What To Know
- Pulse the food processor for 2-3 seconds at a time, until the tomatoes are diced to your desired size.
- Pulse the tomatoes for a longer amount of time to create finely diced tomatoes.
- Add onions, peppers, and cilantro to the food processor along with the tomatoes to make a quick and easy salsa.
Yes, you can dice tomatoes in a food processor! This kitchen appliance is a lifesaver for busy cooks who want to save time and effort while creating delicious dishes. With just a few quick pulses, you can have perfectly diced tomatoes ready to use in salads, sauces, salsas, and more.
Benefits of Using a Food Processor to Dice Tomatoes
- Saves time: Dicing tomatoes by hand can be a tedious and time-consuming task. A food processor can do the job in a matter of seconds.
- Uniform size: Hand-diced tomatoes can vary in size and shape. A food processor ensures that all the pieces are consistently diced, giving your dishes a professional touch.
- Less mess: Dicing tomatoes by hand can create a lot of splatter and mess. A food processor keeps the ingredients contained, making cleanup a breeze.
- Versatility: You can use a food processor to dice other vegetables as well, such as onions, peppers, and cucumbers.
Choosing the Right Food Processor
Not all food processors are created equal. When choosing one for dicing tomatoes, consider the following factors:
- Size: A larger food processor will be able to handle more tomatoes at once.
- Power: A more powerful food processor will be able to dice tomatoes more quickly and evenly.
- Blades: Look for a food processor with sharp, stainless steel blades.
- Feed tube: A wide feed tube will make it easier to insert the tomatoes without having to cut them into smaller pieces.
Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Dice Tomatoes in a Food Processor
1. Prepare the tomatoes: Wash and core the tomatoes. Cut them into quarters or halves if they are large.
2. Insert the tomatoes: Place the tomato quarters or halves into the feed tube of the food processor.
3. Pulse the tomatoes: Pulse the food processor for 2-3 seconds at a time, until the tomatoes are diced to your desired size.
4. Check the consistency: If the tomatoes are not diced evenly, pulse them for a few more seconds.
5. Transfer the diced tomatoes: Transfer the diced tomatoes to a bowl or container.
Tips for Perfect Diced Tomatoes
- Use ripe tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes will be easier to dice and will have a better flavor.
- Don’t overprocess: Overprocessing the tomatoes will turn them into mush.
- Remove seeds: If you don’t want seeds in your diced tomatoes, remove them before processing.
- Use a sharp blade: A sharp blade will give you clean, even cuts.
- Pulse in short bursts: Pulsing the food processor in short bursts will prevent the tomatoes from becoming puree.
Variations on Diced Tomatoes
- Coarsely diced: Pulse the tomatoes for a shorter amount of time to create coarsely diced tomatoes.
- Finely diced: Pulse the tomatoes for a longer amount of time to create finely diced tomatoes.
- Chopped: If you want chopped tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes, use the chopping blade attachment on your food processor.
- Salsa: Add onions, peppers, and cilantro to the food processor along with the tomatoes to make a quick and easy salsa.
Alternatives to Using a Food Processor
If you don’t have a food processor, you can still dice tomatoes by hand. However, this method will take longer and may not produce as even results. Here are some tips for hand-dicing tomatoes:
- Score the tomatoes: Use a sharp knife to score the tomatoes around the equator.
- Cut the tomatoes in half: Cut the tomatoes in half along the score line.
- Remove the seeds: Use a spoon to remove the seeds from the tomato halves.
- Dice the tomatoes: Cut the tomato halves into small cubes.
Basics You Wanted To Know
- Can I use a blender to dice tomatoes?
No, a blender is not suitable for dicing tomatoes. It will puree them instead.
- How do I store diced tomatoes?
Store diced tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Can I freeze diced tomatoes?
Yes, you can freeze diced tomatoes for up to 6 months. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
- What are some dishes that I can use diced tomatoes in?
Diced tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, sauces, salsas, soups, and stews.
- How can I make sure my diced tomatoes are evenly sized?
Use a sharp blade and pulse the food processor in short bursts.
