Tomato peel is edible and can be left on if eaten raw. The situation is different when the red fruits are heated during preparation. It comes off bit by bit, curls up and is just annoying when eating. That's why it shouldn't end up in the cooking pot in the first place.

Tomatoes are easy to skin when cooked

Hot water instead of knives

A tomato can be cut with a knife but not peeled. Instead, the peel must be separated from the pulp using helpful tricks and tips. Preferably with those that promise quick and effortless success.

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

The five steps to skin freedom

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

  • Step 1: Wash
  • Step 2: Scratch
  • Step 3: Cooking
  • Step 4: Quenching
  • Step 5: Skinning

All steps are explained in detail below

Step 1: Wash

This step is common practice when processing vegetables in the kitchen, so it doesn't need much explanation here:

  • Wash the tomato thoroughly under running water
  • remove the green stem first

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

Step 2: Scratch

In contact with boiling water, the outer skin of the tomato will burst open. This process can be facilitated and accelerated with two tricks:

  • Scoop out the stalk with a sharp knife
  • Score the bottom of the tomato in a criss-cross pattern

Step 3: Cooking

  1. Place the prepared tomatoes in a large saucepan.
  2. Heat plenty of water in a kettle.
  3. Meanwhile, have a bowl of ice-cold water ready.
  4. Pour hot water over the tomatoes, after which all the fruits should be completely covered by the water.
  5. Leave the tomatoes in it for about half a minute.

Step 4: Quenching

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

Step 5: Skinning

  1. Remove the chilled tomatoes from the ice water.
  2. Place them in a large bowl to keep the dripping liquid from making a mess.
  3. Using the tip of a knife, peel the skin from each of the tomatoes one at a time.

Further processing of the skinned tomatoes

Peeled tomatoes cannot be stored for very long without their protective skin. They should be processed into sauces, soups or other dishes.

The short shelf life is also the reason why tomatoes are only skinned immediately before cooking.

When it's urgent, the microwave helps

Most cooks think like this or something similar when it comes to completing individual work steps faster. This is often true, but not always. When skinning tomatoes, the saving amounts to a modest 10 seconds.

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

  • Wash and carve the tomatoes
  • Heat for 20 seconds
  • at a maximum of 650 watts

Then allow to cool briefly and use the tip of a knife to peel off the cracked skin.

Conclusion for fast readers:

  • Best method: scald tomatoes with hot water so that the skin comes off more easily
  • Step 1: Remove Green Stem; Wash tomatoes thoroughly
  • Step 2: Cut out the stalk; Score the bottom of the tomato with a cross
  • Step 3: Put in pot; douse with hot water; Leave for ½ minute
  • Step 4: Take out with slotted spoon; plunge into ice-cold water for a few seconds
  • Step 5: Get out of the water; Peel off the peel with the tip of a knife
  • Alternative: heat in the microwave; but doesn't save time
  • Procedure: prepare tomatoes; Heat 20 seconds at 650 watts max; pull off the shell
  • Consume: Not long lasting; Process further in a timely manner or only skin before use

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden