How Long to Boil Tomatoes
How long you need to boil tomatoes depends on whether you're trying to fully cook them or just peel them. It takes less than a minute to boil tomatoes for peeling, but you'll need a half-hour or more for stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce.
If you are looking to boil your tomatoes long enough to peel them, cut a shallow X into the bottom of each tomato and drop up to four tomatoes at a time into the boiling water. Keep an eye on your tomatoes, as they should not be in the water for more than 25 to 30 seconds: When the X begins to split open, pull the tomatoes out and plunge them into an ice water bath to stop the cooking. Then, you can peel them.
From here, if you want, you can cut up your peeled tomatoes and put them in a pot to cook. Add whatever seasonings you like, and if they seem a bit dry, add a little bit of water: Then, let them cook for a half-hour or more, depending on the recipe you're using.