What’s the best way to peel a tomato?
Denise Landis is the founder & CEO of The Cook's Cook.
Part of our Frequently Asked Culinary Questions. Click to see more answers to your questions.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, using a sharp knife, slice a small shallow “X” shape on the bottom of the tomato, opposite the stem.
- Carefully drop the tomato into the boiling water and let it sit for 10-20 seconds, or just until the skin starts to peel away from the “X” mark.
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the tomato from the boiling water and immediately put it under cold running water.* Use your fingers or a knife to peel away the skin starting from the “X” mark.
- Once you have peeled away the skin, you can then cut the tomato as you wish to use in soup, sauce, or preserves.
*Alternatively, you can prepare a bowl of ice water ahead of time, but cold running water is sufficient and cuts down on both time and equipment.
