What’s the best way to peel a tomato?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.