Vegetable Peeler are very important tools to have in the kitchen. There is a safety concern to these little knuckle scrapers.
Understanding the Basics of a Vegetable Peeler
A vegetable peeler is a kitchen tool that is used to remove the skin or outer layer of vegetables and fruits. It is also known as a potato peeler, as it was originally invented for peeling potatoes
However, it can be used to peel an array of fruits, cheeses, and even soaps.
Here are some of the most common uses of a vegetable peeler:
Peeling vegetable skins:
The most common use for a vegetable peeler is probably peeling potato skins. In fact, many vegetable peelers even come with a pointed end specifically made for digging out those pesky spots where the potato skin won’t come off, called “eyes”
To peel a potato with a vegetable peeler, make sure you hold the vegetable with your non-dominant hand and peel with your dominant hand. Also, like your mother always said, make sure that you’re peeling in a direction that is away from your body, not towards it.
Making crispy potato chips:
Potato skins are edible, but we usually peel them off to make dishes like mashed potatoes or potato salad. If you’ve peeled potatoes for these dishes before, you’ve probably tossed a decently large pile of unused potato skins into the trash. Whether you’re conscious of the food waste or you’d like to try a new recipe, make sure that you save those yummy potato skins because we’ve got a good recipe for you. While you can’t make traditional potato chips without actual potatoes, you can still make crispy, delicious chips from potato skins! To make crunchy potato skin chips, toss the peels in olive oil, sprinkle them with sea salt, and bake them in a single layer at 425 F for around 20 minutes.
Shaving cheese and chocolate:
Peelers make the task of creating chocolate and cheese shavings so much faster and easier than with a knife. Use a vegetable peeler to shave thin slices of cheese or chocolate to be used as a finishing touch or garnish.
Peeling citrus fruits:
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the zest from citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. The zest can be used to add flavor to baked goods, marinades, and dressings.
Peeling soap:
A vegetable peeler can be used to create thin slices of soap for use in the shower or bath.
To sharpen a vegetable peeler,
you can use a paring knife or a metal nail file
Here are the steps to sharpen your vegetable peeler using a paring knife:
- Take the top blade of the peeler and your paring knife and rub them against each other.
- Turn the peeler on the other side and repeat the same motion with the same blade of the knife.
- Use a cheap paring knife that you don’t mind dulling for this purpose.
Can you recommend me some good brands of vegetable peelers?
Reviews of The Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen in 2023
#1. OXO Good Grips Pro Y Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
OXO Y-Peeler
Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/48F2CKu
OXO usually is the go-to brand for peelers, and the Good Grips Pro Y-Peeler is the best among Y-Shaped ones.
This Best Best Y-Peeler America’s Test Kitchen has stainless steel blades that can easily penetrate through tougher vegetables such as the carrots or potatoes while still retaining its durability. The sharp edges also go great with the thin arc to help prevent clogging for more efficient peeling as it digs through the solid textures of the veggies.
The top-notch performance is just one thing. To give you the smoothest experience, the blade’s handle is contoured to increase grippiness for slip resistance. It’s also cushioned to feel comfortable for your hands, so you won’t feel fatigue or aches when using it for a prolonged period.
Besides the features mentioned above, Good Grips Y-Peeler has a compact, simple appearance, making it easy for you to transport or store it away when you’re done using. Overall, it’s a good Y-peeler that’s worth the higher price tag.
#2. The Best Swivel Peeler: OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
OXO Swivel Peeler
Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/3SdgtlN
Another product from OXO, but this time it’s a straight swivel peeler and similar to the OXO’s Y-Peeler, it’s also the best in its respective category.
This peeler has swivel stainless steel twin blades sharp enough to go through uneven surfaces such as a carrot or potato. They can remove swaths of skin with simple strokes and help improve your precision for a good prep.
The top portion of the peeler features a die-cast zinc construction to embolden durability, and so the utensil can last for years to come. Whenever you are in need of some help with the tough veggies, it will be right there to lend you a hand.
Its handle is also designed for long term usage, with a softness and size good for gripping and repetitive strokes. Additionally, it’s non-slip, comfortable for use even when wet, which will come in handy for sure as the best time to slice vegetables is obviously after taking them out from the sink.
