How To Core a Tomato | Blue Apron (2024)

March 25, 2023

Food Preparation, How-To

Tomatoes are the base of some of our favorite dishes: spicy salsas, sweet marinara sauces, and summery Caprese salads. Pretty much nothing beats a perfectly in season summer tomato, but even in the winter we’ll search out vine-ripened and cherry tomatoes to get our fix.

Cherry tomatoes are delicate enough to be eaten whole, but larger tomato varieties, like beefsteak or Roma tomatoes, have a fibrous core at the top of the tomato that should be removed before using it in a recipe. It won’t hurt you, but it has an unpleasant woody texture. This core can be tough to remove with a regular kitchen knife, but a paring knife is the perfect tool for the job.

Remove the core from a tomato

Step 1: Choose a Ripe Tomato

Let’s not waste our efforts on sub-par fruits (yes, it’s a fruit). Ripe tomatoes are easier to work with and will have a sweeter flavor. Look for a tomato that is plump and firm to the touch, but not too hard.

Step 2: Cut Off the Stem

If the stem is still attached, pull it away or remove it with a knife. Hold the tomato steady with one hand and use the paring knife to cut around the stem, making a small circular cut. Then, gently lift the stem off the tomato and discard it.

Step 3: Make a Small Incision

Holding the paring knife by the back of the blade, make a small incision at the top of the tomato where the stem was removed. Be careful not to cut too deep, as you only want to cut through the skin and not the flesh of the tomato.

Step 4: Remove the Core

Once you have made the incision, insert the tip of the paring knife into the tomato and gently twist it to create a small hole. Then, insert the knife a little deeper and twist it again. Continue this process, working your way around the core of the tomato, until you have removed the entire top part of the core.

Watch our chef demonstrate this technique below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more cooking videos.

FAQs

How To Core a Tomato | Blue Apron? ›

Hold the tomato steady with one hand and use the paring knife to cut around the stem, making a small circular cut. Then, gently lift the stem off the tomato and discard it. Holding the paring knife by the back of the blade, make a small incision at the top of the tomato where the stem was removed.

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How do you core and seed a tomato? ›

Place your tomato on a cutting board, stem side facing up. Roll the tomato sideways so the stem faces to the right, and cut the tomato down the center "equator" line into two halves. Use a small spoon (I use a quarter teaspoon) to scoop the tomato seeds and any tough white core out of the four seed cavities.

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Do you core tomatoes before boiling them? ›

Boil water in a pot deep enough to cover the tomatoes. Wash your tomatoes and remove any leaves. We like to core tomatoes and scoop out most of the seeds before blanching.

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What is the banana hack for tomatoes? ›

Lay one peel near the base of each plant, ensuring they are not in direct contact with the stems.” If using this method, though, be aware of pests who might smell the fruit and become attracted to its scent. Either way, the fruit is good for much more than your best banoffee recipes.

Why would you core a tomato? ›

Coring a whole tomato is useful when you want to cut fresh tomatoes or slice them thinly. Seeding and coring the tomato is better when you want to avoid absorbing the moisture of the tomato into a dish.

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Do you have to core tomatoes for sauce? ›

In a salad or sandwich, you don't need peeled tomatoes. But, if you're making a fresh tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes, the tomatoes should be peeled, cored, and seeded. The result will be a smoother sauce without any seeds, core, or peel in it.

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Do tomatoes need to be cored? ›

Cherry tomatoes are delicate enough to be eaten whole, but larger tomato varieties, like beefsteak or Roma tomatoes, have a fibrous core at the top of the tomato that should be removed before using it in a recipe. It won't hurt you, but it has an unpleasant woody texture.

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What causes tomatoes to have hard cores? ›

High temperatures during the ripening period can trigger the symptoms and sometimes it happens because of problems with the soil fertility and the fertilizer program. Some tomato varieties are more prone to the problem than others. Sometimes, insect damage can cause hard or woody cores.

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