How to Use an Apple Peeler and Corer

Among the array of fascinating tools for cooks at your kitchen supply or hardware store, you'll find several tools designed to peel and core apples. Since many recipes call for peeled or sliced apples and all require you to remove the core, you can use one of these nifty tools or cut, quarter, peel and core with a paring knife or invest a couple of bucks to save some work.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• apples
• peeler and corer of your choice

Apple Corer

1. Learn how to use a corer. Most apple corers have a handle with a slot (peeler) running along one side of the barrel-shaped corer. Since most apples are not perfectly formed, care should be taken to stand the apple up so that the stem on top of the apple is directly above the blossom end on the bottom. Insert the point on the barrel-shaped corer into the top of the apple so it surrounds the stem. Once the apple is aligned and the blade is placed correctly, twist the blade downward, turning it around the core as you go, The core should pull right out with the tool as you pull it, like a cork when using a cork puller.
2. Using the peeler: Peelers can be either a separate tool, as shown here, or part of the corer, running along the blade. Pull the peeler along the surface of the peel until it catches and simply peel around or up and down until you've removed the outer surface. If you use a paring knife to peel, rub the back of the knife along the area you're going to peel to loosen the skin before starting. This separates the meat and the skin, preserving more of the vitamins that are found near the skin.
3. Slicing: If you need to slice your apple for a pie but don't need to peel it, try using an apple slicer. This steel-bladed tool cores and slices one apple. Be sure that the stem end is directly above the blossom end of the core before starting.

Tips & Warnings

• Peelers are generally razor sharp and are designed to take just the skin off of something as thin-skinned as a potato or thick-skinned as an apple. They generally should be used only on firm fruit or vegetables. Whether you peel around or up and down the side of your apple really doesn't matter but what you do with the peel does. They make great compost additions.
• Corers have sharp edges and a point. Clean and store immediately after use. Putting cores full of seeds down a garbage disposal might rattle a bit but putting the peels down might stall it if the peels get stuck between the blades.