Then we tested the specialized peelers (like corn peelers and eggplant peelers) on the vegetables they were suited for and compared results. We peeled more than 20 pounds of produce - butternut squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples - on the universal peelers to determine the comfort and ease of use, the ability to navigate irregularly shaped produce, and the thinness of the peeled skins. We lined up more than a dozen vegetable peelers for testing by the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab. Once you have an effective tool on hand, you can find all kinds of genius new uses for your peeler. Asparagus, on the other hand, is more efficiently peeled with a smaller, more curved blade. Large vegetables with tougher skins - like that butternut squash, as well as eggplant - benefit from a wider blade. For example, tomatoes, with their thin skin and tender flesh, are much easier to peel with a serrated blade. You’ll pay a bit more for the KitchenAid Classic Euro Vegetable Peeler due to its high-quality construction and well-known brand name.Almost any potato peeler can handle a single carrot for a salad, but when you need to tackle a bushel of tomatoes for homemade tomato sauce or a big ol’ butternut squash, a specialized vegetable peeler helps.Ī vegetable peeler is very similar to a potato peeler, but can vary in size and blade style to make it more suitable to specific foods. You’ll find the Honsen Ultra Sharp Stainless Steel Vegetable Peeler, the OXO Good Grips Vegetable Peeler and the Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler all sell for the same low price.

Fortunately, vegetable peelers are universally affordable and don’t vary much in price.

Dull blades slip easier and you don’t want to accidentally cut yourself.

If the blades on your vegetable peeler begin to become dull, it’s time to replace them.

They can slice cheeses and meats for a party tray, shave chocolate to top a delectable dessert and even sharpen your pencil if you don’t have a pencil sharpener on hand.

Vegetable peelers come in handy for a wide variety of tasks besides simply peeling the skin away from fruits and vegetables.

If you have any trouble cleaning the blades with a rag, you can put a drop of dish soap on a toothbrush and use that instead. You’ll want to clean those by hand using hot water, a little dish soap and a rag. While some vegetable peelers are safe to toss in the dishwasher, others aren’t.If the blades of your vegetable peeler become clogged at any point and you find that tapping them against a hard surface isn’t releasing the clog, you can use a toothpick to get between the blades to coax the food out.If keeping the tool in your kitchen drawer is the only option, and your drawer is on the smaller side, look for a vegetable peeler that is compact. There are peelers with built-in holes for hanging, as well as peelers that come with a plastic sheath to cover the blades while they are stored in a utensil drawer. One blade peels, one shreds and one juliennes, for example.Īlso consider how the vegetable peeler is designed to be stored. There are even vegetable peelers on the market with interchangeable blades. This allows you to cut out potato eyes, as well as remove any rotten spots you come across when prepping the produce. Some are made simply to peel the skin off of produce, while others have an attached blemish remover. The important thing is that the peeler is made using an ergonomic design, as this increases your comfort while you use the peeler and reduces wrist fatigue if you need to use the peeler for an extended period of time.Ĭheck the functionality of the peeler. You’ll find they come in a wide variety of shapes, so you’ll want to look for the one that best suits your grip. Look at the vegetable peeler’s handle next. Others utilize smooth glide technology to keep the blades from clogging. This allows the blades to glide across the fruit with ease. Most peelers come with two tough scraping blades that swivel. Stainless steel is not only durable, but it also resists rust and won’t stain or retain any odors. If you don’t currently own a vegetable peeler, but you want to increase your fresh fruit and vegetable intake, you’ll want to start shopping around, so you can find the best peeler on the market.īegin by looking for a vegetable peeler with a sharp stainless steel blade. Today, we can speed through this process with a vegetable peeler.

Gone are the days when people had to spend hours prepping their fruits and vegetables with just the blade of a knife.

Good grips swivel peeler