How to Dice a Tomato (No-Mess Method!)

Name: How to Dice a Tomato
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 tomato

If you’ve been wondering How to Dice a Tomato, then look no further! This is the easiest, quickest, and best way possible! Once you cut this fresh fruit into evenly sized cubes you can use it in an endless number of dishes. This simple method is perfect for pico de gallo, to top salads or pizzas, or to freeze for later!

A sharp knife is used to dice tomatoes easily.

Whether it’s for pico, salads, or some type of salsa…

Many websites and chef’s out there claim they know the BEST way to dice a tomato.

But unless they do it the way you see below, it simply isn’t true.

Because this method will not only give you a perfect dice, it’s also SO quick and easy to do.

You also don’t have to worry about coring the tomato or making any fancy cuts. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below, and you’ll naturally core the tomato with just a few simple slices (and without crushing it!)

All you’ll need is a tomato, a sharp knife, and a cutting board to do it!

How to Dice a Tomato

This method is great for Roma tomatoes, vine-ripened, San Marzano, or other medium to large varieties. It does not apply to cutting cherry or grape tomatoes, since they are too small to dice.

The basic steps for dicing a tomato are simple to follow:

Rinse and Scrub

It is important to clean the outside of the tomatoes before using them.

Rinse and gently scrub the tomato with your hands under running water to remove any visible dirt or debris. Be careful, as the skins can be quite fragile.

Then, dry thoroughly with a dish towel.

A firm, round tomato is on a cutting board.

Slice off the Sides

Use a large cutting board and a sharp, serrated knife. If you have a board with a groove around the side, use this as it will catch any tomato juices that seep out.

Set the tomato down with the stem facing up.

Position the knife about ¼ to ½-inch to the right of the stem. (Or to the left for you lefties out there!)

Carefully but firmly slice all of the way down to the base of the tomato. If you look at the fruit, you will see the natural curves. Try to follow this outline.

Rotate the tomato 90 degrees but keep the stem facing up. Slice off this side. Keep turning and cutting down until you have 4 tomato slices along with a core.

A wedge is cut away from the tomato core. — Make a slice next to the stem.

A knife cuts wedges away from the core of a tomato. — Make a slice next to the stem.

Remove the Seeds

You do not need the core or the seeds still attached to it, so you can discard it.

Even though a good bit of seeds stayed on the core, there are still some in the chunks you need to cut away. Tomato seeds add extra moisture to dishes, sometimes resulting in soggy and unappealing meals.

The best way to avoid this is to remove the seeds.

Using a spoon or the knife, brush away any seeds that still remain within the tomato flesh.

After cutting, only the core of the tomato remains. — Discard the core.

A knife carefully removes the seeds from the tomato flesh. — Discard the core.

Dice into Pieces

Start with one piece of the tomato and set it skin-side down on the cutting board. Cut it into strips about ¼ to ½-inch wide.

Rotate the strips 90 degrees and make cuts perpendicular that are at about the same width. Repeat this process until all of the tomato is cut into small cubes.

Serve immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container until you are ready to use.

A knife cuts a tomato wedge into small slices. — Cut each piece into strips.

Tomato slices are cut into small cubes. — Cut each piece into strips.

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: You can dice tomatoes up to one day before you need them to save time.
To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. After that, the meat will break down and they will get watery and develop a mealy texture.
To Freeze: The best way to keep tomatoes longer is to first flash freeze them by placing on a baking sheet in a single layer. Set them in the freezer for an hour until they are frozen and hard. Then, transfer the tomatoes to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 6 to 9 months.

FAQs

How do you dice a tomato without crushing it?

It is essential to use a very sharp knife when cutting tomatoes as the skin and flesh are fragile. You can also use the tip of the paring knife to make a small incision where you want to cut, then slice across it. It is also best to use fresh tomatoes with a firm texture when dicing.

Is there an easy way to dice tomatoes?

If you cut sections away from the core first and then use a spoon to remove the remaining seeds, dicing tomatoes is a breeze!

What do you do with diced tomatoes?

You can use tomato cubes on so many dishes! Top your favorite ground beef tacos, make pico de gallo, put them in a Greek tomato salad, mix them with avocado and onion as a dip for tortilla chips, throw them in a food processor to make tomato sauce, use them for fresh tomato pizza, or stir them into stews.

Are tomatoes good for you?

Tomatoes are high in vitamins and minerals, like potassium, and are an excellent source of antioxidants.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Go big. Be sure to use medium-large sized tomatoes when dicing.
Be firm. If the texture is soft, it will be hard to dice.
Stay gentle. Tomatoes are fragile and you can squish them if you aren’t careful cutting.
No seeds. Be sure to scoop away any remaining seeds from the flesh before using or dishes will be watery.
Use ’em up. These diced tomatoes are excellent to top Mexican dishes along with sour cream, and cilantro, or on pizza with fresh mozzarella cheese and basil leaves.

A small, glass bowl full of healthy diced tomatoes.

Ways to Use Diced Tomatoes

Diced tomatoes go perfectly with each of these dishes:

How to Dice a Tomato

If you've been wondering How to Dice a Tomato, then look no further! This is the easiest, quickest, and best way possible! Once you cut this fresh fruit into evenly sized cubes you can use it in an endless number of dishes.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword easy, how to cut, instructions, quick, tutorial

Prep Time 2 minutes

Total Time 2 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 22 kcal

London Brazil

Ingredients

1 tomato

Instructions

Rinse and scrub the tomato to remove any visible dirt or debris and then dry thoroughly with a dish towel.
Place the tomato on a cutting board, stem side-up. Place a well sharpened chef’s knife about ¼ to ½-inch to the right of the stem. Make a slice all of the way down to the base of the tomato, following the natural curvature of the fruit. Rotate the tomato 90 degrees, with the stem side still facing up, and cut off this side of the tomato. Repeat this process until you have 4 slabs of tomato and the core with the seeds still attached. Discard the core.
Using a spoon or the knife, brush away any seeds that still remain within the tomato slices.
Lay one piece skin side-down onto the cutting board and make cuts approximately ¼ to ½-inch apart to get strips. Turn the strips and make additional cuts perpendicular to those that are roughly the same width apart. Repeat this process until all pieces of tomato have been diced.
Use immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: You can dice tomatoes up to one day before you need them to save time.
To Store: Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. After that, the meat will break down and they will get watery.
To Freeze: The best way to keep tomatoes longer is to first flash freeze them by placing them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Set them in the freezer for a few hours until they are frozen and hard. Then, transfer the tomatoes to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 6 to 9 months.

Nutrition Facts

How to Dice a Tomato

Amount Per Serving

Calories 22 Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.3g0%

Saturated Fat 0.03g0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.04g

Sodium 6mg0%

Potassium 292mg8%

Carbohydrates 5g2%