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Home / Tips and Tricks / How to Remove Skin from Tomatoes

How to Remove Skin from Tomatoes

Want to learn how to remove skin from tomatoes? It only takes a few minutes and 4 steps to do! Peeling tomatoes has never been easier.

a half peeled tomato on a small plate

How to Remove Skin from Tomatoes

I don’t know about you, but the summer brings so much good fresh produce that it is one of my favorite times of the year to cook. Fresh tomatoes themselves might be my favorite part of the summer.

It’s one of the few produces that I’ve actually had success with growing so I don’t know if that says more about the ease of growing cherry tomatoes on a porch or my brown thumb…

Rumor has it that when you are actually really good at growing tomatoes, you’ll have a wild abundance of them. I just have to hit up the local farmer’s market to reap those same benefits, but I’m fine with that. 

If you have a ton of tomatoes, being able to have this technique on hand will help prepare the tomatoes for a few different ways to use them. 

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a tomato with an 'x' scored on the bottom

What is the easiest way to remove the skin from a tomato?

It doesn’t take much to do! You’ll want to get a pot of water on the stove to boil to start. Depending on how many pounds of tomatoes you have you may want a large pot of water. 

While you’re waiting for that, cut a shallow ‘x’ on the bottom of each tomato using something like a paring knife or any sharp knife. You’ll also want to prepare a large bowl with ice water.

Once the water is boiling, put the tomatoes into the boiling water for just about a minute. You can use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to avoid spilling any boiling water and it’ll be easier to pull them out. If you don’t already have a spider strainer, I highly recommend one!

After the minute, put the tomatoes directly into the bowl with ice water to stop them from cooking through further. You should be able to remove the tomato skins pretty easily using your fingers once they are cool to the touch.

What do you use peeled tomatoes for?

There’s a few recipes that call for peeled tomatoes, but you can really peel them for just about any recipe that calls for tomatoes.

a tomato floating in water in a pyrex measuring cup

Why do you remove the skin from tomatoes?

Removing the skin from tomatoes will allow the flavors to really penetrate the tomato a little more. The skin can often have a tougher texture so it can make the sauce or dish have a different overall texture rather than something really smooth.

a peeled tomato on a small, white plate

Are there other ways to peel tomatoes?

Yes! If you have a box grater, you can use that to grate the tomato. It won’t be fully intact so it’s not a great option for something like a salsa, but it’s a great option for sauces. 

You’ll just cut the bottom edge off of the tomato and run the tomato over the box grater. The skin should naturally peel back a bit. I found it easy to do over a large bowl since it’s very full of liquid, but using a cutting board is another option.

Looking for some tomato recipes to try out? Try out one of these recipes:

a half peeled tomato on a plate

How to Remove Skin from Tomatoes

Yield: 1 peeled tomato
Prep Time: 9 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 10 minutes

Want to learn how to remove skin from tomatoes? It only takes a few minutes and 4 steps to do! Peeling tomatoes has never been easier.

Ingredients

  • Tomato
  • Water
  • Ice water

Instructions

  1. Add water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. While waiting, set up a small bowl with ice water and set aside.
  3. Score the bottom of the tomato with an 'x' using a knife.
    a tomato with an 'x' scored on the bottom
  4. Once the water is boiling, gently add the tomato and submerge for no longer than 1 minute to avoid cooking through. Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove and immediately add to the ice water.
    a scored tomato floating in water in a pyrex measuring cup
  5. Let sit in the water until no longer hot to the touch. Using a knife or your fingers, slowly peel back the scored portion of the tomato peel. It shouldn't take much force at all to remove.
    a half peeled tomato on a plate
  6. Remove the remaining skin and you're all set!
    a peeled tomato on a plate

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 22Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 25mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g

Nutrition provided is only an estimate.

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Sam Ellis

Hey there! I'm Sam and if there are two things I love most in this world, it's food and travel... and my dog, Tucker. I'm using my little corner of the internet to explore everything I love and I'd love for you to join me!

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