Tips

The Easiest Way to Peel Tomatoes

"The stubborn tomato skin clings tightly to the fruit, making it a tedious task to peel. In this article, Bach Hoa XANH will reveal unique and lightning-fast methods to remove those tricky skins, saving you precious time and effort. Get ready to be amazed!"

Administrator

15 July, 2024

Slice and Peel

Instead of peeling the tomato whole, try slicing it into wedges first. This makes the task much simpler. You can quarter the tomato evenly before you start.

Then, hold the tomato wedge firmly on the cutting board and slowly roll it while using a knife to peel off the skin where it touches the board, as shown in the image.

Or, for a simpler and safer method, you can peel the skin off each tomato wedge by hand.

Roast and Peel

First, pierce the tomato with a fork and hold it over a low flame. Make sure to pierce the fork into the stem end of the tomato.

After about 15 seconds, you’ll see a crack appear on the surface of the tomato’s skin.

Use your fingernail to peel the skin back from the crack. This method makes peeling much easier, and the tomato looks great afterward too.

Blanch and Peel

First, make two cuts in an ‘X’ shape on the bottom of the tomato.

Then, drop the tomato into boiling water on the stove. After less than 30 seconds, the skin will start to come off. If you leave it in any longer, the tomato will start to cook.

Plunge the tomato into a bowl of ice water to cool it down quickly, then peel the skin back from the ‘X’ you cut earlier.

Final Product

Frequently asked questions

The easiest way to peel tomatoes is by blanching them. This method involves scoring the tomatoes, preparing an ice bath, boiling the tomatoes briefly, and then shocking them in the ice bath. The peel will come off easily and you’ll have perfectly peeled tomatoes in no time.

Scoring the tomatoes simply means making a small cut in the skin at the base of the tomato. This helps ease the peeling process as it creates a starting point for the peel to come off. Without scoring, the peel may not come off as easily and smoothly.

You only need to boil the tomatoes for about 30 seconds to a minute. This brief boiling time is enough to loosen the skin and make it easy to peel. Any longer and you risk overcooking the tomatoes and making them mushy.

The ice bath, or cold water bath, is crucial as it stops the cooking process immediately. It helps set the color and texture of the tomatoes, ensuring they remain firm and vibrant. Without the ice bath, the tomatoes would continue to cook and become soft and dull.

Yes, this method works for all varieties of tomatoes, including large, juicy ones like beefsteak tomatoes, as well as smaller cherry or grape tomatoes. Just adjust the blanching time slightly depending on the size and thickness of the tomato skin.

Peeling tomatoes can enhance the texture and appearance of your dishes. It’s especially useful for sauces, soups, and purees where you want a smooth, uniform consistency. Additionally, removing the peel can reduce the bitterness that sometimes comes from the tomato skin.