Unfortunately, peeling tomatoes can be more complicated than a typical vegetable. If you try to use a vegetable peeler for the task, you will often lose more flesh than you might like. There are other ways, too, such as microwaving or freezing tomatoes; both approaches seem simple enough, but the former can unevenly heat the fruit while the latter takes too long. So, what’s the best way to peel a tomato? Step through this guide below, and you will be an expert in no time.
The Quickest Way to Peel Tomatoes
The best way to peel a tomato is to boil the tomatoes first to loosen the skin. Unlike other methods, boiling is quick, easy, and scales efficiently. After boiling, the tomatoes will sit in a bath of cold water so that they are cool enough to peel with your hands.
What Kinds of Tomatoes Can I Peel Using This Method?
You can peel most varieties of tomatoes using this method. Most recipes call for peeling medium-sized to large-sized tomatoes, but large cherry tomatoes can follow this process, too. Small tomatoes will likely only need a few seconds in boiling water before the skin is ready to peel.
When Should You Peel Tomatoes for a Recipe?
You will want to peel your tomatoes any time you’re looking for a completely smooth texture – preparing a hot soup or stew or tomato sauce, for example. A lot of this comes down to preference, though. You do not need to peel your tomatoes if you don’t mind the skins. Alternatively, if you don’t want to go through the effort of peeling tomatoes, you can always purchase a can of whole peeled tomatoes to minimize this step. But if you want to make a dish that highlights fresh, peak-season tomatoes, such as salsa or gazpacho, peeling is the way to go.
Can You Use a Hot Water Kettle?
If you only need to peel one or two medium or large tomatoes, you can place your tomatoes in a medium-sized bowl, heat a hot water kettle, pour the boiling water on top of the tomatoes. Cover with a lid, then let sit for 1 minute until the skin has started to peel away from the flesh. Run under cold water, then peel. If you have more than a couple of tomatoes, I recommend the stovetop technique.
Can I Freeze Freshly Peeled Tomatoes?
If you want to prepare a large batch of peeled tomatoes in bulk, boil, cool, and peel as many tomatoes as you’d like, then transfer them to a baking sheet until frozen. Once frozen, transfer the tomatoes to a Ziploc bag or airtight container. Freezing is a great way to preserve the ripe tomatoes from your garden or farmer’s market in the summers.
Recipes That Use Peeled Tomatoes
See below for some excellent recipes that use peeled tomatoes! Use the peeling technique outlined in this guide, and you can be sure to have the smoothest sauce around.
Tomato and Bread Soup: Pappa al Pomodoro Stewed Tomatoes with Butter Toasted Croutons Basic Tomato Sauce White Bean Bacon Soup Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil
