Why Do I Need A Potato Peeler?
Y Peeler - Stainless Steel Blade
Why Do I Need A Potato Peeler?
1. What Is A Potato Peeler?
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Today, I’m excited to be talking to you about humanity’s common love interest – Potatoes. And hey, the best vegetable on planet earth deserves the best tools to treat it right. Particularly, a peeler. You might know it better by the name of a vegetable scraper.
A peeler has a metal blade attached to it, which acts as a ‘slot’. These blades are usually made of stainless steel for durability and sturdiness which would prevent mishaps while peeling over your cutting board, while in the kitchen. A good potato peeler removes the outer layer of the fruit or vegetable efficiently, as well as other blemishes such as a potato eye.
Investing in a good veggie peeler for your kitchen is necessary before you can move on to cutting them up for a good char on the grill. A peeler is a common gadget in almost every home. This is why you probably don’t give it much thought. But, a good potato peeler would showcase its efficiency each time you use it.
A kitchen veggie peeler is not one-size-fits-all. A vegetable such as a tomato would require the peeler to have a blade that is curated to peel its thin skin without damaging the pulp. The same goes for fruits like apples. But first, let’s discuss a couple more thoughts that come to mind.
2. Why Everyone Needs a Potato Peeler
Paring Knife 3.5" | Shogun Series
Chances are, you haven’t had a close look at your potato peeler including its handle and its blade recently. That is probably because this gadget is smaller compared to other kitchen accessories and essentials such as knives or cutting boards... you simply haven’t paid attention to it. This is your sign to take a closer look at the everyday gadgets in your kitchen.
If you’re familiar with herniaquestions, you must know by now that we value versatility. A potato peeler isn’t as one-dimensional as it is made out to be, and I’m more than happy to enlighten you on the ‘how's’ and ‘why’s of that.
3. Tasks a Potato Peeler Should Perform
What you should look for in your potato peeler goes beyond an ultra sharp blade that is made with stainless steel. Or, one that comes with a set of replacement blades made with a high-quality metal such as Japanese stainless steel, and a potato eye remover. Versatility in your potato peeler is everything! Your potato peeler should allow you to do the following efficiently:
Removing Potato Eyes
Your potato peeler should be used first and foremost as a potato eye remover. A large potato eye is single-handedly the biggest inconvenience, second only to plenty of small ones all over your potato. They can also make it difficult for you to peel potatoes seamlessly.
They act as speed-breakers on a steady highway. If you don’t slow down near them, you’re going to hurt yourself. In this scenario, find yourself caught up in the middle of a kitchen mishap. Most importantly, a kitchen knife won’t help you peel the skin, let alone the entire potato.
Peel Fruit and Vegetable Skins
Intention matters. When you grab your peeler, it is important to make sure that you don’t peel away parts of the fruit or vegetable when peeling the skin. While peeling the skin of an apple, a good peeler would ensure that you’re not breaking it away from the actual nutritious components of the fruit and allow you to work with fruits and vegetables that have softer textures.
The same goes for apples & carrots! These vegetables require a delicate hand on their skin, and the right peeler would adapt to the task instinctively.
Vegetables with a slightly softer texture such as celery are great to munch on for a quick snack, but let’s be honest, the stringy nature of this vegetable can get stuck on your teeth. Using your peeler from the top to the bottom of the celery stalk juts out the stringy bits and allows them to fall out.
Making Zucchini Noodles or Ribbon Salad
What do you call a vegetable peeler that allows you to make zucchini noodles without the need for a spiralizer or a mandoline? Versatility at its finest! Zucchini noodles and ribbon salads both pose as great alternatives for pasta and a low-carb one at that. All you’ve got to do is hold the zucchini at a downward angle and peel away while holding your peeler in a comfortable position.
The sharpened blade on your gadget will take care of the rest of the peeling process!
Dice Onions
There are plenty of tips and tricks out there for slicing onions conveniently. A peeler comes in handy when you need finely cut pieces of an onion for a hearty bowl of beef stroganoff. Just cut an onion in half, hold the hand-cut part of the onion towards the peeler, and move it in a back and forth motion. This is a much easier process than using a paring knife or vegetable peeler to mince your onion.
Shave Hard Cheese, Cold Butter, and Chocolate Curls
Are you a fan of salads because you love savoring that umami goodness the cheeses give along with the leafy crunch?
Are you on a time constraint on most mornings? If you are, the frozen butter-on-toast option might be your best bet!
Oddly enough, a potato peeler serves more purposes than a grater when it comes to cheeses such as parmesan or cheddar. Move your peeler to the edge of the hunk of cheese and enjoy a convenient shaving process.
