How to Peel Tomatoes

Want to learn how to peel tomatoes the easy way? And by easy, I mean a simple, no-boil method where the tomato skin practically falls out by itself.

Peeling tomatoes is an essential step in many canning recipes as well as homemade sauces and this post shows you how to do it in the oven without blanching.

Peeling Tomatoes the Easy Way

The easiest way to peel tomatoes is to roast them long enough to where the skin separates from the meat and you can peel them easily.

While some tutorials use the blanching method which entails submerging fresh tomatoes in boiling water and then inside an ice water bowl; I’ve found that roasting the tomatoes involves fewer steps, it’s safer, and it adds a nice caramelized flavor.

With the roasting method, you won’t have to score the bottom of each tomato or try to submerge a dozen hot tomatoes in iced water. All you need is a sheet pan and the oven does the rest.

How to Roast and Peel Tomatoes

Benefits of Roasting Before Peeling Tomatoes

Roasting makes it possible to peel tomatoes in a single step therefore, it’s much faster.

Roasting tomatoes eliminates other steps, like having to slice the skin first, submerging them in boiling water, and then the ice bath water.

The tomato “meat” softens in the oven and the skin separates from it on its own. Plus, roasting caramelizes the natural sugars and makes the tomatoes even sweeter.

How Long to Roast Tomatoes Before Peeling

Roma or medium tomatoes will need to roast for 20 to 25 minutes in a 450F (230C) oven. You will know they are ready once the tomato is easily pierced through with a fork and the skins have separated from the meat.

How to Store Peeled Tomatoes

Once your tomatoes are peeled and seeded they can be stored by canning them, refrigerating, or freezing.

Canning
Once your tomatoes have peeled, follow the recipe directions. This process turns tomatoes into a shelf stable food, for up to 18 months, like my canned salsa recipe.

Refrigerator
Once you’ve peeled the tomatoes and they’ve cooled down to room temperature, transfer them inside an airtight container and refrigerate for 5-7 days.

Freezer
Peel the tomatoes, and allow them to cool down completely. Then, transfer them whole or chopped into a large freezer-safe container labeled with the date. Freeze for up to 2 months.

How to Use Peeled Tomatoes

Check out these recipes for some delicious ideas to use those peeled tomatoes. Some of the recipes will call for a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, which you can easily swap out for 3 cups crushed tomatoes, or 2 cups diced tomatoes in place of a 15-ounce can.

• Crockpot Tomato Sauce
• Tomato Veggie Soup
• Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
• All Meat & Veggie Chili

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