Four innovative ways to peel tomatoes without boiling water
Most people don't worry about eating tomatoes with the skin on. However, in some cases, peeling tomatoes is necessary. For smooth tomato sauces, the skin is an entirely undesirable addition. Moreover, with store-bought tomatoes, it's often wise to remove the skin to eliminate pesticides.
The most popular method for removing tomato skins is to pour boiling water over them. After a few minutes, you take them out and peel them with the aid of a sharp knife. Few people realise that a similar effect can be achieved using other methods. Choose the best one for you, but keep in mind that not all of them are suitable for preparing a sandwich topping.
Peeling tomatoes using a microwave
You can quickly remove the skin from tomatoes by placing them in the microwave for a short period. First, cut a cross on the opposite side of the stem and place them in an appropriate container. After heating for 30 seconds on the device's highest setting, take out the tomatoes. Let them cool for a few minutes and peel by pulling the skin from the cut.
Method using a freezer
The skin can also be easily removed from tomatoes after chilling them in the freezer. Cut out the stems, make an X cut, and place them in a freezer-safe container. Leave for a few hours, then remove. Wait a moment and take off the skin.
This method is not suitable for a salad or putting tomatoes on a sandwich. However, it can be handy when you plan to prepare a larger quantity of homemade ketchup, concentrate, or tomato sauce for preserving.
You can put tomatoes in the oven
If you want to avoid using boiling water, cut the tomatoes and place them in an oven preheated to 220°C (you can use the grill setting). Bake for a few minutes until the skin starts to crack. Take out the tomatoes, let them cool, and peel – after a short roasting, this task is easy.
Charring over a gas burner
If you have a gas stove, you can use this method. Pierce the tomatoes with a fork and then, using tongs, roast them one by one over the flame of the gas stove burner. Turn them until the skin begins to crack. Place on a plate, allow the tomatoes to cool, and peel them.
Be careful not to let pieces of tomato fall on the burner. If this happens, after turning off the stove and allowing the burner to cool, clean it thoroughly and check the openings where the gas comes out. You will know the burner is clean by observing the colour of the flame on the gas stove.
