How to Blanch Tomatoes for easy peeling
An easy way to blanch tomatoes for easy peeling to make your favorite recipes quickly.
It is always good to learn as many cooking tips as you can. Cooking tips make cooking easier and help you get your meals ready in no time. You will be a pro in your kitchen quickly once you have mastered the most basic cooking tips.
Tomatoes are available all year round. This helpful guide below will show you how to peel a tomato easily. It would be best if you had a few tools. But first, let’s review a few pieces of information, shall we?

What is Blanching?
Blanching is an essential food preparation technique that is used for vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The ingredient is boiled briefly for about 30 to 60 seconds (depending on size and ingredient) then plunged in ice-cold water. This cooking technique is sometimes used to loosen up the skin of the fruit or vegetables for easy peeling.
Blanching is the best cooking method to peel tomatoes.
How to blanch and peel tomatoes.
First, here’s the list of tools
- A bowl for the cleaned tomatoes.
- Paring knife
- Cutting board
- Large pot for boiling water.
- Large bowl for the iced water.
Steps to blanch and peel tomatoes
Step 1: Spray the tomatoes with vinegar and then rinse to get rid of impurities and pesticides. Place them in a bowl and set them aside.
Step 2: Use a paring knife or sharp knife to score an X on the bottom of each tomato. Do not cut the tomato too deep – just enough to pierce the skin. Make the X not too deep into the flesh. Place them back into the bowl until the next step.
Step 3: Bring a pot filled with water, enough to submerge the tomato
Step 4: With a slotted spoon, carefully place the tomato inside the pan with boiling water. Let it sit for 30 seconds or longer but not more than 1 minute.
Step 5: With the slotted spoon or regular spoon (wooden or metal), remove the tomato from the boiling water and immediately plunge into ice-cold water to prevent it from cooking longer.
Step 6: Where the x is located, the skin should have started to peel off. Peel off the skin, and you may also use the knife to remove the skin gently.
Step 7: Use in your favorite recipes and when a recipe calls for it.
Ways/recipes to use blanched tomatoes
You can use blanched tomatoes in salads, preserves, stews, and to make tomato sauce. Here are a few recipe ideas:
Notes
- It is not imperative to make the X mark on the bottom of the tomato. This step makes it simple to peel the tomato
- Use firm and not ripe tomato
- To purchase: Look for firm, unblemished tomatoes with good red color.
- Storing fresh tomatoes: if not fully ripe, leave tomatoes, stem end up, at room temperature, out of sunlight until they turn red. Then refrigerate and use within 1 or 2 days. If the tomatoes are not freshly harvested.
- Basics seasoning and spices that go well with tomatoes: basil, parsley, oregano, tarragon, thyme, black pepper, chine, and scallions.
As a reminder, this cooking method can be used for other types of vegetables and fruits.
If you prefer to have the instructions in the form of a recipe card, see below.
How to Blanch Tomatoes for easy peeling
Ingredients
- 4 tomatoes medium to large
- water
Instructions
- Spray the tomatoes with vinegar and then rinse to get rid of impurities and pesticides. Place them in a bowl.
- Use a paring knife or sharp knife to score an X on the bottom of each tomato. Do not cut the tomato too deep – just enough to pierce the skin. Make the X not too deep into the flesh. Place them back into the bowl until the next set.
- Bring a pot filled with water, enough to submerge the tomato.
- With a slotted spoon, carefully place the tomato inside the pan with boiling water. Let it sit for 30 seconds or longer but not more than 1 minute.
- With the slotted spoon or regular spoon (wooden or metal), remove the tomato from the boiling water and immediately plunge into ice-cold water to prevent it from cooking longer.
- Where the x is located, the skin should have started to peel off. Peel off the skin, and you may also use the knife to remove the skin gently.
- Use in your favorite recipes and when a recipe calls for it.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.