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| Vincent Van Gogh |
Sometimes, I am dismayed by the way my Life is Awash In The Mundane. The smallest, most pedestrian things earn my laser focus. This happens most often during the winter months when I'm forced to be inside more, and I become a little...well, crazy.
Anyway, this post is not about that, per se. This post is about Potato Peelers.
About a month or so ago, my Potato Peeler (aka Vegetable Peeler, or whatever) simply stopped working adequately. I was incredibly annoyed, for the obvious reason, but also because it was bright red, matched my kitchen, and hung conveniently (and cutely) on the wall within reach. Here is a photo of one just like it, because in a fit of pique, I threw mine in the trash with a lot of profanity.
Thank you, Ebay, for this photo.
That Peeler gave me many years of good service, but it let me down, so into my Journal Of Wrongs it went, right next to my can opener. That meant that I had to use Rick's Peeler until I could find a new one. Rick's Peeler was THE Peeler many years ago until it displeased me mightily, and then it was demoted to backup status when I got Big Red.
Rick's Peeler: Barely Usable
His Peeler isn't sharp enough and doesn't peel away from me as well as it does toward me. I hate that. It also has separation there at the neck where the Peeler part fits into the handle. I hate that, too. And the whole handle is too big for my hand.
So I was really on the hunt for a new Peeler, and I found one at Marshalls where I was also the Victim Of Rude Cellphone Usage. It looked okay, was a brand name, and was only $3.99. The handle looked small for my hand. I went ahead and took a chance.
Farberware+Marshalls=Fail
I could not have been more wrong. This dumb thing didn't last even
one potato. (And that potato was a Yukon Gold, not even hard to peel. Come on!) I berated this Peeler loudly and vociferously the entire time it struggled to get the peel off the potato. Did I use The Eff Word? Yes, I did, and as several parts of speech. It went immediately into the trash. Enter Rick's Peeler again.
On Thursday I went to my grocery store and lo! and behold, hanging on an end cap in the Closeouts Section, were THREE bright red Potato Peelers. They were arrestingly red, a little odd-looking, and even better, priced at $1.99. How could I
not try one? I tossed one in my cart immediately and hoped for the best. (I also scored a Carter's brand set of babywear for Theo for only $7.99, but this is not about that. Still, a major deal for 3 shirts and 2 pants, right?) Here's that Peeler:
The handle is made of bamboo! It's so red and shiny! And cheap!
I put my new Peeler to the test the next day, and it astounded and delighted me! It flew through carrots and potatoes. It made short work of apples for an apple crisp. It fit in my hand perfectly and sturdily.
IT'S EVEN DISHWASHER SAFE. I'M IN LOVE.
It has only one drawback--its hole is not big enough to fit over the hook where its predecessor hung. But that's okay! I've placed a pair of red and white kitchen scissors there, and it's proven to be a very handy place for them. (And you all know about me and
Scissors.)
This week I'm going back to the grocery store to see if any of the Peelers are still there. If so, I'm buying whatever remain. I simply cannot go through this again.
Talk to me about your Potato Peelers in Comments. Or any other Kitchen Utensil Persnickety-nesses.
My solution to potato peelers is to simply not peel anything. Yes, I know this is not always ideal. 🤷♀️ But I so seldom cook and when I do I prefer to leave the peel on potatoes and apples. And carrots can just sit in the bottom of the crisper drawer where they belong. I will peel cucumbers if they're not the non-peel kind. However, if I had a cute red peeler I would probably want to use it!
ReplyDeleteBug--I can't even fathom not using a Peeler. What about butternut squash for soup or pasta? What about...well, someone who doesn't like carrots...I just can't even.
DeleteBut you've obviously gotten along just fine all these years with your NoPeel Philosophy. And if you don't have to cook very often, you're living the dream.
I should have had Dr. M weigh in on the issue - he is definitely the butternut squash handler. And he likes carrots! I will say that years ago we got a scrubbing cloth from that cult Norwex that works really well for things like potatoes and carrots.
