Vegetable peelers can save you a lot of time in the kitchen. Not only can you use them to peel the skin from your vegetables, but you can also use them to prepare your food creatively and save time while making an effort to eat healthy, fresh food.
We’ve reviewed the best vegetable peelers of 2024 to help you find the right one for all your meal-prep needs. We especially like the OXO swivel peeler with its swiveling twin blades and ergonomic handle. Read through our reviews and buying guide to discover the perfect match for your kitchen.
Our Top Picks For Vegetable Peelers
Vegetable Peelers: A Buyer's Guide
Before you peruse our list of vegetable peeler recommendations, we suggest checking out our useful buying guide. We’ll be covering everything you need to consider before purchasing a vegetable peeler and more, ensuring you get the most out of your selection.
What is a Vegetable Peeler?
A vegetable peeler (sometimes called a vegetable scraper) is a small kitchen tool made from a metal blade and plastic handle. While a vegetable knife is used to cut and chop, vegetable peelers are mostly used to remove various fruits and vegetables’ skin (or peel), including potatoes, carrots, apples, and pears.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Vegetable Peeler
There are lots of things to consider before purchasing a vegetable peeler. These include:
Y-peeler or swivel peeler
There are two main types of vegetable peelers: the Y and the swivel. Most amateur cooks will probably use the swivel-styler peeler. These products are designed with a vertical blade that peels food when you move the peeler back and forth.
On the other hand, the Y-peeler comes with a horizontal blade. You start at the bottom of your product and peel the skin towards you with a pulling motion. This can be difficult to master at first, but it gets easier the more you try.
Generally, swivel peelers are much more simple to use. However, if you are professional, you may prefer the Y-peeler as they have a sharper edge and save time once you know the technique.
Finally, you may wish to buy one of each type of peeler. For example, the Y-peeler is perfect for removing potato skin. It is also more comfortable for left-handed cooks.
Durability
If you invest in a vegetable peeler, you want to make sure it is not going to break after several uses—you don’t want it to fail mid-prep. Luckily, durable peelers are very affordable (even from top brands). However, you should still not expect them to last a lifetime. We would recommend changing your peeler every couple of years.
Design
Obviously, you want to buy a peeler that does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It seems that vegetable peelers and can openers are two kitchen utensils that often fail at their one job. Look for a peeler that doesn’t clog the blade before you’ve finished peeling your produce.
The best way to find out if your potato peeler has a reliable design is to consult online customer reviews. After all, who knows a product better than somebody who has bought it themselves? You should also consider leaving your own reviews to help other cooks and food enthusiasts.
Blades
Typically there are numerous types of blades used in vegetable peelers. Some of the most popular are:
- Stainless steel
- Carbon steel
- Ceramic
However, we strongly recommend choosing stainless steel blades. If you choose a peeler with ceramic blades, you’ll find that they are not very durable, despite being super sharp. Similarly, carbon steel peelers can be effective but will rust quickly if you don’t dry them properly. As such, you should opt for a stainless steel blade. Not only will it remain sharp, but it also won’t rust and will remain durable for a long time.
Additionally, opt for a swivel peeler if you want your blades to swivel along the contour of your food. And if you’re left-handed, you’ll want to make sure the blade is sharp on either side.
If you peel fruits or vegetables with hard skin like butternut squash, you may want to consider peelers with serrated blades. Alternatively, you can opt for a julienne peeler to cut a variety of fruits and vegetables into thin and elegant strips.
Handle
Vegetable peeler handles should fit comfortably inside your hand. You don’t want them to be too small or large. You’ll find that most handles are made from easy-grip materials like plastic. This is the most hygienic and lightweight option.
Set
You may also want to consider vegetable peelers that come as part of a set. You won’t find a set of vegetable peelers alone, but you will find plenty of kitchen utensil sets that include vegetable peelers. This is an excellent choice if you’re moving house and don’t have many things for your new home.
Vegetable Peeler Price Range
You’ll be happy to know that the best vegetable peelers available on the market are not going to break the bank. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find a vegetable peeler for as little as $5. However, if you want something truly top quality, you should expect to pay around $20-$30.
Tips for Choosing the Best Vegetable Peeler
We chose our vegetable peelers based on several factors. For example, we considered the type of peeler, the type of blade, the overall design, value for money, and what people said in customer reviews, making sure we only recommend peelers that are going to serve you well.
Do you want to make vegetable peeling more fun? Check the video below for some interesting peeler tricks.
People Also Asked
What is the sharpest vegetable peeler?
If you're looking for a vegetable peeler with a sharp edge, we recommend ceramic peelers. These peelers can break even the hardest skin and stay sharp a lot longer than typical stainless and carbon steel blades. They're also straightforward to handle so that you won't develop hand fatigue.
Can you sharpen a vegetable peeler?
Yes, of course, you can. We recommend using a standard metal nail filer to sharpen the bottom of the blade, keeping the file at the same angle as you move back and forth. You then repeat the process to sharpen the other side.
Can you make mashed potatoes without peeling them?
Definitely, in fact, many people prefer the rustic charm of skin-on mashed potatoes. However, many professional chefs would always tell you to peel the potatoes if you want to achieve a deliciously fluffy texture.