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Need to quickly peel some tomatoes? No worries, we teach you everything you need to know about peeling tomatoes so you can prepare salsa, salsa, soup, or prep for canning. This method is super easy and uses boiling water.
Peeling tomatoes can seem daunting and difficult, but with some water and a pair of hands, you will discover it is actually quite easy. I have tried several techniques when it comes to peeling tomatoes, but I have discovered this one is the easiest and most effective way out there.
You’ll need to peel tomatoes for various reasons including canning and other types of recipes. The skin easily tears away from the inside of the tomatoes making it a breeze to peel off.
Is Peeling Tomatoes Necessary?
You will have to peel tomatoes when it comes to salsas, soups, canned tomatoes, and sauces so the skin doesn’t interfere with the textures and flavors of the recipes. Most of the time, you don’t have to peel your tomatoes, but when you do, it’s for a good reason.
What You Will Need
Tomatoes– Use any variety of tomatoes for peeling! You can use heirlooms, Roma, cherry or grape, and even more varieties of tomatoes.
Water– You will need water for boiling plus the ice bath. Make sure to use filtered water.
Ice– Necessary for cooling down the tomatoes and shocking them after they have been boiled.
Bowl– A bowl is needed for the ice batch. You can use any type of container.
A medium saucepan or pot– This is used for blanching the tomatoes in boiling hot water. Use your best judgment when it comes to size.
How To Peel Tomatoes By Blanching
First, gather your tomatoes and cooking tools. Next, wash and dry each tomato.
With a knife, cut an X in the bottom of each tomato – the opposite side of the stem.
Place a pot of water on the stovetop and cook until the water starts to boil. Meanwhile, prepare the ice bath with your bowl, ice, and water.
Once the water is boiling, place each tomato into the water and boil for 30 to 60 seconds. The tomatoes are ready to be removed from the water once the skin of the tomatoes begins to wrinkle and tear away from the fruit.
Carefully, remove each tomato from the water with a slotted spoon. Place the tomatoes in the ice bath and allow them to sit in the water until fully cooled down.
Once the tomatoes have cooled off, use a sharp knife to carefully peel the skin away from each tomato. The skin should easily tear away so you don’t have to use much force while peeling.
Enjoy these peeled tomatoes for your next recipe! Peeled tomatoes are perfect for canning.
Frequently Asked Questions
This method is the easiest and quickest way to peel tomatoes! Once you try blanching the tomatoes and placing them in an ice bath, you’ll never go back to other techniques.
Tomatoes are extremely soft and do not work well with vegetable peelers. You will probably end up with a huge mess if you try to use a vegetable peeler with tomatoes.
The tomatoes will need to be blanched for at least 30 seconds. You can tell the tomatoes are ready once the skin begins to wrinkle.
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How To Peel Tomatoes By Blanching
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 Bowl
- 1 pot or saucepan
Ingredients
- 5 tomatoes
- water
- ice
Instructions
- Wash and dry each tomato. With a knife, cut an X in the bottom of each tomato – the opposite side of the stem.
- Place a pot of water on the stovetop and cook until the water starts to boil. Meanwhile, prepare the ice bath with your bowl, ice, and water.
- Once the water is boiling, place each tomato into the water and boil for 30 to 60 seconds. The tomatoes are ready to be removed from the water once the skin of the tomatoes begins to wrinkle and tear away from the fruit.
- Carefully, remove each tomato from the water with a slotted spoon. Place the tomatoes in the ice bath and allow them to sit in the water until fully cooled down.
- Once the tomatoes have cooled off, use a sharp knife to carefully peel the skin away from each tomato. The skin should easily tear away so you don't have to use much force while peeling.
Notes
Water– You will need water for boiling plus the ice bath. Make sure to use filtered water.
Ice– Necessary for cooling down the tomatoes and shocking them after they have been boiled.
Bowl– A bowl is needed for the ice batch. You can use any type of container.
A medium saucepan or pot– This is used for blanching the tomatoes in boiling hot water. Use your best judgment when it comes to size.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
