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02 January 2006

AskMeChat: This sounds retarded, but I have no idea how to slice a tomato.

post by: ThePinkSuperhero at: 16:57 | 31 comments

And now I'm trying to cook with one. I want tomato slices. What do I do?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 16:57

And do I need to pull out the seeds? Yes, no?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 16:58

Instruction

posted by arse_hat 02 January | 17:00

I already looked at that- it helped a little but I'm still confused if you chop it vertical or horizontal.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:01

What are you using it for. That will decide if you need to remove the seeds. (Most likly not)

posted by arse_hat 02 January | 17:01

Well, what I do is to find the sharpest kitchen knife possible, then turn the tomato sideways (so the stem end faces away from my cutting arm) and slice very thinly from the non-stem end in.

Note that I'm not a professional prep cook, so I'm sure this isn't how the pros do it, but it works for me.

And no, you don't need to pull out the seeds. They're pretty crucial to the overall taste, actually... and though tomatoes are in the nightshade family, the seeds are harmless.

posted by killdevil 02 January | 17:02

I'm putting it in a baked Mac and Cheese.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:02

The main thing to remember is to let the knife do the work. If you push too hard on your knife, it'll all end in tears.

To seed, or not to seed, depends on the recipe. Generally, though, it's more work than it's worth.

posted by bmarkey 02 January | 17:03

Leave the seeds in if it's for a salad. For cooking, you might want to remove them. What are you making? I'm hungry now.

posted by theora55 02 January | 17:04

datapoint: I slice it like arse_hat's linked instructions...almost to a T.

On preview: Usually not as well. The top that you cut out the core bits, etc..if you think about it, as the top, make the tomato take a nap as you cut into it with the top on its side.

posted by safetyfork 02 January | 17:04

I'd say leave the seeds in.

Also, I'd like some mac and cheese right about now myself.

posted by killdevil 02 January | 17:04

So, killdevil, you're cutting perpendicular to the stem, or paraell to it?

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:04

And you're all invited to come eat with me!! Baked Tomato Mac and Cheese.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:05

On post view: like everyone else said. Only they said it more clearly. Kill's going perp right? as in crossing that axis.

posted by safetyfork 02 January | 17:06

I cut perpendicular to the stem, starting from the non-stem end and moving in. If you want to get fancy you can remove the stem first as described in arse-hat's instructions, but it's not crucial if you're not striving for fancy presentation.

posted by killdevil 02 January | 17:06

Tomato seeds pass through the digestive tract without harm. To either you or the seed. When they built Seattle's Gasworks Park (an industrial toxic waste site on the north shore of Lake Union transformed into a sacrifice zone) they capped the soil with clay and then brought in new soil. The soil was pretty infertile, so they manured it with composted sludge from the sewer works. And next spring -- kazango!!! Tomato plants all over the place.

posted by warbaby 02 January | 17:06

i love that park.

posted by safetyfork 02 January | 17:08

Hah warbaby -- that's hilarious. It's an odd enough park even without being blanketed by tomato plants of unfortunate provenance.

posted by killdevil 02 January | 17:09

For mac and cheese I'd just cut it in quarters.

posted by arse_hat 02 January | 17:10

Hurray, the Mac n Cheese is ready to go in the oven. I never realized you cut perp to the stem- I was cutting parallel and wondering why my slices looked so weird.

So how many people are coming for dinner? ::starts setting table::

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:18

Supper is ready! ::clangs the bell::

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 17:55

*scoots up to the table in front of everyone else, grabbing the best seat (right next to the mac 'n' cheese), smiles angelically*

posted by taz 02 January | 18:10

Mrph. I've always cut perpendicular. So does everyone in my family. Am I weird?

posted by flopsy 02 January | 18:10

Parallel, even.

posted by flopsy 02 January | 18:11

mmmmmmmmmm sounds like a yummy combo. what'd you end up doing? dicing? laying slices on top?

posted by chewatadistance 02 January | 18:13

I put slices on bottom. It turned out so delicious I wish I had put tomato slices on top, too, but I wasted so many tomatoes cutting them up incorrectly.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 02 January | 18:16

but I have no idea how to slice a tomato.

with a knife.

posted by jonmc 02 January | 18:35

I prefer to slice tomatos with my mind.

posted by loquacious 02 January | 19:06

I have to add to this: no matter in which direction you slice them, a serrated knife works better. Unless you have a really really sharp paring knife, which I don't, but I do have about six little serrated steak knives, and they work nicely on tomatoes.

posted by mygothlaundry 02 January | 19:11

I prefer to slice tomatos with my mind.

Not your razor like wit? :)

posted by arse_hat 02 January | 19:17

I prefer to slice tomatos with my mind.

Yes, but what about potatoes, loq, what about them, huh?

posted by jonmc 02 January | 19:24

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