Is tomato a fruit or vegetable yahoo answers

Many of us can easily distinguish the differences between most fruit and vegetables but when it comes to the age-old question of, is is tomato a fruit or vegetable yahoo answers tomato a fruit or a vegetable, we are not really sardaarji restaurant what to answer! Look no further, because the answer is, tomatoes are technically both! While fruits and vegetables both count as part of our recommended 5-a-dayfruits and vegetables have distinct differences. A nutritionist, chef or even your grandma, would use the culinary classification system, that defines fruits and vegetables in a slightly different manner, basing it on the way the plants are used and their flavour profiles.

The tomato is a versatile food found in many types of cuisines internationally. They can be incorporated into a number of main dishes, side dishes and even beverages. You can trace the origin of tomatoes back to South America thousands of years ago, where wild tomato species grew in Ecuador, Peru, northern Chile, and the Galapagos Islands. Despite our growing knowledge about the origins, culinary uses and health benefits of tomatoes, we continue to ask the age-old question — are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable? We commonly refer to tomatoes as a vegetable due to their use in savory dishes, but it is indeed a fruit.

Is tomato a fruit or vegetable yahoo answers

And while your elementary-school teacher or know-it-all friend may have informed you that tomatoes are technically fruits, the answer isn't so clear-cut. In reality, tomatoes are both fruits and vegetables at the same time. The explanation lies in the two different ways that "fruit" is defined. First, it is true that scientifically speaking, tomatoes are fruits. According to Merriam-Webster, a fruit is "the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant. That definition includes apples, tomatoes, and anything else that grows from a plant and contains seeds. Cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, and avocados are all fruits too, according to science. Vegetables, on the other hand, have a slightly murkier definition. It's a word we use to group together a wide range of plants whose parts are edible and herbaceous, like roots, stems, and leaves. The critical distinction is that, according to the dictionary, a vegetable must be part of a plant or the whole plant itself, while fruits are just the means by which certain plants spread their seeds. But the confusion arises because "vegetable" isn't a botanical classification so much as it is a culinary one. And "fruit" can be a culinary term, too — described as "having a sweet pulp associated with the seed" and "used chiefly in a dessert or sweet course," according to Merriam-Webster.

Formed from flowers? A vegetable, on the other hand, has a looser definition as an edible portion of a plant.

They're masquerading behind a lack of sweetness. Botanists will tell you a tomato is a fruit, and many people already know that. But what many people don't know is that in the United States, tomatoes are legally vegetables. In , the Supreme Court ruled that a tomato should be classified as a vegetable "based on the ways in which it is used, and the popular perception to this end. Vegetables at the time were taxed, but fruits were not. Generally speaking, fruits are the seed-bearing part of a plant that requires pollination to grow and whose dissemination will spread the species further afield.

Everybody knows the difference between a fruit and a vegetable, right? Fruits are tempting and scrumptious. Vegetables, traditionally, are the stuff kids push around on their plates and hide under their mashed potatoes. Which is which? To a botanist, a fruit is an entity that develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower.

Is tomato a fruit or vegetable yahoo answers

Rare deal alert! It's a food debate as old as time: What, exactly, is a tomato? According to the United States Department of Agriculture , botanically, a tomato is a fruit. This is because fruits contain seeds. Merriam Webster is in agreement:. Yes, a tomato is a fruit.

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Read on to see 14 foods you've been misunderstanding this whole time. The confusion arises because of the two different ways we define "fruit" — one is a scientific term and one is culinary. Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. A nutritionist, chef or even your grandma, would use the culinary classification system, that defines fruits and vegetables in a slightly different manner, basing it on the way the plants are used and their flavour profiles. Read full article. Speaking of gourds, cucumbers are an unexpected member of that family, too. Sign up. So scientifically, fruits don't have to be sweet, but in the kitchen, most people would classify the fruits that fall on the savory side, like tomatoes, as vegetables. They can be incorporated into a number of main dishes, side dishes and even beverages. Link Copied. The proper variety of tomato can provide unique flavors and visual appeal for your enjoyment. But the confusion arises because "vegetable" isn't a botanical classification so much as it is a culinary one. Packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, okra is one of the most nutritious fruits out there. Fruit vs. Vegetables at the time were taxed, but fruits were not.

Many of us can easily distinguish the differences between most fruit and vegetables but when it comes to the age-old question of, is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable, we are not really sure what to answer! Look no further, because the answer is, tomatoes are technically both! While fruits and vegetables both count as part of our recommended 5-a-day , fruits and vegetables have distinct differences.

A vegetable , meanwhile, is a usually herbaceous plant such as the cabbage , bean, or potato grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal. Tomatoes can grow on bushes or vines and develop yellow flowers once the plant is mature for pollination. Specifically, they're considered a stone fruit, like peaches, mangoes, and dates. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Kirk Cousins finished last season on injured reserve with an Achilles injury. We usually don't see them inside their pods , but chickpeas are classified the same way as peas and beans. Look no further, because the answer is, tomatoes are technically both! Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. That idea was channeled more than years later in a quote attributed to journalist Miles Kington, who may have settled the debate once and for all:. Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. I've never seen them eaten raw. Vegetables, on the other hand, have a slightly murkier definition.