Kitchen Tool Care
Good kitchen tool care starts with technique, and knowing how to use a vegetable peeler properly matters more than buying a better one. Many people blame their vegetable peeler for slipping, gouging or skinning a knuckle, when the real issue is using the wrong type for the vegetable. This kitchen tool care guide explains how to use a vegetable peeler properly, which peeler suits which vegetable, and how to keep it sharp and safe.
Key Takeaways
- Match the peeler type to the vegetable, not the other way round.
- Y-peelers suit long, wide and hard vegetables; straight peelers suit round fruit.
- Peel away from your hand and stop before the end.
- A dull vegetable peeler slips, which makes it more dangerous, not less.
- Wash and dry peelers straight after use.
Y-Peeler vs Straight Peeler
The Y-peeler
A Y-peeler has its blade across the top of the handle, like the letter Y. You pull it towards you in long strokes. It gives more leverage and wider strips, which makes it ideal for carrots, squash and courgette ribbons.
The straight or swivel peeler
A straight peeler has the blade in line with the handle. You hold the fruit in one hand and rotate it as you peel, following the curve. It's best for apples, pears and small potatoes.
Which Peeler for Which Vegetable
| Vegetable | Best tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots, parsnips, cucumbers | Y-peeler | Long, even strokes along the length |
| Potatoes | Either | Straight for small round ones, Y for large ones |
| Apples and pears | Straight (swivel) peeler | Follows the curve as you rotate the fruit |
| Butternut squash, sweet potato | Y-peeler | More leverage on thick, hard skin |
| Courgette ribbons, chocolate curls | Y-peeler | The wide blade makes even strips |
| Tomatoes, peaches, kiwi | Serrated peeler | Grips soft, slippery skin without crushing |
| Celeriac, pineapple | A knife | Skin is too thick or knobbly for any peeler |
If a vegetable peeler keeps catching or skipping, the type is usually wrong for that vegetable rather than the peeler being poor.
How to Use a Vegetable Peeler Properly
Using a Y-peeler
- Rest the vegetable on a chopping board, holding the top end.
- Place the blade at the far end and pull it towards you along the length.
- Use long, light strokes; let the blade do the work.
- Rotate the vegetable and repeat, then turn it round to finish the end you were holding.
Using a straight peeler
- Hold the fruit firmly in your non-dominant hand.
- Start at the top and peel away from your body in short strokes.
- Rotate the fruit after each stroke, keeping your thumb behind the blade's path.
Using a julienne peeler
Lay a firm vegetable flat on a board and draw the julienne blade along its length to cut thin matchsticks. Stop well before the end, and save the last piece for stock or snacks.
Safety Habits That Save Your Knuckles
- Peel away from your hand: or along a vegetable resting on a board.
- Don't chase the last bit: many knuckle cuts happen on the final strokes.
- Keep hands dry: wet vegetables and wet hands slip.
- Use a sharp blade: a dull vegetable peeler needs more pressure, so it slips more.
- Use a knife for very hard skins: forcing a peeler is how accidents happen.
Kitchen Tool Care for Peelers
Cleaning
Rinse your vegetable peeler straight after use, before starch and juice dry on the blade. Wash in warm, soapy water with a brush rather than your fingers, and dry it fully to prevent rust on carbon-steel blades. Hand washing keeps the edge sharper than the dishwasher.
Storage
Keep peelers in a drawer organiser or utensil pot, blade down or covered, so they don't knock against other tools and dull the edge.
Sharpening and replacing
Most inexpensive peelers aren't designed to be sharpened. Some can be touched up with a fine sharpening rod drawn gently along the edge, but it's fiddly and risky. When a peeler starts dragging or slipping, replacing it is usually the safer choice.
Peeling Tools From Global Swanky
Browse more in our Kitchen & Dining collection.
1. 8-in-1 Mandoline Slicer with Peeler and Grater
The 8-in-1 Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with Peeler and Grater is $17.84, combining a peeler with slicing and grating blades. Always use the hand guard with the slicing blades.
2. Fruit Peeler with Compact Storage
The Fruit Peeler with Compact Storage is $20.72, a compact plastic peeler for fruit and vegetables such as apples and potatoes.
3. Automatic Electric Fruit and Vegetable Peeler
The Automatic Electric Fruit Vegetable Peeler is $26.83, which peels round produce like apples and potatoes for you, useful for larger batches or for anyone who finds a hand peeler hard to grip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of vegetable peeler are there?
The main types are the Y-peeler, with a blade across the handle; the straight or swivel peeler, with the blade in line with the handle; the serrated peeler for soft skins; and the julienne peeler, which cuts thin matchsticks.
How do you use a julienne peeler?
Hold a firm vegetable such as a carrot or courgette flat on a board, then draw the julienne peeler along its length in steady strokes to cut matchsticks. Stop before your fingers get close to the blade, and use the last piece for something else.
Y peeler vs straight peeler: which is better?
Neither is better overall. A Y-peeler suits long, wide and hard vegetables, while a straight peeler suits small, round fruit you rotate in your hand. Many cooks keep one of each.
What is the best peeler for hard vegetables?
A sharp Y-peeler gives the most leverage on hard skins like butternut squash and sweet potato. For very thick or knobbly skins, such as celeriac, a knife is safer and quicker.
How do you sharpen a peeler?
Most inexpensive peelers aren't designed to be sharpened and are best replaced when they drag or slip. Some can be touched up with a fine sharpening rod drawn gently along the blade edge, but take great care with the small blade.