Is a Tomato a Fruit or Vegetable?

The debate as to whether the tomato is a fruit or a vegetable is centuries old. Technically the tomato is a fruit, but in the culinary world it is used as a vegetable.

Why is the Tomato a Fruit?

The botanical definition of a fruit is the ripened ovary, including the seeds, of a plant that flowers. The plant uses its fruit to distribute seeds.

According to this definition, the tomato is a fruit. In fact, the tomato fruit exhibits many of the characteristics of a berry.

I bet you can think of a few more ‘vegetables’ that fit this definition. Capsicums, pumpkins, and eggplants all have seeds, and all come from flowering plants, but we still think of them as vegetables.

So, Why the Confusion?

When we think of fruit, we think of common fruits that are sweet and usually enjoyed raw. On the other hand, vegetables are savory, and we usually cook them before eating.

Cross-section of a tomato flower shows that, botanically, the tomato is a fruit.

While you can definitely enjoy tomatoes raw, they are usually featured in savory dishes – think pasta sauce and salads. The botanical definition of a tomato contrasts the culinary definition, and that’s where the confusion lies.

The End of the Tomato Debate

Due to a tariff dispute, the US Supreme Court ended the great tomato debate in 1893. It was decided that although “botanically speaking tomatoes are the fruit of the vine,” they were vegetables “in the common language of the people”.

Whether you believe tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable, the one thing that can’t be debated is just how delicious and versatile the tomato is.

Growing tomatoes is fun and rewarding, and if you want a fool-proof, step-by-step guide on growing tomatoes, don’t miss our best-selling book How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes.