Tomato - peel or not?

[Argamemnon]

I never know whether I'm supposed to peel a tomato when cooking. If it's not mentioned in the recipe I mean... I want to make an eggplant dish tomorrow, the ingredients are; eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, pepper, salt and oil. Simple dish, you fry the eggplant slices a little, then add the the rest of the ingredients and simmer it (covered). But shall I peel the tomatoes or not? I hope someone can help me. Thanks in advance....

[BreezyCooking]

I rarely, if ever, bother to peel tomatoes unless the recipe specifically calls for it (even then I rarely do it - lol!).

So that said, if the recipe doesn't ask you to do it - don't. And if the recipe is asking you to layer tomato slices with the eggplant, definitely don't do it. Your tomato will fall apart.

[sattie]

I've never bothered peeling them.

[Argamemnon]

OK thanks, it's too much work anyway! lol...

[miniman]

I don't feel there is any need to peel a tomato unless you want a really smooth tomato mix. I also tend to avoid the recipes that say peel and deseed the tomato.

I'd much rather go a get a tin where it has all been done for me and probably costs less than the fresh tomatoes.

[GB]

I almost never peel tomatoes. I have a sauce recipe that I do peel them for otherwise I get little rolled up bits of ski. Which is pretty unpleasant, but other than that recipe I leave the skins on.

[buckytom]

yup, it depends on the dish.

if the tomatoes are cooked down into a sauce, chunky or smooth, the skin will roll into little spikes. not so good. sorta like eating a poorly cleaned artichoke.

but if the tomatoes are still fresh-ish, then skins on are ok.

[Uncle Bob]

In cooking?...99% of the time yes --- Most of the time I am using home canned so they are always peeled. ......Eating fresh?....most of the time I peel -- Sometimes no.

[RobsanX]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

In cooking?...99% of the time yes --- Most of the time I am using home canned so they are always peeled. ......Eating fresh?....most of the time I peel -- Sometimes no.

I agree... Core, score, blanch, peel, and seed... If done properly the skin just falls right off...