store them, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 4,200 recipes to cook with them.

What are tomatoes?

Tomatoes are used in diverse ways, including raw in salads, processed into ketchup or cooked in a tomato soup as well as a rich and wide variety of sauces.

Tomato juice is used in a number of tomato juice based beverages. The Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail based on a tomato juice vegetable cocktail.

Unripe green tomatoes can be seen breaded and fried, especially in Southern US as in Fried Green Tomatoes or used to make salsas or relishes.

Botanically, tomatoes are a fruit, but they are considered a vegetable even by the US Supreme Court.

Varieties

There are a large number (roughly 7,500) tomato varieties grown for a variety of purposes.  There has been a steady rise in popularity of heirloom tomatoes in recent years. Heirloom varieties are particularly popular with home gardeners and organic farmers as then tend to produce more flavorful crops.

Hybrid tomato plants remain common, producing better yield, and they can sometimes combine more interesting characteristics of heirloom varieties.

Preservation

Tomatoes are quite acidic, which make them ideal to preserve easily in home canning; whole, in pieces, as tomato sauce or paste.

Dried tomatoes is also a popular method of preservation. Tomatoes can be preserved by drying, often in the sun, and sold either in bags or in jars with oil.

Health Benefits

Widely consumed throughout the world, tomato consumption is believed to benefit the heart among other things.

Tomato consumption has been linked with a reduced risk of breast head and neck cancers and might also be strongly protective against neurodegenerative disease.

When cooked, tomatoes contain lycopene. Lycopene is considered to be a natural antioxidant. In some studies, it has been found to help prevent prostate cancers but other research has contradicted this claim.

Lycopene appears to help improve the skin's ability to protect against harmful UV rays. 

Also found in tomatoes, is anthocyanin, carotene, and other antioxidants which may provide a variety of health benefits.

Nutrition

Where found

Tomatoes are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Tomatoes are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do tomatoes weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using tomatoes

There are 4200 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Augusta's Chilled Tomato Soup with Basil Cream

Augusta's Chilled Tomato Soup with Basil Cream recipe

Guacamole Ole

This easy party-perfect appetizer teams the flavors of Mexican and California cuisine in a lively dip.

Gazpacho (Salad Soup)

Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish salad soup, with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, olive oil and white wine vinegar. No cooking required, just blend and chill.

Homemade Holiday Appetizer

Everyone loves appetizers. Try this recipe. Quick and easy.

Tomato Gazpacho

Chilled Spanish tomato gazpacho blended from ripe tomatoes, garlic, onion, green pepper, and olive oil, sharpened with vinegar and a hit of paprika. No-cook summer soup served with crunchy garnishes.

Delicious Chunky Gazpacho

Chunky gazpacho: a no-cook Spanish-style cold soup of tomato juice, fresh chopped tomatoes, and cucumber, chilled three hours so the flavors marry. Vegan, gluten-free, low-fat.

Delicious Tabouli

Tabouli salad with bulgur wheat, juicy tomatoes, fresh parsley, lemon, and olive oil. The classic Middle Eastern parsley salad served at room temperature with optional black olives and mint.

Tomato & Orange Soup

Creamy tomato and orange soup with fresh tomatoes, orange juice, orange zest and a swirl of cream. A British-style soup that's bright, velvety and full of citrus warmth.

Mom's Gazpacho

Fresh vegetable gazpacho with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and bell peppers. Quick cold Spanish soup ready in 10 minutes, perfect for summer lunches.

Cheddar Bacon Treat

Sharp cheddar whipped with sour cream, Worcestershire, and crispy crumbled bacon makes a rich, tangy spread for this loaded cheddar bacon sandwich. Ready in 10 minutes flat.

Grilled Burgers

Grilled burgers with sour cream, dried thyme, and parsley mixed right into the patty for extra moisture and herby savor. The juicy weeknight cookout staple in 20 minutes.

Kettle River Gazpacho

Kettle River gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and chili sauce. A hot-and-spicy chunky version of the Spanish classic that works chilled, room temperature, or gently warmed.

Make-Ahead Gazpacho

Make-ahead gazpacho with a Mexican twist: chilled tomato soup brightened with green taco sauce, cucumber, bell pepper, and scallions. A quick simmer melds the flavors before chilling for a sharper, deeper bowl.

Macaroni Supper Casserole

A hearty, layered casserole combining tender macaroni, savory tomato sauce, creamy spinach-cheese filling, and melted cheddar. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Much easier than a lasagna with just as much punch.

Mattar Paneer (Peas & Cheese)

Matar paneer is a popular Indian dish consisting of paneer (a type of fresh cheese) and peas (matar) cooked in a spiced tomato-based gravy. It combines the soft, creamy texture of paneer with the sweet pop of green peas, all enveloped in a rich, aromatic sauce.

Chilled Tomato Carrot Soup

This chilled tomato carrot soup blends fresh tomatoes and sweet carrots with basil, thyme, and a whisper of nutmeg into a silky cold soup for hot summer days. Simmered, pureed, then served ice-cold with a splash of milk for creamy body.

Yummy Gazpacho Soup

No-cook chunky gazpacho with crushed and diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and a triple citrus-vinegar punch. Vegan, gluten-free, ready in 10 minutes plus chill.

Yummy Gazpacho Soup

No-cook chunky gazpacho with crushed and diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and a triple citrus-vinegar punch. Vegan, gluten-free, ready in 10 minutes plus chill.

Margaret's Garlicky Gazpacho

Garlicky gazpacho blended cold with six cloves of garlic, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions, sharpened with balsamic vinegar and tomato-vegetable juice. A bold, no-cook summer soup served chilled.

So Dood Gazpacho

Classic chilled gazpacho, the no-cook Spanish soup of ripe tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and onion blended with tomato juice and a splash of wine. Light, refreshing, vegan, and ready in 10 minutes.

Yummy Burgers

Sour cream burgers stay juicy because the sour cream goes right into the beef, along with green onion and a little crumb to keep them tender. Cook them fast in the microwave or sear them on the grill, then load up the buns.

Chili-Tomato Soup

Chunky chili-tomato soup with whole simmered potatoes, fresh tomatoes, yellow onions, and a kick of green and red chili. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, deeply rustic.

Tabouli Herb Salad

Lebanese tabbouleh herb salad heavy on fresh parsley and mint, fine bulgur, lemon and olive oil. Served on romaine leaves, the proper Middle Eastern way.

Acapulco Baked Eggs

Learn how to make easy Baked Eggs with simple ingredients on hand. Fluffy eggs that puff up in the oven, topped with cheese and a bit of texture from green peppers optionally garnished with tomatoes, make for a welcome breakfast changeup.

Chilled Tomato-Yogurt Soup

A velvety chilled soup made with strained yogurt, ripe tomatoes, fresh dill, and a bright splash of white wine vinegar. This no-cook vegetarian recipe is refreshing, tangy, and ready to serve after a few hours in the fridge.

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