One weakness with this best swivel peeler America’s Test Kitchen is that it’s very small arch, although contributes to its compactness, can also sometimes be vulnerable to clogging and difficult to clean. So, it would be best if you took note of this before buying.
#3. The Best Electric Peeler: Starfrit Electric Rotator Express
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Starfrit Electric Rotator Express https://amzn.to/41RQ40a
If you’re making something for many people and is afraid of hand-fatigue, then the Electric Rotator Express peeler from Starfrit surely is what you’re looking for.
It looks a bit quirky, but this peeler is no joke. It can peel vegetables very quickly in about ten seconds flat with a button’s simple push. The whole operation will be carried out with utmost comfort as this item comes with a sleek holder, so there’s also no need for you to touch or hold the vegetable while it’s peeling.
Although it’s a bit more complex than standard peelers, it’s still very easy to use, so you need not worry about this. However, it would help if you handled it with care since the cutter blade and holder spikes are quite sharp.
#4. The Best Clogging Reduction: Messer meister Fine Edge Swivel Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Messer meister Fine Edge Swivel Peeler
Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/47tUZFF
Messer meister’s Pro Touch Fine Edge Swivel Peeler is the second swivel peeler on the list and perhaps also the second best of them out there, right behind the Good Grips one we mentioned. But the thing that draws us to it most is its superb clogging reduction.
This swivel peeler features a very high arch between the blade and the peeler’s top, making cleaning quick and any peeled parts can slip out with ease. Larger vegetables can also be peeled easier because there’s no clogging, so the process is fuss-free and efficient.
The blades are made of stainless steel and quite sharp, although not as much as others. So, the peeling can be a bit slow. Regardless, its ability to prevent clogging makes for very smooth peeling motions. A worthwhile purchase.
#5. The Best Compactness: Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler
Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/48uzBkV
This vegetable peeler from Linden Sweden is the most compact, lightweight vegetable peeler on this list. If you’re looking for something lowkey and decent, this peeler is for you.
The Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler is one for all bulky, busy kitchens out there. Its simplistic design not only goes great with the modern kitchen, but it also makes the peeler very easy to clean, with a small size for convenient storage.
Another feature that led to our decision to put it on this list is the construction material. The whole peeler is made of 18/10 stainless steel, so durability issues are out of the way.
In addition, it’s also dishwasher safe to ensure a longer peak performance. So, despite its seemingly choppy outlook, it holds up well with time.
That said, one weakness it has is that the metal grip can be very awkward and can take some time to get used to. This is not a good peeler for those who experience hand fatigue often.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
18/10 premium stainless-steel blades
Dishwasher safe
Easy to store and clean.
Cons
Awkward metal grip
#6. The Best Versatility: Precision Kitchenware Vegetable Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Precision Kitchenware Vegetable Peeler
Check Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/48pZLVW
Precision Kitchenware’s peeler is one for the professionals, and the reason for this is that it’s so versatile and functional that its presence can mean serious business. It has a very good case for being the best vegetable peeler out there.
This peeler is a Y design, but make no mistake, it’s different from all others. It has a dual-blade system, one standard blade for simple skin removal, and the other is a jagged for cutting veggies into julienne slices. For a restaurant setting, this feature can help cut down the prep time tremendously.
It has a smart and aesthetically pleasing design that focuses on functionality and comfort, especially regarding its ergonomic handle for a comfy grip, and a hanging loop for easy and quick storage.
But there seems to be one little problem. This peeler is a bit difficult to clean, but then again, a free brush is also provided for this purpose.
#7. The Best Handle: Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler
Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler
Check Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/3NXUmxo
Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler is great at many things, but one thing that stands out the most is perhaps its clever and ergonomic design.
This peeler looks like a knife at first glance, and it’s designed to be used just like one as well. The utensil features finger grips on its handle to make it easier for those with arthritis to operate, while also increasing the tightness of your fingers on it. The handle can be held comfortably by both left-handed and right-handed users, and this is also a plus point.
The peeler has two blades for ultra sharp and effortless peeling. Even though you’d use this peeler like a knife, it still creates consistent slices with ease, unlike other peelers. There’s also a built-in blemish remover for a smoother peeling process.
