How to Easily Peel a Tomato

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Simple and easy instructions for how to peel a tomato

Prep Time3

Cook Time5

Total Time8

Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to peel a tomato, how to easily peel a tomato

Servings: servings

Calories: 8kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Cost: $5

Equipment

Stock Pot
kitchen spider or slotted spoon
bowl
Stove
ice tray or ice maker
spoon
knife
cutting board

Ingredients

1 sauce pan of boiling water
1 lb tomatoes you can peel any amount of tomatoes with this method
1 bowl of ice water

Instructions

To Peel the Tomatoes

wash tomatoes
cut an X on the bottom of the tomato
submerse in boiling water and allow to boil for about 2 minutes – just until skin starts to loosen
Remove the tomatoes to the ice water and allow to rest in the icewater for 2-3 minutes (stops the cooking from the boiling water)
When cool enough to touch, The tomato skins will be loose and easy to slip right off.

To Seed the Tomatoes

Cut the tomato in half, use a spoon turned upside down to scrape out the seeds and gel.

Video

Notes

Wash the tomatoes of any visible dirt (if using garden fresh tomatoes) before starting this process.
A small X is fine on the bottom of the tomato, it will work, but I've found that large X's seem to work a little better.
No need to boil the tomatoes hard, like a cauldron. Instead, a gentle simmer is fine. We don't' want to cook the tomato, just get the skin off.
Have a waiting bowl of ice water to dunk the tomatoes in. I use my kitchen spider for this job but a large slotted spoon will work too. I'll put a picture of a kitchen spider below here and you can click through onto Amazon to check it out if you want. You'll find better prices at your local Target, Wal-Mart, etc.

PRO TIP: Only put 1-2 tomatoes into the simmering water at a time. If you put more, it will decrease the temperature enough that the tomatoes will slowly start to cook instead of bubble in the heat. Have the water at a good hard simmer, drop in one or maybe two tomatoes and they should be done in only a minute or two.

Nutrition