How to peel tomatoes quickly - all the ways

Many recipes for cooking with tomatoes recommend peeling them from the skin. Sometimes it is required to comply with the technology of cooking. Sometimes it is explained by the harmful effects of tomato peels on digestion and human health.

There are opposite opinions about the benefits or harm of eating raw tomatoes, so it's better to be guided by taste and aesthetic preferences. For example, they say that peeled tomatoes, if consumed raw, have a brighter and richer taste.

The preparation of sauces or gravies from peeled tomatoes makes them more homogeneous and appetizing. But pieces of peeled tomato skin in a soup or vegetable stew look ugly and do not improve the appearance of the dish in any way. So, it is better to peel tomatoes! The purpose of this article is to tell you how to peel tomatoes quickly, and without much difficulty.

Ways to peel tomatoes

There are many ways to peel tomatoes - with or without heat treatment. You can choose any, depending on the amount and maturity of tomatoes, the purpose of their use.

Cleaning with heat treatment:

• in boiling water (blanching, scalding, steam treatment);
• in a microwave oven;
• in the oven;
• on the fire;
• deep frying.

Cold" cleaning methods:

• with a knife or vegetable peeler;
• with a grater.

Cleaning tomatoes with heat treatment

Blanching

How to peel tomatoes with boiling water? The most common and simple method is blanching. Suitable for quickly processing a large number of tomatoes. However, it is better to treat them in small batches.

For this you will need:

• a pot of boiling water;
• strainer or colander;
• a bowl of cold water;
• sharp knife.

Sequence of actions:

• thoroughly wash the fruit;
• On each make a shallow cross-shaped incision on the side opposite the stalk;
• Drop them into a pan of boiling water for 10-30 seconds (depending on the ripeness of the fruit); it is better to put a batch of tomatoes in a strainer or colander to quickly get them all out together;
• Take out of the boiling water and move into a bowl of cold water or put under a tap with running water;
• Once the tomatoes have cooled, remove the skin by prying it off with a knife from the side of the incision.

Scalding

A variation of scalding. A large number of tomatoes can also be treated quickly with this method.

You will need:

• bowl;
• kettle with boiling water;
• sharp knife.

Sequence of actions:

• Prepare the fruits in the same way as in the previous method;
• Place the prepared fruits in a bowl, put the bowl in the sink;
• pour boiling water from the kettle over each tomato for at least 10 seconds, shaking the bowl so that the boiling water pours over all sides of the fruit;
• drain the hot water and pour cold tap water over the tomatoes;
• Remove the skin, picking it with a knife from the side of the incision.

If the skin is poorly removed - repeat the procedure from the beginning.

Treatment with steam

Another type of tomato treatment with boiling water is steam treatment. Suitable if you have a steam cooker or pot with a suitable size metal colander and lid. Preparation of tomatoes is the same as in the previous methods - thoroughly wash and cut the skin with a sharp knife.

The difference is that the fruits are not placed in boiling water, but are steamed over its surface for 30-40 seconds. After that, the tomatoes should be doused with cold water and peeled.

This method is the most gentle for the fruit, allows you to save their color and taste. It is best suited if the tomatoes are intended for salads and dish decoration.

Cleaning tomatoes with the microwave

How to peel tomatoes in the microwave? This method allows you to easily, quickly and without much trouble peel the desired amount of fruit. You only need to carefully observe some of the peculiarities of processing.

Important: do not forget to make cuts on the tomatoes, otherwise, under the influence of microwaves, they will simply "explode" from the inside

Sequence of actions:

• Wash and dry the fruit so that no drips remain on them;
• Use a sharp knife to cut the skin of the tomato from the peduncle and the sides;
• place them on a flat plate suitable for the device, so that they do not touch each other;
• place the plate on the microwave's rotating tray and process the tomatoes for 30-40 seconds at 700-750 Watts;
• Take out the plate and carefully, trying not to burn, peel the peeled skin.