Keep in mind, you’re going to need an ultra sharp blade on your peeler to get a perfect edge and curve on your shavings. A stainless steel blade is the most durable kind, owing to its resilient and low maintenance properties.
If you’re all about working smart and not hard, then a potato peeler might just be the most versatile gadget in your kitchen. You can store butter shavings in the freezer and use a handful of it every morning directly on your toast.
All you have to do is move your peeler towards any of the vertices and drag it down. Remember, a feathery touch is everything. If you shove your peeler into the cube of butter, it is going to smudge.
Lastly, make-shift chocolate shavings over ice creams, or uneven chocolate chips for cookies, sandwiches, and other desserts are all doable with a peeler. It may just turn your day downside up with a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with berries and chocolate curls.
Hold a preferably tall bar of bittersweet chocolate in one hand, and your peeler in the other. And voila, let the beautiful chocolate curls fall onto your dessert!
Peeling Citrus Fruits
Undoubtedly, for a variety of reasons, peelers are a bartender’s best friend. For starters, the short peels can be used for garnishing your drink with a tendril hanging in or over a glass. All in all, they’re perfect to add a little bit of pizazz to your beverages. And also an upgrade from a vegetable peeler.
There isn’t a manual of instructions required for you to learn to zest peel on hand. All you need to do is hold your peeler by its handle, and use it for long or short oscillations, depending on the desirability of your citrus.
4. Different Types Of Potato Peelers And What Should You Look For When Buying
Y Peeler - Stainless Steel Blade
While a vegetable peeler is the least expensive kitchen gadget, you must still be on the lookout for some non-negotiables. The most important features to watch out for are an ergonomic grip on the handle, a sharp blade, as well as a pair of replacement blades for when the blades become dull. This is completely normal for blades across knives, peelers, etc. However, a stainless steel blade wouldn’t dull easily.
Read on to know what is necessary from the get-go to encourage longevity for your favorite kitchen gadget.
There are 6 kinds of potato peelers. It could be a manual peeler or an electric peeler. It is completely up to your preference. Let’s get into the pros followed by some cons, which will help you determine the best potato peeler.
Serrated Peeler
Pros:
- A serrated peeler, just like a serrated knife, has a special place in our hearts, as well as kitchens. The clean and precise peel delivered through the serrations along the blade is exactly what leads to a plate with finesse.
- Serrated peelers are perfect for vegetables and fruits with softer textures. This includes peaches and tomatoes. The key trait of a serrated peeler is to ensure that the fruit or vegetable isn’t torn apart. They can also be used to peel off the skin of harder produce such as an carrots & apples.
Cons:
- A serrated peeler has a slightly uncomfortable handle as it doesn’t sit entirely in your palm due to its cylindrical shape.
- Sometimes, due to the serrations along the blade, these peelers can’t be sharpened which leaves you with a dull peeler. The optimal decision would be to get your replacement blades out and save yourself the trouble of rough cuts on your food which would then tear through the potato/fruit/vegetable.
- The handle on this peeler might not support tough and large fruits and vegetables.
Swivel Peeler
Pros:
- A swivel peeler is a fan favorite because it's easy to use. It is an updated version of most manual and electric peeler hybrids.
- Swivel peelers have a better grip through their carefully designed handle and have an ultra sharp blade.
- Swivel peelers are extremely sturdy.
- The blade on a swivel peeler moves at the right angle to peel vegetables with ease. You can peel in both directions, which is not a common find in most peelers yet.
- Research has found that swivel peelers produce much less waste. So, not only is this an upgraded version of a potato peeler, but it is also environmentally sustainable.
Cons:
- A swivel peeler is a great type of potato peeler, but usually is not dishwasher safe, which could pose quite an inconvenience since the blade needs to be washed thoroughly to avoid rusting and encourage its non-stick properties.
- The infamous Kuhn Rikon swivel peeler is a loved product across North America, but due to the plastic coating in the space between the blade, it makes it hard to see around the potato and how much of the skin is yet to be peeled.
Julienne Peeler
Pros:
- A julienne peeler is designed to cater to your salad needs or to produce potato strands for hash browns.
- This peeler stands out compared to the other types of potato peelers as it offers great dexterity through its handle and often has an incredible blade cover.
- Feel free to test these qualities of your julienne peeler by using it on root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and turnips.
- It can be used for peeling in a pinch.
- It has an easy removal process for cleaning and putting your replacement blades on.
