How to Peel a Potato with a Knife
Potatoes, like many other vegetables, have skins that must be removed before they can be used in a many recipes. A potato peeler is often the most convenient tool for peeling a potato, but sometimes you may not be able to lay your hands on a peeler or the handle has just fallen off, and you have a dinner party this evening. Not to worry. There is an easy technique you can use to peel potatoes with an ordinary kitchen knife (as long as it's sharp). Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Wash each potato thoroughly to remove soil and any other contaminants that may be on the skin.
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2
Pat the potato with the kitchen towel to remove the excess water and make it less slippery to handle.
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Hold the potato in your less-favored hand (e.g., if you are right-handed, hold it in your left hand). Hold the knife, with the sharp edge of the blade facing toward you, in your favored hand. Grip the handle firmly and place your index finger on the back, or dull edge, of the blade.
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Cut into the skin at the top of the potato. Keep a regular pressure on the knifeblade to control the depth of the peeling and turn the potato around with your other hand. As you turn the potato, keep cutting the peel off toward the bottom of the potato. You may be able to do it in one long peel, but peeling will usually result in several smaller pieces.
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Place the peeled potato into a bowl until you're ready to cook all of them . If you have several potatoes to peel, it is a good idea to fill the bowl with water to prevent the potatoes from turning brown.
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Tips & Warnings
Alternatively, unless the recipe specifically calls for it, you can leave the skins on. They contain a large percentage of the potato's nutrients. And they are very tasty.
Always take care when using open bladed-knives in the kitchen.
Do not allow children to use this technique.
References
- Photo Credit potato image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
