Peeling and Deseeding Tomatoes

Ever wonder how they get the skins off the tomatoes you buy in cans? It’s really quite a simple process. In this tip I’ll show you exactly how and also how to take the seeds out.

1. Cut a superficial X into the bottom of your tomatoes.

1. Plunge them into boiling water for a few seconds.

1. Remove them from the water and place directly into ice water.

1. Allow to sit for about half a minute.
2. Remove them from the ice water and simply peel by pulling the skin from the X down.

1. Once peeled you can either:
2. Cut a little off the top of the tomato and holding the tomato from the bottom, squeeze the tomato until the seeds squish out.
3. Or you can (my preferred method) cut the tomato into quarters length wise and with a pairing knife cut under the seeds from the base of each quarter to the top.

Paul Hegeman

Paul was a personal chef to exclusive clients in Sydney, Australia and worked at every level of professional kitchens, from the deep fryer in a local burger joint to Head Chef in five-star hotels. Born in the Netherlands, Paul moved to Canada at a very young age. Experience with traditional European meals at home and the diverse multicultural influence of Canadian cuisine gave him a great appreciation for different culinary styles. His recipes emphasize natural, uncomplicated flavors and fresh ingredients, inspired by Mediterranean and Southeast Asian cuisines. Paul is also the founder of Chef's Pencil, though he is no longer affiliated with the magazine.