Please note: if the processing time was not enough and the skin is not peeled, re-treat the tomatoes in another way, otherwise they will lose their shape

Use the microwave better for tomatoes that are intended for further cooking, Because of the rapidity of the impact of microwaves, it is difficult to catch the moment of softening the fruits.

Peeling tomatoes by baking them in the oven

This method of processing tomatoes is a favorite of many housewives and cooks. It is simple, convenient, allows you to process a large number of fruits at once. It does not require special care in the performance. In addition, it preserves or even enhances their flavor. The only condition is not to overcook the fruit in the oven, so they do not stick or bake.

The sequence of actions:

• Preheat the oven to 180-200 ° C;
• Wash the tomatoes cross-cut at the stalk side;
• Arrange them on a baking tray or tray so they do not touch each other;
• After heating for 2-3 minutes, remove the tray from the oven;
• let cool slightly and peel hot, taking care.

Cooking tomatoes on the fire

This simple but effective way to remove the skin from a tomato can be used at home and outdoors. You simply need to warm the tomato over an open fire. To do this, it is carefully, from the side of the stalk, put on a fork or wooden skewer, not piercing through.

It is better to use a two-tined fork for meat, so the fruit will be less damaged and the juice will not run out of it. Turn over the burner of a gas stove or fire to warm the tomato on all sides. When the skin begins to burst and wrap, you can begin peeling.

Deep-frying cherry tomatoes

All of the above methods are good for ordinary large tomatoes. But what about cherry tomatoes? A special method has been invented for them, which is not suitable for other types of tomatoes.The washed and dried cherry tomatoes are dropped into the heated oil for 1-2 seconds, then taken out and put on a plate with a paper towel. A strainer can be used to speed up the operation. It will allow, in one movement, to dip and extract the cherries from the oil, without delaying the process.

Important: to avoid splashing the hot oil, make sure there is no moisture on the cherry before dipping it in the fryer

Slightly prying the skin from the side opposite the stalk, you can easily peel the tomato. If you do not remove it at all, but bend it up, you can get an original decoration for dishes.

Peeling tomatoes with the "cold" method

Peeling with a knife or vegetable peeler

If there is no desire to boil water, heat the oven, there is no microwave at hand, and the stove at home is electric, you can peel some tomatoes and another way. A sharp knife and cutting board will perfectly cope with this task.You can peel the whole tomato, cutting off the skin in spirals or strips. It is also good to use a vegetable peeler or serrated cheese knife. It is clear that this way to remove the skin thinly will not work, but the result will be achieved.

For a salad or subsequent shredding, you can peel tomatoes, having previously cut them into slices. Put the slice on a cutting board with the flesh facing up and, holding the tip with your fingers, use a sharp knife to move it as close to the skin as possible, separating it from the pulp. This method is best used with fully ripe tomatoes where the skin is easily removed.

Peeling tomatoes with a grater

Another way to peel tomatoes is with an ordinary kitchen coarse grater. This method is good because it allows you to peel and shred tomatoes at the same time. Used when you need to quickly chop a few fully ripe fruits, for example, for a sauce.Performed very simply. The washed fruits are cut in half lengthwise. Each of the halves is pressed with the slice to the grater, the skin to the palm and rubbed on the grater.

Choosing how to peel tomatoes

When choosing how to peel, be guided by the following criteria for tomatoes:

• what kind (ripe or not so ripe);
• how many (a few pieces or more than a kilogram);
• What for (raw or cooked).

For peeling ripe tomatoes, it's best not to use microwave or oven processing. If you intend to use a lot of fruit, it is better to use blanching or baking in the oven in separate batches.

For use in salads or to decorate dishes, it is better to peel tomatoes with a knife or steam. If the fruits after peeling will be subjected to heat treatment - the method of cleaning will depend on the number of them.

Photo examples of peeling tomatoes at home