L.A. Times Test Kitchen tips: Peeling and seeding tomatoes

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When a recipe calls for a peeled and seeded tomato (or tomato concassé), rest assured. There is an easy way to peel the tomato -- and the method works for peeling many fruits and vegetables. Seeding is simple too.

The steps are illustrated after the jump. If you have any kitchen tips or questions you’d like me to explore, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at noelle.carter@latimes.com.

-- Noelle Carter and Hye Jung Hong
twitter/noellecarter

Step 1: Mark an ‘X’ at the bottom of a tomato, just through the skin.

Step 2: Submerge the tomato in a pan of boiling water to loosen the skin. You do not want to cook the tomato.

Step 3: The skin should start to peel away from the ‘X’ after about 30 seconds. As soon as the skin is loosened, immediately remove the tomato to a bowl of ice water to chill.

Step 4: Peel the skin away from the tomato using your fingers or a knife. The skin should peel easily.

Step 5: Slice the top and bottom off of the tomato.

Step 6: Slice along the length of the tomato on one side, then lay the tomato on its side on a cutting board. Insert the knife, and run it along the inside of the tomato, where the flesh meets the seeds, to core and seed.