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The 6 Best Potato Peelers, According To The Good Housekeeping Institute

They’re quite a-peel-ing!

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best potato peelers
Sarah Ceniceros

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A potato peeler is the most important kitchen tool you can have in your arsenal. We’re not being dramatic. These small but mighty utensils pack a powerful punch with their ability to peel not just potatoes, but also plenty of other fruits and vegetables. You can even use them to shave off slices of cheese and pats of butter.

The Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten, has said you should replace your peelers once a year so you don’t make a mess (or risk a potential trip to the ER) by trying to wrestle with a dull, rusty blade. We’re not ones to throw out our kitchen gear that quickly, but if the time has come to toss your potato peeler in the trash—or, gasp, you’ve never owned one to begin with—now’s your chance to buy a good one.

“It depends on how often you use them, but a potato peeler should definitely last at least a couple years at minimum,” said Nicole Papantoniou, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab. And before you ask, no, there isn’t much of a difference between potato peelers and vegetable peelers.

“There are certain peelers that are designed for specific vegetables. Tomato peelers, asparagus peelers, corn peelers have all come out in recent years,” Papantoniou said. But one thing's for sure: If you're using a peeler that's specifically for spuds, you can breathe easy knowing it's best for potatoes. So whether you’re on the hunt for the potato peeler chefs swear by or the best potato peeler overall, we’ve got you covered with our recommendations—plus some tips for how to use them.

If you need some ideas for what to do with all those tasty taters you’ll be peeling, good news: From comforting leek and potato soup to a hearty potato curry, our favorite potato recipes will knock you over like, well, a sack of potatoes.

Our top picks

How we picked these products

To find the best potato peeler, we turned to our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute, who have identified the best and highest-rated brands and put them to the test. Their team of on-staff experts—which includes all types: engineers! data analysts! registered dietitians!—rigorously put everyday products to the test (and then more and more tests) in their New York City-based labs to determine which ones you can trust.

Peeling over 20 pounds of potatoes, carrots, and other produce, these Kitchen Tech Experts put a plethora of peelers (more than a dozen, in fact!) through rigorous tests to analyze their user-friendliness, ability to swivel around different shapes, ergonomics, cleanability, and thinness of the peeled skins. After reviewing their findings and discussing their road tests in-depth with Papantoniou, we’ve determined that these are the best potato peelers you can buy in 2022.

1
Best Potato Peeler

OXO Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler

Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler
Now 13% Off
Credit: OXO

Pros

  • Sharp and sturdy
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Shallow eye remover

Even the most experienced home chefs won’t know true power until wielding this impressive utensil. It’s up for practically any peeling task with its Y-shaped design, which makes it easier to maneuver than other peelers.

Papantoniou was quick to list off the attributes of the Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler, noting, “It’s nice and small, has a good weight to it, super sharp, stores easily, and just makes peeling a smooth process.”

Not only is the Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler’s straight Japanese stainless steel blade rust-resistant, but it also boasts a non-slip, ergonomic handle and a double-sided potato eyer. Though it's somewhat shallow, this add-on is definitely a convenient feature for both righties and lefties. Oh, and did we mention it’s also dishwasher-safe? Swoon.

2
Best Budget Potato Peeler

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler

Original Swiss Peeler
Now 30% Off
Credit: Kuhn Rikon

Pros

  • Sharp and lightweight
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Hand-wash only

Just because a kitchen tool is inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s cheap, you know? Sharp and speedy, the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler can make quick work of anything you throw at it, from roasted potatoes and parsnips to cucumbers and carrots.

It's slightly larger and less durable than the OXO Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler (and unfortunately, it isn’t dishwasher-safe), but this useful tool still has plenty of excellent features to bring to the table—including a carbon steel blade and a c-shaped design that swivels to peel the thinnest of slices.

Calling the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler “lightweight and a good price,” Papantoniou appreciated the details of this kitchen tool, saying “It has an eye-remover, and then it has a keyhole if you want to keep it on a tool hook or something like that. And it comes in a lot of colors.”

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3
Best Splurge Potato Peeler

Starfrit Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler

Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler

Pros

  • Electric model
  • Hands-free

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Large footprint

You may not have it in your budget to hire a personal chef, but the Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler is the next-best thing for hands-free peeling. This gadget has a built-in storage compartment at the base for stashing its two spare blades and also includes a thumb knife to pare potatoes. It offers both battery and corded operation with its 6V adapter.

“This one is pretty fun,” Papantoniou said of the Rotato Express. “You basically secure your item and then just let it do all the work. It’s great for kids, users with limited hand mobility, or just someone who hates peeling.”

At about double the cost of the OXO Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler, the Rotato Express is definitely pricey, and it’s a lot bulkier to store compared to the other tools on this list. But if you have the space, the convenience is definitely worth the extra expense and extra time needed to wash it by hand.

4
Best Traditional Potato Peeler

OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler

Good Grips Swivel Peeler

Pros

  • Wide, flat, non-slip handle
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Limited visibility when peeling

Sharp, durable, and efficient, the OXO Good Grips Swivel Peeler’s swiveling twin blades make peeling everything from potatoes to cucumbers or even apples a cinch. Though the plastic around the blade is a little thick and makes it hard to see, we think this handy utensil’s thoughtful design more than makes up for it—and not just because it’s dishwasher-safe. We also appreciate the special tool incorporated into its design that’s perfect for tackling tough-to-reach crevices like potato eyes.

