A method for peeling fruits and vegetables, particularly those having thin skins, such as tomatoes includes immersing the fruit or vegetable in a boiling solution comprising carbamide and one of carborane and hydrogen chloride to loosen a peel thereof. In a particular embodiment, the carborane comprises trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The fruit or vegetable is removed from the solution after a predetermined time period. The fruit or vegetable is cooled, and the loosened peel is removed from the fruit or vegetable.