Some our favorite recipes—scalloped potatoes, clam chowder and potato salad—are loaded with spuds. We might even make them more frequently if peeling potatoes weren’t so tedious. Show Gone are the days when you have to peel your slippery potatoes with a paring knife. Enter the potato peeler, perhaps the niftiest gadget in your kitchen. Here’s how to use a peeler, plus some tricks from TikTok that’ll help you make the most of the tool. Scrub up the potatoes you’ll need for your recipe, grab a peeler and let’s get started. DirectionsStep 1: Hold the potato in your non-dominant handIf you’re right-handed, start with the potato in your left hand. Be sure to position your fingers so they’re grasping the edges of the potato without sticking up to avoid getting nicked by the blade as you peel. Hold the potato over a cutting board and grab the peeler with your right hand. If you’re left-handed, do the opposite. Step 2: Peel the potato away from youMaking sure that your fingers are out of the way, run the peeler’s blade along the surface of the potato. We like to hold the potato at a slight angle downward and run the blade down toward the cutting board (away from us) for maximum safety. Step 3: Remove the eyesAfter you peel the potato, you may notice small divots (also called “eyes”) that still have peels on them. TikTok user @The_EugeFood pointed out that peelers often come equipped with a convenient scoop for banishing the eyes on potatoes. All you have to do is dig in, pry out the eyes and voila! Your favorite potato soup recipe now comes totally eye-free.
The Best Potato PeelersYou need just one tool for this job. Here are the potato peelers we recommend.
Tips for Using a Potato PeelerCan you peel a potato in both directions?While we generally suggest peeling a potato away from your body for safety, it is possible to peel a potato in both directions if you have a peeler with a double-sided blade. We can thank @Liv.Dalton on TikTok for showing us that the dual blade on your peeler can actually handle both directions for easy peeling. This trick makes quick work of taking down a pile of potato, but you’ll want to be careful to avoid nicking your fingers.
How do you clean a vegetable peeler?It’s easy for chunks of potatoes or other vegetables to get lodged in the sharp blades of the peeler, and they’re almost impossible to clean if allowed to dry! Instead, fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water. When you’re finished peeling vegetables, immediately swish the peeler in the water to remove any large bits. Then, use a kitchen sponge and carefully scrub around the blade to remove any remaining food pieces. What’s the fastest way to peel a potato?If you have a ton of potatoes to peel, speed will be your friend! Use this potato-peeling hack using a fork to get the job done as quickly (and safely) as possible. Yes! A peeler can be useful for all kinds of foods with skin, including carrots, cucumbers, eggplant and butternut squash. The limitations don’t end at produce, either. Peel thin ribbons of zucchini for a salad, slice off strips of cheese instead of grating it, remove orange peels for use in cocktails or use the peeler to shave chocolate onto your favorite dessert. Now that you know how to use a potato peeler, put your skills to use with these potato recipes for those who love spuds.
I found myself in need of an impromptu potato dish, but I had no potatoes. Frozen hash browns and the plethora of cheeses I had in the freezer offered me the solution to my side-dish dilemma. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida I was getting tired of mashed and baked potatoes, so I decided to create something new. This potluck-ready recipe is an easy and delicious twist on the usual potato dish. —Summer Feaker, Ankeny, Iowa These slow-cooker baked potatoes are so easy—just add your favorite toppings. Save any extra potatoes to make baked potato soup the next day. —Teresa Emrick, Tipp City, Ohio My family loves anything with a Southwestern flavor, so I turned classic chiles rellenos into a breakfast casserole. They became fans in an instant. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Every family seems to have a favorite stuffing recipe. My family and I have been making this one for many years. It’s so delicious that no gravy is required! —Sandra Dombek, Camillus, New York I used to make these potatoes as a side dish and one day tried them out as an appetizer for a party. What a hit! They are great finger food and taste good at room temperature, and the herbs can be varied however you like. The convenience of these easy, inexpensive appetizers is awesome. —Amy Eyler, Ellisville, Missouri My son Levi was only 2 years old when he helped me create this delicious recipe, and it was the first time he told me I love you! I’ll always remember making these with him. —Emily Butler, South Williamsport, Pennsylvania I was trying to create an appetizer that could be served at my teenaged daughters birthday party that the kids would love but that would appear elegant enough for the adults to be interested as well. These are made with simple ingredients yet yield a sophisticated result. Feel free to get creative with the flavors. Try shredded white cheddar in place of mozzarella or thyme instead of the rosemary. Take it up another notch by topping the rounds with smoked fish. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut My mom, Cleo Lightfoot, loved cooking all kinds of recipes, but her favorite meal was one she made when hosting backyard barbecues in the summer. She would make her famous ribs, baked beans and this delicious potato salad. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Roasted potatoes are amazing. Add some rosemary and caramelized onions and they are over-the-top delicious! —Mary Jones, Athens, Ohio Butter, lemon juice, parsley and chives enhance this simple side dish. I usually prepare these potatoes when I'm having company. Since they cook in the pressure cooker, there's plenty of room on the stove for other dishes. —Tara Branham, Austin, Texas You'll be surprised that a skillet potato recipe this simple has so much flavor. I love how the whole garlic cloves turn sweet after being caramelized. Yum! —Anita Osborne, Thomasburg, Ontario My husband swears my cheddar mashed potatoes are the world's best. We always have some in the freezer. Sometimes I dollop individual servings in muffin cups and reheat them that way instead. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida Baked sweet potatoes aren't just for dinner anymore. Top them with breakfast favorites to power up your morning. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Originally Published: September 03, 2020 |