DeleteWhen I was growing up, my mom used a particular paring knife instead of a peeler; so I never really learned how to use a peeler properly. So to me, all of them are wrong. The Husband got fed up with those types of peelers and bought a stainless steel gadget that looks dangerous (see the Amazon link below) and swears it's the best he's ever had and makes quick work of peeling vegetables. I haven't used it because it kind of scares me. (There has GOT to be a way to make these links shorter...)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Vegetable-Peeler%EF%BC%8CStainless-Julienne-Peeler-Perfect/dp/B07S87RKBX/ref=asc_df_B07S87RKBX/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=343191208279&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2375216682894072242&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9009617&hvtargid=pla-780768864921&psc=1&mcid=e13af513823f3e73800524fa54ce378d&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=67045469657&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=343191208279&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2375216682894072242&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9009617&hvtargid=pla-780768864921&gclid=CjwKCAiAk9itBhASEiwA1my_6zquH-lF6AewM5fH8TjubXvEo7iQ1eBCBfz2JB_l-3DlNjHm3JdxTBoCaPkQAvD_BwE
Gigi--There is a way to make the links shorter, but this is not the place for a tutorial.
DeleteThat Peeler looks quite intimidating and complex. All I want is to peel things; I don't need to also julienne stuff. That thing is definitely a Guy Peeler. It is way more than it needs to be.
Have you ever tried using a paring knife to peel anything? So much waste. Why did our grandmothers/mothers insist upon doing it that way?
Nance, I totally feel you on having a good peeler and not wanting to get rid of it. I wrote about my favorite peeler here: https://travelspot06.blogspot.com/2023/11/what-i-love.html. It kind of looks like that 3.99 one but it was not that cheap. My Mom swears by the Y-shaped ones and I have to admit, those have a better leverage for certain things. I hope that your new peeler(s?) work out! They blade seems so tiny, or maybe that is just the angle of the photos?
ReplyDeleteKyria--It *is* the angle of the photo and the fact that I had to rework it to put the two side by side by cheating the pixels. I can assure you that it's got a standard-sized blade.
DeleteYour Peeler was expensive! Still, it had all positive and glowing reviews and is made by a knife company. I'm keeping it in my mind for future reference.
I can't imagine using the Y-shaped Peelers. I'm an Away From You Peeler User, and I don't see how that would work comfortably. It's so funny how we become habituated to the goofiest things, isn't it?
I am team "peel away" as well, which I didn't really think about with the Y-shaped ones... My friend has one that I swear you need to be left handed, peel toward, and stand on your head for it to be effective. There is nothing worse than trying to peel a potato at her house.
DeleteWe have two old metal potato peelers that are as old as the hills. They remain sharp and have a good point to dig out eyes on the potatoes. HOWEVER a few years ago we bought an Oxo potato peeler with a cushion-y handle for me to use. It's easier for me to grasp it securely, but it doesn't peel all that well. Thus I live in potato peeler limbo between one that is effective and one that is comfortable to use. Life is complicated at Chez Bean.
ReplyDeleteAlly--I've gone through so many of the metal Peelers--those lightweight things. They can be lethal for those who Peel Toward Themselves. Do you know I once peeled my wrist in a Peeler Accident? Ridiculous.
DeleteRick's Peeler is an OxO, and its performance is subpar. And putting it in the dishwasher caused that separation between the blade part and the handle part, so be forewarned.
Maybe you need Kyria's super deluxe Potato Peeler, mentioned in the post link she provided above. Here's where you can find it.
Thank goodness you found one that works! Mine is an old one...it only peels (I think) away from me which I prefer. But, like Gigi, my Mom often peeled using a paring knife and I find that sometimes I prefer that. I did buy a fancier peeler a bit ago that has several blades, but I do not like it and it is now in the donation bag (along with some scented oils that were a gift, some chatkchas from my office and from home...paring down [see what I did there??])
ReplyDeleteVera--I do see what you did there! Well played.
DeleteI almost never peel with a paring knife unless it's something truly annoying, like a clunky butternut squash. I find those hard to handle and often resort to using a knife.
I'm at the point where I'm eschewing all fancy kitchen utensils and going back to basics. Maybe that's because my cooking has, too.
I love how we're all streamlining and decluttering. If only we could have glimpsed into the future back when we amassed all that stuff.
My peeler is a "goodcook" brand and I like it. It comes with a little plastic cover that snaps on to protect the blade when it is in the drawer. I never put mine in the dishwasher as It doesn't get that dirty so I rinse it by hand. It's nice that you and some of the commenters have husbands that peel! I never had that (and now I am divorced, altho, peeling was not the issue). :)
ReplyDeleteEllen--Your point about the dishwasher is well taken. That's probably what spells death to a lot of knives and sharp utensils. More and more, quality kitchen items are marked Hand Wash Only. Most of my good pans are, much to Rick's chagrin.
