Today I'm going to show you the steps for how to peel tomatoes as a way to preserve the fresh taste of summer all year long.
With this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to peel tomatoes to use for canning, making sauces or adding them to your favorite recipes.
This process requires little effort, but the results are amazing! You can easily create a delicious homemade marinara sauce as a part of your Weekly Meal Plan for a satisfying dinner.
Is there anything more colorful and flavorful than a garden fresh tomato, still warm from the sun? Whether you're picking them straight off the vine or sourcing them from your local grocer, one of the most rewarding parts of working with tomatoes is peeling their delicate skins.
With a few tricks up your sleeve, you can learn how to peel tomatoes quickly and easily so that you can get on to all those delicious recipes!
Once the tomatoes are peeled, you can either can them as they are or prepare an easy Canned Marinara Sauce recipe.
Looking for more Family Dinner Ideas that use fresh peeled tomatoes? Try my Homemade Marinara Sauce with Meatballs, Easy Homemade Salsa or my Pasta Fagioli Soup.
Table of Contents
Peeling Tomatoes for Canning
The most common and efficient way to peel tomatoes is by using the blanching method.
This is the way my cousin, Traciene, taught me how to peel tomatoes over 20 years ago.
She also taught me how to preserve the tomatoes by canning them in mason jars using the water bath method in her "Italian kitchen" in the basement.
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How Long to Boil Tomatoes to Peel?
Step 1: Prepare the tomatoes by giving them a good wash. Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove top. Place a small "X" in the bottom of each tomato. Submerge a few of the tomatoes at a time in the boiling water. Allow the tomatoes to boil for 30 seconds.
Step 2: Immediately place the tomatoes in a bowl of ice water.
How to Skin Tomatoes
Step 3: Gently lift the tomato out of the ice water. Find the "x" and start peeling back the skin. Look how easy it comes off!
Easiest way to Peel Tomatoes
Peeling tomatoes is a simple task that makes a big difference when you're preserving them or creating smooth sauces:
- After the tomatoes have been peeled, I like to cook them before canning or freezing by placing the peeled tomatoes in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or until the fall apart and are fork-tender.
- At this step, you can either place the tomatoes in mason jars and proceed with the canning process according to the manufacturer's directions.
- You can also place the cooked tomatoes in freezer-safe containers.
How to Store Peeled Tomatoes?
Refrigerator: Place peeled tomatoes in an airtight container or a zip-top bag with the air squeezed out. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It's best to use them quickly as the flavor and texture can start to deteriorate.
Freezer: You can also freeze the peel tomatoes in airtight containers or freezer bags. Frozen tomatoes will last for 6-12 months. You can freeze peeled tomatoes whole, chopped, or pureed.
Can you Freeze Chopped Tomatoes?
Freezing tomatoes is a quicker and less labor-intensive process than canning. You can add frozen tomatoes to soups, stews, sauces and other cooked dishes.
Furthermore, freezing helps preserve the texture of the tomatoes better than canning. However, thawed tomatoes may not have the same appealing texture as fresh ones.
Canning Tomatoes
Which is why I prefer canning tomatoes. It preserves the fresh flavor better than freezing and can be stored at room temperature for an extended period.
However, canning tomatoes requires more time, equipment, and effort compared to freezing. If you decide to can the tomatoes, make sure you follow the complete instructions for canning tomatoes using the water bath method.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the plus sign (+) next to each question.
Place tomatoes into boiling water and let them simmer for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. The exact time may vary based on the tomato's size and ripeness.
The easiest way to remove skin from tomatoes is to boil the tomatoes for about 30 seconds. First place an X in the bottom of each tomato, then place in boiling water. Add the tomatoes immediately to cold, ice water and then you'll be able to easily slip the skin off of the tomatoes.
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How to Peel, Cook and Preserve Fresh Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 12 Garden fresh tomatoes
Instructions
- Wash the tomatoes.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove top.
- Place a small "X" in the bottom of each tomato and submerge in boiling water for 30 seconds.
- Immediately remove the tomatoes from the hot water and place in a bowl of ice water.
- Carefully pick up a tomato and begin to pull the outer layer of skin off. The outer layer of skin comes off very easily.
- Place the peeled tomatoes in a blender or food processor or you can roughly chop them by hand.
- Place the processed tomatoes into a slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. You can also cook them in a large stock pot on top of the stove for up to 2 hours depending again on how thick or thin you like your sauce.
- Cooking the tomatoes longer will give you a much thicker sauce.
How to Preserve Cooked Tomatoes
- Once your tomatoes have simmered down in the crock pot, you have two preservation options: the hot water bath method with sterilized jars, or freezing in airtight containers.
- Follow my instructions for Canning Marinara Sauce if you would like to process the tomatoes.
Video
Notes
Helpful Resources for Canning Tomatoes
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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Anonymous says
this method works with peaches as well!
Cynthia Landrie says
You peeled many more tomatoes than I did! Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party!
Kimberly Lewis says
Great post.Looks so good! Pinned. We appreciate you being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm. We love to party with you! Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Maria says
Oh wow... those tomatoes look BEAUTIFUL! And a great way to peel them!
Tracy Fredrychowski says
Peeling tomatoes is so easy this way...I use this method for peaches as well.
jayashree says
Useful tip..I do it this way and it's very easy. Stopping to say hello
Julie V says
Well, that looks easy! Thanks for sharing a simple way to do a normally obnoxious task.
Joanne DiPalo says
Great tip for peeling tomatoes. Your harvest looks awesome. It's great to have fresh tomatoes all year.
Catherine says
Dear Lois, You certainly had a good harvest!! Not so much luck here though. This is a helpful and good tip. You will have lots of delicious sauce over the cold winter months.
I hope all is well. Blessings dear. Catherine