How to Save Time Peeling Fruit and Vegetables

Most people peel fruit and vegetables with an ordinary kitchen knife. Because they lack tools specially made for cutting produce, they spend more time than needed to prepare to cook. Learn how to use the right tools for the task and make better use of your time. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Instructions

Peel Butternut Squash
- 1
  
  Trim ends using a chef's knife.
- 2
  
  Hold the vegetable steady. Cut the squash in half across the neck. Slice the pieces into halves lengthwise.
- 3
  
  Scoop all seeds out.
- 4
  
  Lay the squash with the cut side face down.
- 5
  
  Use long, straight strokes to pull a Y-shaped peeler across the surface. Press firmly.
Peel Sweet Potatoes
- 6
  
  Rinse the vegetable and dry it.
- 7
  
  Hold an end. Lay the other end on the cutting board.
- 8
  
  Scrape away from your body and downward, using a Y-shaped peeler or a swivel.
- 9
  
  Dig out leftover eyes with the pointed part of the peeler.
Peel an Onion
- 10
  
  Use a chef's knife to clip the ends.
- 11
  
  Make a slight cut through the outer skin and the first layer. Start at the top and slice to the bottom. Repeat the shallow cut about 2 inches from the first cut.
- 12
  
  Remove skin and the surface layer between the cuts. Tear the other parts off in one piece.
Peel an Apple
- 13
  
  Cut off rings of peel around the apple's stem. Use a swivel or Y-shaped peeler.
- 14
  
  Scrape downward and at an angle, starting at the peel's edge. Repeat the scraping process.
- 15
  
  Use a soft touch and a swivel peeler. Follow directions for peeling a rutabaga to take off a peel in one curlicue.
Peel Ginger
- 16
  
  Cut the knobs off with a paring knife.
- 17
  
  Grasp the ginger tightly. Push down hard while pulling a Y-shaped peeler across the surface.
- 18
  
  Use a paring knife to remove patches of peel stuck in tight corners.
Peel a Rutabaga
- 19
  
  Use a chef's knife to clip the rutabaga's ends.
- 20
  
  Select a Y-shaped peeler. Begin at the top of the vegetable and peel around. Work downward. Turn the rutabaga as you cut.
- 21
  
  Grasp the rutabaga firmly. Expect it to be covered with wax and slippery.
Peel a Carrot
- 22
  
  Hold an end.
- 23
  
  Rest the other end on the cutting board.
- 24
  
  Scrape away from you and downward with a swivel peeler.

Tips & Warnings

The steps also work for eggplant. Skip the crosswise cut.
Use the same process for regular potatoes.
Apply the steps to peel shallots.
Do the same steps to peel beets.
Wipe the blade with a paper towel or tap the blade on a cutting board if the peel sticks to the blade.
Use this process to peel parsnips.

Suggest item

Comments

Easy Ways to Peel a Rutabaga
Rutabagas can be easily peeled using a sharp kitchen knife or vegetable peeler. Begin by washing the rutabaga to remove surface dirt....
How to Peel a Rutabaga
The rutabaga is a root vegetable that can be prepared many different ways. One of the most common preparations is boiled with...
How to Cook Rutabagas
This turnip cousin, often used in stews, also works as a tasty side dish.
How to Peel a Rutabega
Rutabagas are large, round vegetables which resemble a turnip and have sweet, yellow flesh. Rutabagas can be roasted, mashed or used in...
How to Cook Rutabaga
The Rutabaga, sometimes referred to as yellow turnip, is a root vegetable. Wikipedia says it originated as a cross between the turnip...
How to Peel a Star Fruit
Star fruit--the name says it all. When sliced from either end, the cut fruit resembles a five-point star. Also known as carambola,...
How to Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs for Peeling
As easy as it sounds to boil eggs, the truth is that hard boiled eggs are very delicate to make and can...
How to Eat a Rutabaga
Rutabagas are not indigenous to most parts of the world. The vegetable is believed to be a cross between a wild cabbage...
How to Cook a Rutabaga
Resembling and related to turnips, rutabagas have a bright orange color when cooked. These hearty root vegetables have a texture similar to...
How to Peel an Orange Fruit Using a Knife
When peeling an orange with your hands, it can get a little messy. Orange peels sometimes get stuck in your fingernails, and...
How to Preserve Rutabaga With a Vacuum Seal
Rutabaga is a root vegetable that is gaining popularity in meals, not only for its flavor but also for the many health...
How to Peel Potatoes With an Ordinary Kitchen Knife
Peeling potatoes is as easy as peeling other fruits and vegetables. Most people prefer using a potato peeler to do the job...
Botanical Definition of Fruit and Vegetable
Fruits and vegetables make up a large portion of our diets. We have botanically defined the difference between the two food types,...
Rutabaga Preparation
Also known as the "Swede turnip," rutabagas are a hearty root vegetable with a somewhat woody flavor. They are similar and size...
The Best Way to Peel a Potato
Peeling potatoes is often regarded as a tedious task. However, if you understand the proper peeling techniques and use the proper tools,...
How to Preserve Rutabagas
Rutabagas are root vegetables rich in Vitamin C and Potassium that taste great when served alone or with another vegetable, such as...
How Do You Cut Volume In to Bangs?
One-length bangs have no choice but to lay flat. Add a few layers and bangs lighten up a bit, creating volume and...
How to Plant Rutabaga
Rutabaga is a type of common garden vegetable that resembles a turnip. However, the rutabaga is larger and sweeter than a turnip....