Do you need potato peeling hacks? Come onboard!
Potatoes are one of the most flexible foods anyone can cook. You can roast, mash, stuff, or boil them to make different types of meals. However, there is one thing about potatoes: they need extra care.
Potatoes need extra care before cooking. After harvesting them, they are often covered in dirt, pesticides and bacteria. It is very important to wash them thoroughly. Some recipes require pealing the potato’s skin, and this can be a boring, time consuming job.
Peeling potatoes might look like an easy task, but when you are cooking for a lot of people or in a hurry, it can feel like an endless chore. If you feel this way and you wish for a faster, easier way to get those tubers ready for your recipe, you are in luck. This article contains easy peeling methods with common kitchen tools that can help you make this tedious job much easier. Let’s get into it.
Boil and Peel With Ease
This is a game-changing method, and guess what! There is no need for a peeler! For this easy peeling method, grab a sharp knife and make a shallow cut around the potato’s middle. Make the hole just deep enough to cut through the skin. After that, boil the potatoes until they are cooked.
Once it is done, let them cool for a few minutes. Now, this is the fun part. Gently pull the skin off with your fingers. The skin will slip right off, and you will have perfectly peeled potatoes. This hack has an extra advantage. The boiling process also helps the skin add extra flavor to the potatoes.
ALSO READ: 10 Mind-Blowing Hacks for Boiling Potatoes Super Fast – The Indian Way
Ice Bath Trick
If you thought boiling and peeling was cool, this method is even way better. After boiling your potatoes, drop them into a bowl of ice water. This process is called an ice bath. The cold water will shock the potatoes, which will make the skin loosen up.
Once they are cool enough to touch, twist the potato in your hands, and the skin will slide right off. This trick is super quick and works wonders when you need to peel a bunch of potatoes fast.
Double-Sided Peeling
For this trick, you will need a vegetable peeler. Instead of peeling in just one direction, you can move the peeler back and forth without lifting it. This back-and-forth motion will help speed up the process by cutting your peeling time in half. It works best with long potatoes like russets or sweet potatoes.
This technique can also be used on other veggies like carrots and cucumbers. However, you have to be careful because peeling toward yourself can be risky, but with practice, you can master this trick safely. In order to avoid accidents, use a fork to hold the potato steady while peeling. With these easy peeling method, peeling potatoes will no longer feel like a chore.
Save Your Skin With a Fork
If you are new to cooking or a little nervous around sharp tools, this trick is for you. Maybe you have had a close call with a grater or felt uneasy using a slicer. Don’t worry; this hack will help you keep your fingers safe while peeling potatoes. All you need is a regular eating fork.
First, wash your potatoes under cold water and dry them. Then, stick the fork into one end of the potato. This way, instead of holding the potato with your hand, you will have a firm grip using the fork. Now, use a peeler to remove the skin in strips, then work around the potato. If you have seen the viral TikTok method where people move the peeler quickly back and forth, give it a try. You will be peeling like a pro in no time.
Level Up With a Paring Knife
If you are ready to step up your game, this is for you. You can peel potatoes with a small, sharp knife called a paring knife. Before peelers were invented, people used knives for this task, and it is still a great option if you want to practice your knife skills.
Hold the knife in one hand and the potato in the other. Instead of pulling the knife toward you, rotate the potato against the blade and slice off thin layers of skin. If the potato has little sprouts, known as “eyes,” you can cut those off too.
Fun fact: Sprouts can be harmful if you eat them, so it is always good to remove them. This method might feel tricky at first, but with practice, you will become good at it.
Use a Chef’s Knife
If you prefer a bigger knife, like a chef’s knife, that works too. You can try the same technique as the paring knife. However, if the knife feels too large to manage, there is another way.
First, cut the potato in half so that it will sit flat on the cutting board. This will keep it steady. Then, hold the potato down and slice off the skin from top to bottom. Be careful to keep the cuts thin so that you won’t waste too much of the potato. This method is handy if you cannot find your peeler and need to get the job done quickly.
Try a Palm-Held Peeler
For something completely different, you can try a palm-held peeler. This type of peeler is designed to fit comfortably in your hand. It has a little ring for your finger to keep it secure. It is easy to use, safe, and perfect for peeling fruits and veggies.
Most palm peelers come with safety features like blade covers, so you don’t have to be bothered about cutting yourself. Some peelers even have a special tool for removing potato eyes. If you struggle with regular peelers or just want something more comfortable, this is a great option. It is small and easy to store.
With these tips, peeling potatoes does not have to be a hassle. Give them a try and find the one that works best for you.
