How to Peel Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and they are also very versatile. They can be boiled, mashed, roasted, fried, or even baked. However, one thing that many people don’t know is how to peel potatoes properly! Peeling potatoes is an art in itself! But there are some things you can do to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. Here’s everything we know about how to perfectly remove your spuds’ skin!

This is a comprehensive guide to peeling potatoes. The first part of the blog post will be about how to use an electric peeler, and further down it will describe using another type of potato peeler. The second half of the article discusses boiling potatoes before peeling them, as well as showing you how to remove boiled-potato skins easily. We also cover some tips to make the potato peeling process even easier.

There are many different ways to peel potatoes, and while most people have their own favorite method, there’s no one “right” way to do it.

Prepare the Potatoes

There are several ways that you can use to prepare your potatoes. But no matter what way you choose, you need to clean your potatoes. Most times, potatoes are never washed from the time they are harvested to the time they reach your pantry. So washing potatoes before you use them for cooking becomes even more important.

Use a brush or a scrubber to remove the dirt from the potatoes. Dry your potatoes after washing so that they aren’t slippery when you try to peel them.

How to Peel Potatoes With a Peeler

Using an electric potato peeler is easy and takes no time at all! First of all, turn the machine on by pressing its power button. Then, hold your potato firmly and insert it into the hopper. It should fit easily, but if there’s any resistance don’t force it as this could damage your machine!

Press down on the peeler until you feel a bit of tension; at this point, all you have to do is move your hand back and forth slightly while keeping steady pressure on the hopper, and your potatoes will be peeled in no time!

Peeling potatoes using a non-electric peeler is not very different from using an electric one. The only difference is that the non-electric peeler does it manually, without any help from electricity or batteries. It can be a little bit challenging to do so, especially if you are doing this for the first time, but after a bit of practice and experience, you will find out how easy it really is!

How to peel using a swivel peeler

1. Hold the peeler in a claw grip in one hand and your potato in another.
2. Anchor the thumb of your hand holding the potato at the bottom of the potato and slowly peel the potato in a downward direction towards you.
3. Rotate the potato slowly, to peel it completely.

How to peel using a Y peeler

1. Hold the peeler in your hand in the same way you would a pencil.
2. Hold the potato with the other hand, and peel it using the peeler in a top to bottom direction.
3. Rotate the potato slowly to peel it completely.

How to Peel Potatoes Without a Peeler

If you are not used to peeling potatoes using a peeler, it can be time-consuming and difficult. In such cases, you can try peeling your potatoes using hot water.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Score your potatoes around the middle using a knife. This will allow you to easily peel the potatoes.
2. Add your potatoes to a pot of water and bring it to a boil on the stove.
3. Once the water has boiled, turn off the stove.
4. Let the potatoes soak in the water for just a few minutes until the potato skins begin to soften.
5. Transfer the potatoes to a bowl of ice water and let them soak for 5 minutes.
6. Dry your potatoes using a towel and twist the potatoes to peel their skins right off!

You can also peel potatoes using a paring knife. However, it is also the most dangerous if you aren’t used to this method. Use the same procedure as when peeling with a straight peeler, however, you have to be careful or you may end up losing more of the potato on the peel.

How to Peel Baby Potatoes

Baby potatoes taste great with their skin on, but if you want you can use them peeled as well! Peeling baby potatoes is a lot easier than peeling adult ones because they are smaller and less tough. You can peel baby potatoes using either a peeler or using hot water as described above. 

How to Peel Boiled Potatoes

You have two options when peeling boiled potatoes: you can either use your hands or a potato peeling tool. The best way for beginners is probably just using their hands since it’s more intuitive than trying to figure out which side of the tool goes where on the potato.

However, if you want to slice through the potato without much resistance, then you should definitely use a peeler. Just make sure to use a sharp peeler so you don’t waste your time and potatoes!

If you do decide to peel the boiled potatoes using your hands, you can do so either with or without water. If you have really tough hands, then maybe try using hot water for an extra slip-resistant grip on your potatoes. But be careful, don’t burn yourself! When your potatoes are done boiling, you will notice the skins already peeling off in certain areas. All you need to do is pull the skin and it should peel right off! You can also score your potatoes before boiling them so that this process is even easier.

Tips

• Don’t throw away the peels to your potatoes, instead use them in your soups and stocks for extra flavor.
• Boil your potatoes for around five minutes to make peeling easier.
• Use the pointy tip of your swivel peeler to remove the eyes of the potatoes. Poke the potato using the pointy end of the peeler and twist it to scoop out the eyes of the potatoes.
• Know when to peel your potatoes. As a thumb rule, potatoes that are waxy don’t need to be peeled, but the starchy ones do. But it’s completely up to an individual’s personal preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my peeled potatoes turning brown?

Once peeled, your potatoes will turn brown quickly. This is due to a process called oxidation that occurs due to the high starch content in potatoes. While browned potatoes may not be visually appealing, they are still perfectly safe to consume. To prevent the potatoes from browning, you can store the potatoes in a bowl of water and refrigerate them for up to a day before use. For extra assurance, you can add something acidic to the potatoes as well, such as a splash of vinegar or a bit of lemon juice.

How long can peeled potatoes be kept before using them?

Peeled potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before using them. It’s best to store them in a bowl of water to prevent browning.

Can you freeze peeled potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze peeled potatoes. Cut the peeled potatoes into small wedges, cubes, or chunks and transfer them to a freezer-grade container or bag and freeze them. Frozen potatoes are good for use for up to three months.

Can I store potatoes with onions?

No, do not store potatoes and onions together. When stored close to one another, gases from the onions hasten the sprouting on the potatoes and can cause both amazing ingredients to go bad faster! Make sure to store both ingredients separately but in a cool, dark, and ventilated area.

Conclusion

Peeling potatoes might seem like a pesky task, but there are several ways to make this task easier. We hope that this guide has been helpful and that it will help you in the future when cooking delicious meals!

Check out our post on Canning Potatoes to find out how you can preserve your potatoes even longer.