To peel tomatoes easily, the most recommended method is blanching:
- Wash the tomatoes thoroughly.
- Cut a shallow "X" on the bottom of each tomato.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Place the tomatoes in the boiling water for about 1-2 minutes, until the skin starts to loosen at the "X" cut.
- Immediately transfer the tomatoes to a bowl of ice water to cool them quickly and stop cooking.
- Once cool, peel the skin off starting from the "X" — the skin should slip right off easily.
This blanching method works well for peeling multiple tomatoes quickly and is preferred over flame or microwave peeling. After peeling, tomatoes can be seeded by cutting in half and scooping out the seeds with a spoon if desired. This method is suitable for all types of tomatoes and is widely used for sauces, salsas, and canning recipes.
