Peel a tomato

If you try to skin a raw tomato, you will soon be sputtering expletives and tempted to crush the uncooperative orb in your fist. Fortunately, there is a much easier way.

First, fill a bowl with ice water. Then, cut a shallow X, just through the skin, on the bottom of the tomato and place it into a pot of boiling water for no more than a minute. Take the tomato out with a slotted spoon, and slide it into the ice bath for 5 seconds. Pluck the shocked tomato from the water and peel the skin off with a knife or your fingers. It should slip off easily.