How to Pare the Peel of a Potato

Potato and peeler.

Peeled potatoes are used for various cooking projects, including potatoes au' gratin and mashed potatoes served without skin. Baked potatoes, on the other hand, include the entire trappings of a potato, skin and interior potato flesh included. For recipes and foods that require a peeled potato, it is time to get out the potato peeler. Peeling potatoes is laborious work with its share of blade-related risks, but it is the primary way to get skin-free potatoes.

Things You'll Need

• Colander
• Potato peeler
• Large mixing bowl

Instructions

Sort Potatoes

1. 

   Sort the potatoes.

   Pick through potatoes that are to be peeled, discarding any that are in poor condition. Feel potatoes for soft spots and discard those as well.

2. 

   Rinse the potatoes well.

   Place the quantity of potatoes required for preparation in a colander and rinse well under cool, running water. Put a large mixing bowl in the sink, or on a counter, to catch potato peels.

3. 

   Choose a potato peeler carefully.

   Select a potato peeler that fits well in your hand. Make certain that the blade and other parts of the potato peeler are not in peril of coming apart to avoid accidents and ensure optimum peeling ability. Unfortunately, potato peelers that are found in a bargain bin are often not well-made.

4. 

   Peeling potatoes

   Hold a potato in one hand and the potato peeler in the other hand. Working over the large mixing bowl, press the potato peeler blade-side down against the top of the potato and use firm, short, downward strokes to engage the potato peeler blades, thus removing the potato skin. The skin will emerge from the peeler's slot between the blades for easy removal.

5. Rotate the potato around and continue peeling until all skin has been removed. Place peeled potatoes back into the colander for a final rinsing before use.

Tips & Warnings

• Many people peel a potato with an upward motion, others prefer using a downward motion. Often, a combination of the two movements are used to keep fingers and wrists from becoming fatigued. Either motion will do.

• If using a potato peeler causes anxiety, perhaps because you have poor vision, or shaky hands, try using a "cutting glove." Used primarily by cooks in the food industry, a cutting glove is made of blade-proof fabric or stainless steel mesh and can prevent moderately sharpened kitchen utensils from cutting hands.

References

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices
• Lab Safety: Cut Resistant Glove Selection and Use