DeleteAnd I do know how great it is to have a helpmate in the kitchen. Rick likes to spend that time with me, and he's happy to prep and wash up things as we go. I know lots of Still Married Women whose husbands stay far away from the kitchen, and they're fine with that arrangement. As you say, it's rarely the issue anyway.
Wow! You snagged a great one (and congrats on the bargains for Theo, too--you really do have the best grocery store in the world). That it's red is almost amazing! I know it's these little items that make our days go smoothly that can feel like major accomplishments!
ReplyDeleteI am very happy with my Spring Chef swivel vegetable peeler, which I bought in 2017 based on Amazon reviews for $7.99. (I now see that it has gone up to $9.99 and that I could have gotten it in red for the same price.) The ones I had before that were OXO Good Grips Peelers, which I bought in 2014 and still pretty much hate. I had two of them. One eventually broke. I still have the remaining one because sometimes I have multiple people in my kitchen peeling veggies at the same time. It will suffice for those once-a-year or twice-a-year events. Now I'm wondering if the OXO peeler that broke was due to it being put in the dishwasher. We do use the dishwasher when my girlfriends come. Hmm.
The one Kyria loves reminds me of an Exacto knife, which makes me think I could hurt myself with it.
Now I will confess that I don't always use a peeler for peeling potatoes. I often use a paring knife. I am sure there is more waste but I like the process better. For things like carrots, I would never use a paring knife though.
Shirley--Great to see you here!
DeleteHonestly, my grocery store is full of the most haphazard stuff lately. They had a strange Target buyout of baby outerwear--just about a dozen things--and I got Theo a reversible vest and a reversible jacket, both for a total of 10 bucks. I could have gotten a new winter coat for 15--another buyout from a different department store. Really nice stuff. But I am streamlining, so I have to be strong.
I'm very intrigued by Kyria's peeler, too. If this red one fails me quickly, I'm investing in that one. And being VERY CAREFUL when I use it. It really does look almost surgical.
Lots of people are old school about peeling; they fall back on that paring knife. I'm just a fan of the quick, easy peeler method. Hey, it's your kitchen and you're the boss. You peel however you want! XO
Thank you for writing this! We have three peelers because I struggle with finding one where I don't peel my fingers. I am still on the search, but I feel less alone in my irritation over peelers!
ReplyDeleteEngie--You're welcome. I've peeled my thumb and my wrist before! I detest peeling. As a matter of fact, we have a deal at our house: if Rick wants mashed/whipped potatoes, he has to peel them. Otherwise, I just boil them with the skins on and make smashed potatoes.
DeleteGood luck in your search. Lots of tips here in Comments!
Why are topics like this so interesting to read about? I couldn't defend it and yet I enjoy reading it!
ReplyDeleteccr--I think these Ordinary Things strike a chord with everyone; we've all had experience with them. Not everyone leads a thrilling life every day! (I'm not even sure I'd want to once a month.)
DeleteI love this post. I no longer feel alone in my potato peel struggle. The struggle is real. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe eat a ton of potatoes and for years I mostly peeled them, but in the interest of time we've switched gears and we now rarely peel them. I make mountains of mashed potatoes with the skins on. We are also red potato people for what it's worth.
When I bought Cutco knives, the set came with a potato peeler. I'm sure it cost me a small fortune. It is a decent peeler- comfortable handle, etc. For years I had a tiny scrawny metal one and it left indents on my hand. Coach, thinking he was being very thoughtful, bought me a potato peeler for Christmas one year. He was not versed by other men that it is never OK to buy gear used in domestic tasks for the wife for Christmas. Duh. *It was better than the dumb metal one that was scarring my hands, but for Christmas?
Ernie--The struggle IS real. And ongoing!
DeleteAs I said to NGS above, the only time I make whipped/mashed potatoes without skins is if Rick wants to do the peeling. And there's only two of us! The exception is if we're having guests for dinner, and I still request he do the peeling. It's a job I hate. I love red potatoes (and any form of Yukon Golds), especially roasted or baked. I could live on them. Just potatoes. Mmmm.
Bless Coach--he really *was* being thoughtful. He was trying to make your life better, but it wasn't the right occasion to do so. A case of the Heart being in the right place, but not the Head. LOL
I agree with Coach's heart in the right place, but at the time - I was like HUH?
ReplyDeleteWe are twins here - potatoes are my fav food. I love them. Made a big batch tonight. Yum.