“It’s really sharp and offers a grip that’s comfortable to hold. This was actually the first kitchen tool [OXO] made and they actually invented the type of handle that you see so often with modern peelers,” Papantoniou said. That’s right, the Good Grips Swivel Peeler is the kitchen tool that started it all for the brand beloved by home chefs and Delish staff alike.

Per OXO’s website, their founder, Sam Farber, designed the first OXO peeler when he saw his wife, Betsey, struggling to use their old-fashioned metal peeler because of her arthritis. Together, the pair “created the now-iconic OXO handle—with its distinctive ergonomic form and signature non-slip grip—and paired it with a sharp stainless steel blade… [and] OXO was born.” (Talk about couple goals!)

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5
Easiest to Use Potato Peeler

Spring Chef Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler

Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler
Credit: Spring Chef

Pros

  • Great for arthritic hands
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Grip may not fit all hands

If you’re looking for the best potato peeler for arthritic hands, the user-friendly Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler is here to help you or a loved one. Boasting swiveling dual stainless steel blades for smooth, effortless peeling and a built-in potato eye remover, this efficient and ergonomic kitchen tool is nearly identical to other c-shaped peelers on this list.

The difference, Papantoniou said, is that “this just offers a different handle that some people might find more comfortable.” Constructed of non-slip rubber, the handle features a soft grip that’s comfortable for both right and left-handed chefs. And, like the Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, even includes a keyhole to hang it in your kitchen.

What’s more, the Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler is also designed with Spring Chef’s Smooth Glide Technology, which prevents the blades from getting all clogged up with excess peels. As a result, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s testers noted that “It navigated multiple types of produce with ease and was nicely sharp, producing thin peels for less waste.” Combine that with a lifetime warranty, many color options, and the ability to toss it right in the dishwasher after each use, and you’ve got yourself a great, reliable peeler.

6
Best Old Fashioned Potato Peeler

Linden Sweden Linden Sweden Fruit and Vegetable Peeler

Linden Sweden Fruit and Vegetable Peeler
Credit: Linden Sweden

Pros

  • Good for peeling toward yourself
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Small handle

They don’t make ‘em like they used to anymore—unless you’re talking about the Linden Sweden Fruit and Vegetable Peeler, which looks like the one your grandma used to keep in her kitchen drawer. In fact, the manufacturer even has a 10-year guarantee that this utensil’s razor-sharp stainless steel construction won’t rust.

Praised by Papantoniou for its “really straightforward design,” this old school-style tool’s precision ground swivel is useful for both righties and lefties and can deftly peel both harder produce (like potatoes and sweet potatoes, of course!) as well as more delicate fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, mangoes, and kiwis.

Noting that the Linden Sweden Fruit and Vegetable Peeler “performed well on potatoes, carrots and apples, ” the Good Housekeeping Institute found “It was particularly noteworthy for being successful when you peel toward you: If you prefer the motion of paring — rather than sliding the peeler away from you — you might find this peeler most comfortable.” However, it’s good to note that this handle may be too small for some, which can cause discomfort if you’re peeling for extended periods of time.

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7

How do you choose a peeler?

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Some home chefs swear that it’s not about the type of peeler you get, but rather how you peel your potatoes. But we can save you a lot of time, energy, and scorched fingers by telling you the truth: Yes, you absolutely can peel and cut potatoes before you cook them, even as far as a day in advance. Not only does this cut back on prep time, but it often ensures a better end result. And don’t just take our word for it.

According to Papantoniou, “You can definitely peel potatoes before you cook them—whether it’s better or not depends on your preference. I think it makes for a cleaner presentation if you do it before, as opposed to having ragged edges. I would start peeling them before you start cooking them. What I do is I peel them as the water’s boiling, then I rinse them and put them in the water to cook.”

But before you jump right into peeling, you need to know how to choose a potato peeler. After all, there are a lot to choose from! First off, you have the different designs: electric and manual. Electric peelers can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you peel large batches or have difficulty using manual peelers.

Meanwhile, a manual potato peeler is also a great choice, especially if you don’t plan on doing a lot of peeling or can’t justify the extra expense. (After all, they’re a fraction of the price of electric peelers and will likely last longer because they don’t involve as many moving parts.) A traditional manual peeler has two blades positioned parallel to the handle, making it easier to get around curves and corners. Then there are Y-peelers, which also feature a double blade, but because the blade lies perpendicular to the handle, these models are better for making long, straight strokes.

You may have heard that Y-peelers work better because their wider handles require less firm of a grip. But at the end of the day, “It depends on your preference,” said Papantoniou, adding, “I’ve found that Y-shaped potato peelers are better for longer ingredients, whereas your traditional peeler would be better for ingredients with curves. But most importantly, you want to use a new potato peeler, and you want to make sure that it’s sharp.”

In addition to sharpness, you'll also want to decide whether you'd prefer straight or serrated blades. A serrated peeler is used for more delicate produce with thin skin, but for potatoes and most other ingredients, a straight blade is the better choice because it produces cleaner cuts.

“If you have a sharp peeler, you definitely don’t need a serrated peeler,” advised Papantoniou. “But a serrated peeler is designed to work with things like tomatoes that have a thinner skin. I don’t like using them for harder items because you can usually see the ridges in the food.”

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