When it comes to basic cooking skills, knowing how to slice a tomato is at the top of the list. After all, tomatoes are commonly used in a wide range of recipes, from vegan omelettes to salads and sandwiches to salsa.
And with the right technique, a tomato can be sliced in a way that keeps the fleshy insides intact. This is essential not only for improving its presentation, but for preventing soggy messes, too.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-13.jpg)
First, wash your tomato. Pat dry with a clean towel. Gather your supplies: a clean cutting board and a very sharp knife. It’s recommended to use a paring knife—serrated, if possible—but an all-purpose knife will also get the job done.
In either case, make sure your knife is very sharp. (It might seem counterintuitive, but using a sharp knife is the safest move. A sharp knife will properly pierce through the vegetable, which reduces the chances of it slipping and cutting your fingers.)
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-00.jpg)
Shopping for a tomato knife? Check out our list of the best tomato knife options on Amazon.
Table of Contents
How to Cut Tomato Slices
If you’re using tomatoes on a vine, carefully remove one tomato. Place the tomato on its side. The top of the tomato (where the stem is/was) should face the knife.
In other words, if you’re right-handed and holding the knife in your right hand, the top of the tomato should face right. If you’re left-handed, the top of the tomato should face left.
Firmly hold down the tomato and slice off the top of the tomato.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-02.jpg)
Contine slicing the tomato. Each slicing motion should be parallel to the last one. The thickness of each slice is up to you.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-03.jpg)
By cutting the tomato in this manner, the flesh and seeds will stay together. This is useful if you need tomato slices for a sandwich or veggie burger.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-04.jpg)
How to Dice Tomato
Need diced tomatoes? Once you’ve cut the tomato into slices, you’re already halfway there. Simply stack a few slices on the cutting board. Make multiple parallel cuts across the stack.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-05.jpg)
Repeat in the opposite direction. These cuts should be perpendicular to the first cuts. Tip: Imagine a bar graph is placed on top of the tomatoes. Next, cut along the lines.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-06.jpg)
The result is freshly diced tomatoes, which are perfect for tossing into pasta or salad.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-07.jpg)
How to Slice Tomato Wedges
You can also cut a tomato into wedges for salads. First, place the tomato on the cutting board, top side facing up. The bottom should be on the cutting board. If you’d like, slice a small piece off the bottom to create a more flat and stable surface.
Place the knife across the top. Slice once to create two halves.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-08.jpg)
The two halves will look something like this.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-09.jpg)
Place one half on the cutting board, cut side down. Note where the stem was.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-tomato-09a.jpg)
Slice in half, cutting from top to bottom. The tip of your knife should be facing the same side as the stem.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-10.jpg)
The result is two quarter tomato wedges.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-11.jpg)
If you’d like, slice each quarter in half once more. This creates four wedges per half, or eight wedges per tomato.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-12.jpg)
With this technique, the flesh will stay together in each wedge.
![](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-14.jpg)
![tomato slices on a cutting board](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how-to-slice-a-tomato-feature-500x500.jpg)
How to Cut a Tomato
Ingredients
- 1 tomato
Instructions
How to Slice a Tomato
- Place the tomato on its side so that the top of the tomato (where the stem is/was) should face the knife.
- Firmly hold down the tomato and slice off the top of the tomato.
- Continue slicing the tomato. Each slicing motion should be parallel to the last one. The thickness of each slice is up to you.
How to Dice a Tomato
- Cut tomatoes into slices, as described above.
- Stack a few slices on the cutting board. Make multiple parallel cuts across the stack.
- Repeat parallel cuts in the opposite direction.
How to Slice Tomato Wedges
- Place the tomato on the cutting board, top side facing up. The bottom should be on the cutting board.
- Place the knife across the top. Slice once to create two halves.
- Place one half on the cutting board, cut side down. Note where the stem was.
- Slice in half, cutting from top to bottom. The tip of your knife should be facing the same side as the stem.
- The result is two quarter tomato wedges. If you’d like, slice each quarter in half again to create smaller wedges.
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this guide for slicing a tomato? Visit our step-by-step tutorial for cutting green onions.
![how to cut scallions](https://cleangreensimple.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/how-to-cut-scallions-09.jpg)
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