Ernie--I get it. The last thing you expect to open on Christmas is a potato peeler. Not exactly a festive or romantic gift. If you asked for it, then that's something altogether different.
DeleteI have 5 or 6 peelers. I had 1 that I wasn't too happy with, and I liked one at my MILs house, and then for Christmas she bought me several, kind of as a joke. Some are the Y shaped ones, some are the standard ones. I haven't decided which one I like the most, but I feel like they have different strengths. 1 for butternut squash, 1 for potatoes, etc. Not that I have 5 or 6 things that I peel, I just grab whichever one is closest.
ReplyDeleteJ--I like the way your MIL thinks: "Here! You can find one you like, and it's funny, too!" Now you can be persnickety and designate certain peelers for certain foods. It's terribly cheffy and precise. "No! Don't EVER use that one for cucumbers! That one is only for russet potatoes!" LOL
Delete(Actually, you probably shouldn't do this. No one would ever want to help you prep.)
You have me giggling. It really is the LITTLE things in life that can get us riled up or bring the most joy.
ReplyDeleteI have a nice peeler, it's exactly like your red one, but it is black. I don't peel to often, but usually my first choice is a plastic green one that is so different from the ones you shared; it's flat and square, and my middle digit fits into a little slot for peeling. I've had it for many years, but I think I'm the only one in this house who uses it.
I was afraid you were going to tell me that one of the new ones slipped and you were injured.
similar to this https://www.amazon.com/Chefn-102-040-011-PalmPeeler-Arugula/dp/B001R5JADA
BB Suz--I have never, ever seen a Palm Peeler before. What a concept! I wonder if I'd like it, though, since it affords such a limited view of what I'm peeling. (Am I a control freak, or what!?)
DeleteSo many peelers on the market!
I've peeled my skin plenty of times in the past--my wrist, my thumb--because I really don't like the job. I try and foist it off on Rick as often as possible. I go as fast as I can, and I get reckless. And like knives, if the peeler isn't sharp, accidents are more likely to happen.
I do enjoy a good utensil. Although now I look for any kind that is user friendly toward those of us w/arthritis. My hands are wicked some days, aggravated also by typing so much for work. I follow some of those "Amazon Home Finds" sites on Instagram. Any time a kitchen aid comes up that is great for someone like me, I think oh my god I have to have that. And then I read the comments where people are like, don't be lazy, who needs that, etc. And think those people should count their blessings they don't have arthritis!
ReplyDeleteElle--I'm sorry about your arthritis. Mine is not nearly as bad, and it flares up; I don't suffer it daily. But on Those Days, ugh.
DeleteI used to read comment sections of some things just to be entertained by other people's devastating stupidity. Now, I avoid them. That stupidity has had devastating consequences that impact me, and I can't laugh at it anymore.
Back to peelers--the one Busy Bee Suz mentioned might be a great option for you! Here's a link.
As soon as I can, I am going to relish all the comments. But, for now, my peeler is like Rick's because I need the big handle to be able to grip the damn thing. And peeling anything hurts, even with that. I wish I had a slave to go with the utensil.
ReplyDeleteYou write about the damndest things. Laughing. A lot. And planning a meal with nothing to peel.
Mary--Dearest friend. I am a Writer! I can give you at least 500 words about Any Damn Thing at Any Time. (I thought I proved that in November. 😉)
DeleteYou'll find another Arthritis-Friendly Peeler in the comments. Please check into it. Or, better yet, make your husband do any peeling that needs doing. That will be my plan once my arthritis gets that bad, if it ever does (and I truly hope it will not).
XXOO
My first and most favorite peeler was shaped like the one that failed you... I think I should stay out of this discussion. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so intrigued by the Van Gogh person at the top. It reminds me of work I see on medieval POC https://medievalpoc.tumblr.com/
maya--Kitchen gadgets are like wine--everyone's palates and favourites are so different. I'm not judging.
DeleteActually, when it comes to wine, I do tend to get a little judgy if the person loves white zinfandel or only drinks moscato. What can I say? But I do keep it to myself.
Thanks for the link to Medieval POC. I can see why you thought of that. I like this particular Van Gogh because of the hands of the person. They blend right in with the potato peel, and that often happens to me when I peel stuff, unfortunately. Sigh.
Sorry about your hands, Nance. I think my hands are headed there as well with persistent index finger joint pain. Ugh. Your potato peeler's slight scoliosis + hump are also cautionary tales.
Delete