Cons:
- Julienne peelers are known as a great alternative to spiralizers, but a mandoline seems to be a better product since the edge retention on the blades of julienne potato peelers isn’t as great and can dull quicker than other blades.
- It is one-dimensional in its intent with the potato or other vegetables and restricts the freedom and movement on it, too.
Electric Peeler
Pros:
- An electric potato peeler, also known as an automatic potato peeler or an electric potato peeler, is a common find at amusement parks, festivals, and carnivals.
- When you purchase an electric peeler, you can expect a potato eye remover to come with it.
- Simply place your potato at the bottom holder and position the top holder accordingly. Peeling a potato with this peeler takes a maximum of 10 seconds.
- This is the perfect fruit peeler for delicate food such as kiwis or pears or even vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and cucumbers. A sturdy handle is an added benefit to this peeler.
Cons:
- An electric potato peeler is a great step-up in the world of potato peelers. However, if you consider and opt for a more traditional approach, this battery-operated device may shut down on you when you’re amidst food prep. No one wants peeled potatoes that still have bits of skin over them, right?
- It also struggles to work on tougher skins such as yams and is made with plastic – This is an inconvenience in two aspects. First, it isn’t going to be as resilient as stainless steel peelers. And second, it is not sustainable for your home or the environment.
Y Shaped Peeler
Pros:
- With its scalpel-like blade, the Y-shaped peeler can take on a white potato, sweet potato, or red potato, giving it a perfect surface use a potato masher for a hearty bowl of mashed potatoes.
- Yet another fan favorite, the Y peeler glides through the skin of the potato which allows you to work quickly and is a manual peeler, too.
- Like most peelers, a Y-shaped peeler has a built-in potato eye remover, too. This would allow you to further remove any imperfections.
- Perfect for squash, carrots, and apples.
Cons:
- Y-shaped peelers have only one blade unlike some of the other peelers with two or sometimes three blades, so this can pose as a rather strange inconvenience.
- A Y-shaped peeler isn’t perfect for large fruits or vegetables and isn’t ideal for zesting either.
- Since this peeler only allows the blade to run in one direction, it could be difficult getting around its restrictive personality.
Straight Peeler
Pros:
- If you find yourself making batches of vegetable stock or pot pies with carrots and potatoes, this manual peeler is perfect for you.
- A straight peeler has sharpened blades to slice through firmer produce.
- If you’re into meal preps, a straight peeler would allow you to shred thin slithers of carrots, cucumber, and celery easily.
Cons:
- Similar to the Y-shaped peeler, the straight peeler also restricts movement and only allows the blade to slice through in one angle and direction.
- Although it might just have the best grip out of all the peelers mentioned above, this one does require a bit more patience, since it has a straight blade and is a manual peeler.
- If you’re a one-and-done kind of a person in the kitchen, might I suggest another peeler that doesn’t consume too much of your time.
Speed Peeler
Pros:
- It is usually made with metals such as stainless steel which is extremely easy to use and calls for minimal waste and a rather safe peeling, thanks to its wide grip and razor-sharp blade.
- The best aspect of a speed peeler is that it is entirely made out of stainless steel, including its blade, which stalls it from turning into a dull peeler and has a much more durable history.
Cons:
- A speed peeler offers great grip, but not if you’ve got a smaller palm or prefer a potato peeler that is taller and multi-faceted.
- While it is made with a durable metal such as stainless steel, it has a thin build, which might damage the shape over time.
5. How To Perfectly Peel a Potato
There are multiple methods out there to peel potatoes. Here are some tips and tricks to make your job easier with a paring knife, and the two most commonly found peelers in a kitchen.
However, regardless of the method that you prefer, here are two things that you must do before you move on to the process of peeling.
- Wash your potatoes (preferably with a vegetable brush).
- Pat your potatoes dry before you peel them so they aren’t slippery.
Now, let us walk you through the process of perfectly peeling a potato with a Y peeler, straight peeler, and paring knife.
Y Shaped Peeler
A Y peeler is much easier to hold and use. If you’re doing some heavy cooking, the grip on this peeler allows you to work use it even with dirty or wet hands. All you need to do is hold the top half of the potato and peel the bottom half of the potato. Then, repeat the process by holding the now-peeled bottom half. It is quick, smooth, and easy to use. The best part? It doesn’t dig too deep into the potato, which means, decreased waste, and no chunks of potato sticking to the peels either. Hello, sustainability.
Straight Peeler
If you prefer a more traditional method of peeling potatoes, a straight peeler is perfect for you. This peeler moves efficiently from the front to the back of the potato compared to a paring knife, where your hand movement is restricted. Most users found a straight peeler much more safer and effective than a paring knife. Just remember to remove the potato eye before you begin peeling.
