Peeling tomatoes can be a daunting task, but with the right method, it becomes a breeze!
Whether you're making a smooth tomato sauce, Southern stewed tomatoes, a fresh salsa, or a hearty soup, learning how to peel tomatoes is essential. In this post, I'll guide you through the boiling water (blanching) method, along with a few other techniques to make your kitchen life easier.
Let’s get those tomatoes peeled perfectly every time
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Save time: Knowing how to peel tomatoes easily saves time and money! Those tomato recipes are so much more delicious when you're using fresh, sun-ripened tomatoes rather than the canned ones!
- More flavorful dishes: Peeled tomatoes are perfect for making sauces, soups, stews, and any dish where you want a smooth, rich tomato base. They're also great for canning and preserving.
- Different methods: The boiling water (blanching) method for peeling tomatoes is the easiest and most popular but we'll also explore microwave, oven, and knife techniques. Plus, I'll share some handy tips to make the process even easier.
🍴 Equipment you'll need
- large pot
- slotted spoon
- bowl of ice water
- paring knife
- tongs or a strainer
🔪 How to peel tomatoes in boiling water
Dropping tomatoes in boiling water is called blanching.
- Prepare the tomatoes: Wash and score an "X" on the bottom of each tomato with a paring knife.
- Boil the water: Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Blanch the tomatoes: Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water for 30-60 seconds, until the skins start to split.
- Ice bath: Immediately transfer the tomatoes to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
- Peel the skins: Once cooled, use your fingers or a paring knife to peel off the skins easily.
Click on the image to see it full size.
Place in boiling water.
Carefully remove tomatoes from water.
Plunge into ice water.
Drain and peel.
🎥 Video
🤫 Cook's secrets -
Always make sure the tomatoes are fully ripe for the best results. Under-ripe tomatoes can be tough to peel even with the blanching method.
📖 More ways to peel tomatoes
- Microwave method: Score the tomatoes and microwave them for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the skins split.
- Oven method: Roast the tomatoes at 400°F for 10 minutes, then peel off the skins.
- Knife method: Use a paring knife to peel the skins directly if the tomatoes are very ripe.
- Freezer method: Pop them in the freezer for a few hours and then thaw in a bowl. The skins can then be picked right out of the bowl.
🥫 How to store peeled tomatoes
Store peeled tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze them. Place the peeled tomatoes on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
For canning instructions please refer to the Ball Blue Book.
Comparison of methods
| Method | Time | Pros | Cons |
| boiling water | quick | proven method that's easy to do | requires more steps |
| microwave | quick | no need to wait for water to boil | can be uneven |
| oven | long | hands off | takes longer/heats house |
| knife | long | simple | peels can be hard to get off/lots of waste |
| freezer | very long | hands off | takes a long time - best for storing tomatoes not using in a recipe immediately |
Marye's Tip
If you're peeling a large batch of tomatoes, work in small batches to keep the process manageable and ensure the tomatoes don't overcook in the boiling water.
💭 Things to know
- Always score the tomatoes before blanching to make peeling easier. I don't tend to take time to do it but do as I say, not as I do. 🤣
- An ice bath is essential to stop the cooking process and cool the tomatoes quickly.
- If you're doing a large batch refill the ice in the bowl as it melts away.
- Different methods can yield slightly different textures, so choose the one that best suits your recipe.
👩🍳 FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Yes. You can use one of the methods discussed in this article. Choose from knife, freezer, oven, or microwave.
Yes, blanching works well for peaches, apricots, and even some vegetables like bell peppers.
The tomatoes may not be ripe enough or weren't blanched long enough. Ensure the water is boiling and the skins are splitting before transferring to the ice bath.
📚 Related recipes
Use fresh, peeled tomatoes in place of canned tomatoes in any recipe to really amp up the flavor! Here are some to get you started.
- Beef Dorito Casserole - just add an extra can of chiles since you'll be substituting your yummy fresh tomatoes for the Rotel.
- Tamale Pie
- Stuffed Pepper Skillet
📞 The last word
I have so many memories of my parents' summer vegetable garden and the bushels of ripe, juicy tomatoes we picked all summer long and on into fall.
Mom had lived through the Depression and she was a waste not kind of person. We blanched, peeled, and canned/froze tomatoes almost every day all summer long.
And we enjoyed that bite of summer flavor for the rest of the year. I hope that you'll try to use fresh tomatoes in a few of the recipes that call for diced tomatoes.
They just add so much flavor!
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