How to remove the skin easily

Hot water instead of a knife

You can cut a tomato with a knife, but you cannot peel it. Instead, the peel has to be separated from the pulp with helpful tricks and tips. Ideally with those that promise quick and effortless success.

Hot water plays a major role in skinning the tomatoes. After a hot bath, the thin peel is suddenly no longer so tight and can easily be removed from the red fruits.

The five steps to skin freedom

You can transform a freshly bought tomato or one harvested in your own garden into a skinned one at home in just five steps.

• Step 1: washing
• Step 2: scratch
• Step 3: cooking
• Step 4: quenching
• Step 5: skinning

All steps are explained in detail below

Step 1: washing

This step is common practice when processing vegetables in the kitchen, so there is no need to explain it in great detail here:

• Wash tomatoes thoroughly under running water
• remove the green stem beforehand

Every fruit is washed, regardless of whether it comes from organic farming or not. When growing in the bed, when storing it in the supermarket or during transport, fine particles of dirt can get onto the tomato at any time.

Step 2: scratch

In contact with boiling water, the outer tomato peel will burst. This process can be made easier and faster with two tricks:

• Remove the stalk with a sharp knife
• Score the underside of the tomato crosswise

Step 3: cooking

1. Put the prepared tomatoes in a large saucepan.
2. Heat plenty of water in a kettle.
3. In the meantime, prepare a bowl of ice-cold water.
4. Pour hot water over the tomatoes, after which all fruits should be completely covered by the water.
5. Let the tomatoes steep in it for about half a minute.

Step 4: quenching

1. Take the tomatoes out of the hot water one after the other with a slotted spoon and immediately add them to the prepared ice water.
2. Let the tomatoes stay in it for a few seconds. The shell will burst open more and more during this time.

Step 5: skinning

1. Take the chilled tomatoes out of the ice water.
2. Put them in a large bowl so the dripping liquid doesn't make a mess.
3. One by one, peel off the peel from all the tomatoes with the tip of a knife.

Further processing of the skinned tomatoes

The peeled tomatoes cannot be stored for very long without their protective skin. They should be used in sauces, soups or other dishes.

The short shelf life is also the reason why tomatoes are skinned just before they are cooked.

If you are in a hurry, the microwave will help

Most chefs think like this when it comes to completing individual work steps faster. Often that is true, but not always. When peeling tomatoes, the savings amount to a modest 10 seconds.

Nevertheless, the key points of this variant should be briefly mentioned here, because some people love working with the microwave and therefore prefer it whenever possible:

• Wash and score tomatoes
• Heat for 20 seconds
• at max. 650 watts

Then let it cool down briefly and peel off the cracked shell with the tip of a knife.

Conclusion for quick readers:

• Best method: Scald tomatoes with hot water so that the peel comes off more easily
• Step 1: remove green stem; Wash tomatoes thoroughly
• Step 2: cut out the stalk; Score the tomato crosswise on the underside
• Step 3: put in saucepan; pour hot water over them; Let it stand for ½ minute
• Step 4: get it out with a slotted spoon; Soak in ice-cold water for a few seconds
• Step 5: Get out of the water; Peel off the bowl with the tip of a knife
• Alternative: heat in the microwave; but does not save any time
• Procedure: prepare tomatoes; 20 seconds at max. Heat 650 watts; Peel off the shell
• Consume: Does not keep for long; process or skin only before use