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 but who said an ordinary kitchen knife won’t do? Follow these simple steps to peel your potatoes the traditional way:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potatoes
• Sharp Kitchen Knife
• Paper Towel
• Bowl

1. 

   Wash the potatoes with water to remove dust and other dirt on the skin.

2. 

   Drain off excess water on the skin and dry it off with a paper towel.

3. 

   Grasp the potato with your non-dominant hand and hold the kitchen knife firmly on your dominant hand. Position your thumb on the spine of the knife. Make sure the blade is facing opposite you towards the direction of your index finger. Grab the handle of the knife firmly with the rest of your fingers.

4. 

   Start peeling off the top skin of the potato. Make sure that the skin being peeled is thick enough to remove without peeling off most of the flesh.

5. 

   Now with balance and movement coordination between your left and right hand, slowly turn the potato in a clockwise direction while you continue peeling the skin off towards the bottom.

6. 

   Place the peeled potatoes on a clean bowl ready for cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the potatoes before peeling and not afterwards to retain nutrients
• Be careful in handling the knife when peeling

Resources

• The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook
• Knife Set

[NuttyMomma]

on 1/29/2009 I think I'll stick to my peeler but this is always an option if I'm feeling dangerous!

[rewrite810]

on 1/19/2009 Thanks for the suggestion...especially because my peeler is always lost in my utensil drawer! 5*

[Marilynda]

on 12/30/2008 good idea especially if you can't find your peeler

[arborwest]

on 12/24/2008 For that potato-peeling project, use the sharpest knife that you can find and it will slide right through the potato skins. This is not for children. Children should use potato peelers until they are older.

[sneedc]

on 12/21/2008 Sweet Jesus, in doing this I'll lose both thumbs AND bloody up the taters!!!! LOL thanks for the article, some adept knife handlers can take this one. As for me, I will stick with the shields and peelers!