Tomato Facts

Q: How do tomatoes grow?

Tomatoes grow from a seed and need warm weather, water, and sunshine.

Q: What nutrients are in tomatoes?

Tomatoes are a source of vitamin C and vitamin A and are high in lycopene.

Q: How can tomatoes be used in cooking?

Tomatoes can be chopped or pureed in sauces and soups, diced in salads, salsas, and dips, or eaten as they are.

Tomato facts, picture of cherry tomatoes

Learn fun tomato facts and general information about tomatoes. This page includes how tomatoes grow, how to choose and store them, nutrition facts, and easy tomato recipe ideas.

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Fun Tomato Facts

Tomatoes grow from seeds.
They need warm weather, water, and sunshine.
Tomatoes often start green and ripen red.
They can be used in fresh recipes and cooked sauces.
Tomatoes are popular in soups, salads, salsas, and pasta sauces.

How Tomatoes Grow, Buying Tips, and Storage

When Tomatoes Are Available

When planted in late spring, tomato blossoms grow into green fruit and ripen red by mid summer through September or the first frost.

Depending on where you live, tomatoes may be available year round, but they often lack taste during the off season.

How Do Tomatoes Grow?

Tomatoes grow from a seed. They need lots of warm weather, water, and sunshine.

What to Look for When Buying a Tomato

Choose tomatoes with a bright red color and no bruises or spots.

You can also buy them a light red color and let them ripen after buying.

Tomatoes: Fruit or Vegetable?

Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?

A tomato is technically a fruit because it grows from the flower of the plant and contains seeds.

But in cooking, tomatoes are often treated like vegetables because they are used in salads, sauces, soups, and savory dishes instead of sweet desserts.

That is why you may hear people call tomatoes both a fruit and a vegetable depending on whether they are talking about science or cooking.

Tomato Storage Tips

Store tomatoes at room temperature, not in the fridge. Tomatoes come from warm southern temperatures and like to stay warm.

Kid Tip: If a tomato is still a little firm, let it sit on the counter to finish ripening.

How to Cook with Tomatoes

How to Use Tomatoes

Wash tomatoes well.
Chop, dice, or puree them depending on the recipe.
Use tomatoes in sauces, soups, salads, salsas, dips, or eat them fresh.

Cooking Tip: Tomatoes can be used fresh for crisp recipes or cooked down for sauces and soups.

Fresh Tomatoes vs. Cooked Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes are great in salads, salsas, bruschetta, and cottage cheese bowls.

Cooked tomatoes work well in sauces, soups, broiled dishes, and baked recipes.

Both fresh and cooked tomatoes bring flavor and color to meals, but they are used in different ways.

Food Science: Ripening Tomatoes

Why Do Tomatoes Turn Red?

Tomatoes often begin green and change color as they ripen. As they ripen, they become softer, juicier, and more flavorful.

That is why tomatoes picked too early may not taste as sweet and rich as fully ripened ones.

Mini Activity

Tomato Seed Count

Cut open a tomato with adult help.
Look at the seed sections inside.
Count how many seed sections you can see.
Compare it to another tomato and see if it looks the same inside.

This activity helps kids observe how tomatoes hold seeds inside their juicy centers.

Tomato Nutrition Facts

Tomatoes are a source of vitamin C and vitamin A. They are also high in lycopene, which is linked to heart health.

Tomatoes contain vitamin C.
They also provide vitamin A.
Tomatoes are high in lycopene.
They are a colorful, healthy ingredient for many meals.

More Food Fact Resources

Tomato Recipes

Stuffed Tomatoes

A warm tomato recipe filled with tuna salad and broiled until heated through.

Category: Main Dish
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Yield: Varies

Ingredients

1 large tomato
1 can tuna, drained and flaked
4 teaspoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped celery

Directions

Make tuna salad by mixing tuna, mayonnaise, and chopped celery in a bowl.
Cut tomato in half on top lengthwise by the stem.
Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/2 inch shell.
Spoon tuna mixture into tomato shells.
Place on a baking sheet and broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 4 to 5 minutes until heated through.

Variation: You can try chicken salad instead of tuna if desired.

Mom's Fresh Salsa

A simple fresh salsa recipe made with tomatoes, onions, green chilies, garlic, and salt.

Category: Dip
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: No cooking
Yield: Varies

Ingredients

Tomatoes cut up and diced
Onions, however much you want
1 small can mild green chilies
Garlic cloves
Salt to taste

Directions

Start with the number of tomatoes you would like to use.
Add one onion, 1 can of green chilies, 2 garlic cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Taste to see if you would like more flavor.
Adjust as needed and serve.

Cooking Activity: This is a good recipe for letting kids experiment and create their own version.

More Tomato Ideas

Bruschetta

Top bread with tomatoes for a fresh Italian-style snack.

Pico de Gallo

Try another fresh tomato dip with diced vegetables.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Turn tomatoes into pasta sauce and other cooked recipes.

Tomato Soup

Use tomatoes in warm homemade soup recipes.

Fresh Salsa Video

Baked Tomato and Mozzarella

Tomato Facts FAQ

When are tomatoes available?

Tomatoes are best from mid summer through September or until the first frost, though they may be available year round depending on where you live.

How do tomatoes grow?

Tomatoes grow from seeds and need warm weather, water, and sunshine.

What should you look for when buying a tomato?

Look for bright red color with no bruises or spots. Light red tomatoes can ripen after buying.

How should tomatoes be stored?

Store tomatoes at room temperature, not in the refrigerator.

What nutrients are in tomatoes?

Tomatoes provide vitamin C, vitamin A, and lycopene.

How can tomatoes be used in cooking?

Tomatoes can be used in sauces, soups, salads, salsas, dips, or eaten fresh.

Continue Learning About Tomatoes

Fresh Salsa

Use chopped tomatoes in a simple homemade salsa.

Tomatoes in Salad

Top salads with tomatoes for extra flavor and color.

Food Facts Hub

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