Things You'll Need
Potatoes
Water
Colander
Pan
Large bowl
Ice
Peeling potatoes with a vegetable peeler is not the easiest way to get the skins off, especially for cooks who have difficulty using a peeler. Instead, parboiling and cooling potatoes--using only boiling water, ice water and a knife--removes the stubborn peel in minutes. For someone who can't use a vegetable peeler, such as an arthritis sufferer, this method of separating the skins from potatoes works so quickly you may never use a vegetable peeler again.
Step 1
Rinse the potatoes in a sink under running water to remove any dirt, then place in a colander to drain.
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Step 2
Fill a pan half full of water and bring to a boil on the stove for 15 minutes.
Step 3
Place a whole potato on a cutting board, then score just through the skin around the largest part of the potato with a sharp paring knife. Score the rest of the potatoes and set aside.
Step 4
Place the scored potatoes into the boiling water using a slotted spoon and boil for 2 minutes.
Step 5
Fill a large bowl with cold water and add ice to the water. Remove the potatoes to the bowlful of ice water to chill using a slotted spoon.
Step 6
Leave the potatoes in the ice water for at least 10 seconds. Take a chilled potato out of the ice water and slide the loose potato skin off the potato using your fingers.
Step 7
Discard the skin and place the peeled potato into a bowl until ready to use; continue removing the skins of the potatoes until they are all peeled.
Tip
In place of a slotted spoon you can use a pair of kitchen tongs to remove the potatoes from the boiling water.
Warning
Do not handle the boiled potatoes with your bare hands.
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