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Bowl of peeled tomatoes.

How to Peel Tomatoes

Whether you're making a tomato salad or sauce, this easy kitchen hack makes tomatoes practically peel themselves getting rid of the tough bits of skin.

Course Basics
Keyword cherry-tomato, kitchen hack, tomato
Level Beginner
Main Ingredient Vegetable
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 5 tomatoes

Ingredients

  • 5 tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Using a sharp knife score and "x" into the bottom of each tomato. Be careful not to score them too deeply or they will fall apart when you blanch them.

    Score the tomato skin using a paring knife.

  2. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.

    Prepare an ice water bath to rapidly chill the tomatoes after they've been blanched.

  3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and lower the tomatoes into the water a few at a time.

    Dropping cherry tomatoes into boiling water to peel them.

  4. Blanch the tomatoes for 5 seconds and transfer them to the bowl of ice water using a slotted spoon.

    Cherry tomatoes falling into an ice water bath after being blanched.

  5. For cherry tomatoes you should be able to pop them out of their skins by giving them a twist and squeeze.

    Peeling cherry tomato.

  6. For bigger tomatoes you can use a paring knife to get you started and then you should be able to peel the tomato using your fingers.

    Peeling tomato with a paring knife.