Paring Knife
Using a paring knife to peel a potato is one of the most professional ways out there. However, it does require a great amount of patience and attention to avoid any mishaps. While it allows great dexterity, you would often find a paring knife digging far too deep into the potato, which would inherently cost a clean and precise peel.
Once you’re done patting your potatoes dry after washing them thoroughly, use your paring knife to score the potato. You can do this by cutting a fine and shallow line around the spud before grabbing your vegetable peeler.
Once your potatoes are done being boiled and are quite tender, submerge them into cold water, or a bowl of ice water. After the potatoes are cool to touch, start peeling your potato with the tip of your paring knife, starting at the circumference of the fine lines you scored. This peeler-free method is crucial when you’ve got to peel many pounds of potatoes at once.
6. herniaquestions’s Potato Peelers Recommendations
At herniaquestions, we embody our motto like no other – There are no limits.
From premium culinary tools like kitchen knives, cookware, and apparel such as our aprons, we are ready to take it up a notch with two upcoming potato peelers.
Now that we’re near the end of this article, you must be beaming with all the knowledge about vegetable scrapers and potato peelers.
But, read on to know what you can expect with our upcoming Y Peeler and Swivel Peeler.
Coming Soon herniaquestions Peelers
1. Y Peeler - Stainless Steel Blade | herniaquestions ©
We don’t call it a day by designing the highest quality of knives. We’ve got an upcoming range of meat tenderizers, apple peelers, and potato peelers. We’ve discussed how invisible vegetable scrapers and potato peelers can be, however, this Y Peeler is an indispensable gadget that is an essential tool in your kitchen, perfect to place beside your knife block – Parked with your paring and chef knife.
This Y peeler is perfect for a sous chef and home chefs, too. It offers versatility and comfort when you’ve got a boatload of fruits and vegetables staring at you on your cutting board.
This Y peeler comes with 3 stainless steel blades that are made with Japanese stainless steel, which is incredible since most of them have only one or two and a separate set of replacement blades. This allows you to maneuver around the food’s surface without causing palm fatigue. This peeler can help you carry out traditional tasks such as creating beautiful garnishes or achieving precise veggie strips.
Pros:
- Simple locking system to keep your fingers protected while you change blades or wash your peeler.
- Ultra-durable G10 handle to ensure a seamless process in the kitchen, irrespective of wet environments and messy conditions.
- Each blade has a purpose. The first ensures movement, the second guarantees precision, and the third minimizes waste.
Cons:
- If you prefer a clean and precise cut on your fruits and vegetables, a serrated peeler might be a better fit!
- If you need enhanced agility, our upcoming Swivel Peeler might work better for you.
2. Premium Swivel Stainless Steel Peeler | herniaquestions ©
If you’re in dire need of a suspended blade for enhanced agility, our upcoming swivel peeler is here to save the many days ahead of you. This is the perfect alternative to a spiralizer or a mandoline since it would carry out the same tasks as the former, such as making ribbons for salads and sandwiches, shredding stringy fibers from celery, or shaving hard cheese and frozen butter.
The wide gap between the stainless steel blade and this potato peeler’s bridge has non-stick properties which save you the hassle of removing food from between it. This peeler comes with three different swivel blades ensuring you unrestricted movement, as well as precision and minimized waste.
Pros:
- Simple locking system to keep your fingers safe from any cuts and bruises while you change the Japanese stainless steel blades or wash your peeler.
- Offering great dexterity and grip, this swivel peeler is very comfortable to hold.
- A G10 military-grade garolite handle to encourage your peeler’s durability and promote its existent longevity ten folds.
Cons:
- If you’re all about that traditional appearance and grip when it comes to a potato peeler, might I suggest you opt for our upcoming Y-shaped peeler!
- While this peeler offers an incredible opportunity for zesting, you can always opt for a grater or a zester if you’d like to go around the traditional route.
7. Frequently Asked Questions About Potato Peelers
Which type of peeler is best for potatoes?
It is all about preference, but either the straight peeler or Y peeler are going to be the most efficient.
What other names is a potato peeler called?
They’re often known as swivel peelers or vegetable scrapers.
How do you peel a potato with a peeler?
Hold the top half of your potato and begin peeling the bottom half of your potato, and then repeat the process with the other side.
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Written by Ananya Tiwari
Ananya loves the fine things in life. When she isn’t penning down poetry or song lyrics, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes while also enjoying new cuisines.