But this item, like the rest of those on this list, is not without flaw. Its structure cannot fit in a super large hand, so better luck next time if you happen to have one.
Pros
Finger grips on the handle
Ultra sharp dual stainless-steel blades
Built-in blemish remover
Dishwasher safe
Cons
Not fit for larger hands
Factors To Choose the Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
Performance
What most look for in a vegetable peeler is perhaps its performance and the related aspects. Do you require deeper cuts? Or smooth, slower, and precise motions? Or something that helps you churn out slices with ease and no hand fatigues at all?
There’s something for everyone on this list. For example, if it’s a hands-free operation, the electric peeler from Starfrit can do the job quite well. If it’s precision you want, the swivel peeler from OXO is the best of them, in our opinion. Ultimately, it depends on what you need.
Ease of Use
a vegetable peeler is not a difficult tool to use, but more comfort is always welcomed, especially for something that can get tiring and unfun as cooking. A good, easy to use peeler can mean a lot.
The peeler from Spring Chef is the best on this list if you want something grippy and easy to hold. The Starfrit’s electric peeler is also very easy to operate, and it can remove veggies’ skin fast and swift with a simple button push.
Design
Different kitchens have different outlooks, and sometimes this can be a crucial thing to take note of when purchasing kitchenware products, because you will want your tools to be in harmony with the environment. Such is the case with vegetable peelers.
The best kitchen peeler won’t necessarily have the best design, because this is subjective. For minimalistic kitchens, the peeler from Linden Sweden fits very well. Or, if you want something that looks professional (and functions as a professional tool), the one from Precision Kitchenware is something that will amaze you.
FAQs on Best Vegetable Peeler America’s Test Kitchen
1. Does food stick to the blade?
The better the clogging reduction, the less this happens. In this list, Messermeister’s Pro Touch Fine Edge Swivel Peeler is great for this purpose. The severity of clogging can depend a lot on the arch’s design.
2. How deeply does the blade cut?
Most peelers are designed with blades that only cut and remove the vegetables’ skin without penetrating deeper. Of course, this can depend on the force you apply on the surface as well, but generally speaking, peelers won’t cut very deep, and instead, they improve on your precision.
3. Does the blade make smooth motions?
This is very related to clogging reduction in that if the peeler can prevent clogging effectively, the peeling process will be as smooth as can be. All of the products listed are made for this, but the best vegetable peeler for smooth motions is again, Messermeister’s Pro Touch Fine Edge Swivel Peeler.
4. How comfortable is the peeler to use?
This depends a lot on your personal preferences. Some will favor the Starfrit’s electric peeler due to its easy, hands-free operation. Others will like the one from Spring Chef with its ergonomic handles and finger grips. The Good Grips peelers from OXO excel in almost everything and will satisfy your needs for comfort in many ways.
Conclusion
Choosing the best vegetable peeler can be a daunting task with so many options on the market. After extensive testing, America’s Test Kitchen has determined that the Kuhn Ricon Original Swiss Peeler is their top pick for its sharp blade and ergonomic design which makes it easy to use. It also comes in two sizes, making it perfect for almost any kitchen task you have in mind.
The OXO Good Grips Pro Swivel Peeler was a close runner-up due to its comfortable handle and great performance peeling carrots and potatoes. Whether you’re looking for an everyday peeler or one designed specifically for tougher jobs like butternut squash, these two models from America’s Test Kitchen are sure to meet your needs!
Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Vegetable Peeler
- Rinse the peeler under cold water to remove any excess vegetables from the blade.
- Wash the peeler in warm soapy water using a scrubbing brush or toothbrush to clean the food residue off the blade and the handle.
- Dry the peeler completely with a soft cloth or a paper towel to prevent rust.
If your peeler is stained by the color of the vegetables, you can try this method.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the stained plastic area of the peeler and leave it for a few minutes.
- Dip the peeler into a small container of white vinegar and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. The baking soda and vinegar will react and remove the stain.
- Wash the peeler in warm soapy water and rinse it with fresh water.
- Dry the peeler thoroughly.
I hope this helps you keep your peeler clean and shiny. 😊
