I got a potato peeler as a wedding gift (1). It was just like my mother's and the only kind I had ever used. It worked great for about 25 years without any special care--meaning I put it in the dishwasher when I shouldn't have and so on. Then I decided it was getting a little dull so I bought a few inexpensive, new ones supposedly just like the first one. They didn't work as well as my old one, so I got rid of them and used my old one. Then after a few more years, my thumbs started to hurt when I used the peeler and it was still a bit dull, so I tried another kind altogether (2). This one has a place on the back to put your finger through so you hold the peeler in the palm of your had to use it. It was advertised to be gentle on your joints and hurting hands. Well, maybe my thumbs felt a little better, but I could never get the hang of using it. Thus I went back to using the old one.
A year of so later I listened to a friend's daughter give her pitch for Cutco products. These are expensive, fairly good knives that kids sell to raise money for college. I didn't want to spend much money, so I bought one of the cheapest things they had--a potato peeler (3). This one had an ergonomic handle with a good blade. It felt okay in my hand and I actually took care of it like I was supposed to. However, after a little while, I went back to the one I had gotten as a wedding gift. It just seemed to work better.
Then enter Theo who was doing the majority of the peeling in the house. He asked if he could buy a new peeler because none of the ones we had worked very well. He liked the original one the best also but the blade was getting dull. I asked if we could sharpen it, but he said there were several nicks on the blades and he thought that it wouldn't sharpen well. I said sure, so he researched and bought one (4) for $6 on Amazon that was guaranteed to be just like the ones that your mother and grandmother had. Sounded great because it looked just like the favorite one we have. However, when we got it, I found it is not as comfortable to use because the handle was narrower than the one we got all those years ago as a wedding gift.
These days I find myself using a knife (5 or 6) as much for peeling as a peeler. The peels are a little thicker so I'm wasting more of the fruit or vegetable, but that's what works best for me. Someday I'm going to look into having my 35 year old peeler sharpened. It seems to have a design that can't be beat.
However, you choose for yourself. Which one of these things would you want to peel with?
Before I met my husband I never considered a potato peeler. I always used a paring knife. Of course with my CP dexterity, I would pretty much take some potato with it. Then I met my hubby and he had number 1. I still used it from time to time. But it seems I have to press hard and my hands get cramped. Then I found something like number 6 and that is my go to peeler. I used to laugh at all his "gadgets" but they've made my life so much easier!
ReplyDeleteNumber 6, is my go-to if I want to peel an apple. I still use the original one for potatoes. I try the others then and again, but they just don't quite work as well for me.
DeleteMy mom and grandmothers never had a peeler, just used a paring knife and that's how I learned to peel potatoes but I never liked it. I use a peeler that I got either at Kohl's or Target and I find it very comfortable. I wanted to say it was an OXO but I just checked it and I don't see a brand on it. I've had it for several years but I can't remember when I bought it, which is odd, usually I remember those things. It has a wide enough handle to be comfortable to hold (like your last one) and it's ridged too and had a dip to put your thumb. But the blade is like your #1 or #4. I'll post a picture of it today. I won't say that I love peeling potatoes but I loooove peeling carrots with it, lol. It's just so soothing to me.
ReplyDeleteMy maternal grandmother was a cook at a high school before she retired and occasionally I would visit her at her job and help out. They had a large tumbling electric machine that was a potato peeler, like a top loading washing machine, without a top. You'd throw whole bags of potatoes in there and they got peeled in no time. I always wished we had one of those at home, as I had to peel potatoes for my mom quite often with that darn paring knife!
So... are you going to declutter all those peelers that you no longer use?
I saw the picture of your peeler on your blog. Number 8 is an OXO that I think I got at Kohls. I should declutter some of the peelers, but I keep thinking that I just need to try them again, and they will work better. I think I'll limit myself to three and the rest will go.
DeleteI had one like your original one. It lasted about 30 years then it died a natural death by falling completely apart. I used a paring knife for a few years then was given the OXO peeler ( probably the same one Nathalie uses) as a gift one Christmas. After using it for the first time I am pretty sure I heard the angels singing. And the rest is history.
ReplyDeleteI think those OXO utensils are designed for people with arthritis, which might explain why the peeler is so comfy.
DeleteI have some Kohl's bucks to use right now. Maybe I should try to get over there and see if they have a peeler like you and Anne have.
DeleteI'm not the only person with peeler woes! I still have one like #1 and it's by far my fave. I think I got it from a dollar store years ago. I cannot find a replacement. I've tried a couple of other styles and am not as pleased with those. If someone finds a source for the original peeler, please let us all know! I use them not only for potatoes and carrots, but also for peeling apples (my husband taught me that trick) and it's a game-changer with apples. I learned to peel apples with a paring knife and I think I took as much apple guts as peel with it.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar note--I saw on The Chew recently something that sounded tasty to me. They were making a casserole version of twice-baked potatoes, but it was the topping that caught my attention. They took the potato peels, put them on a baking pan, sprinkled them with olive oil, salt and pepper, and baked them (I think in a 400* oven for around 15 minutes) and they had nice little crunchies afterwards. They used them to top the casserole but I thought they would be a good snack food all on their own.
I have seen versions of the potato crunchies before and they do sound very good. I love anything potato, so I'll see if Ward wants to fit some into his diet points for the day. If not, I may make them when he's not home.
DeleteNumber 8 all the way! I fell in love with that sort of peeler when I lived in Norway, and one of my daily chores was peeling and boiling potatoes for dinner. Fun fact, the little goomer on the right hand side in this picture is for taking out the eyes. I'd actually been using that sort of peeler for 30 years before I figured that out - it was Kristen at the Frugal Girl who clued me in!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm wondering what happened to number 7 - perhaps that's the stealth invisible peeler? :-)
Number 7 is still in the bottom of the drawer waiting to revealed at a later time. :) I guess I have always known about the "eyer" on the peelers and was amused when the FG figured it out. It's interesting to see all of the different experiences we all have.
DeleteI use number 4 still.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should take number 4 and fashion a wider handle on it. It might be just right then.
DeleteHa, ha, is this like one of those quizzes that sometimes pop up on social media that ask a list of questions and, towards the end, one of the questions is, "Did anyone notice that there is no #7" and the next question is, "Did you go back and check to see if there is no #7?"
ReplyDeleteI grew up using knives to peel potatoes and carrots, etc. and we scraped the peel away, instead of cutting it off! So, I'd say, I'd pick #5, which is a knife! However, I do have a peeler that I use at home, it has a blade that has serrated edges and a pointed tip which I use to cut out the eyes on the potato.
We always had to scrape the carrots when I was growing up. Peeling took away too much of the carrot supposedly. Now I peel them as well as the potatoes.
DeleteYeah, let's say I left out #7 as a trick and I really am that clever.