2006_10_31_oxopeeler.JPGThis is a go-to gadget. Like a postal worker and the Energizer bunny who keep going and going through every storm, this peeler won't quit. I depend on mine so much that I own two Oxo Good Grips Swivel Peelers. If one gets lost under a pile of potato peels, I have a back-up.

There's ergonomic genius at work in this "beautiful ugly" tool ($6.99, Amazon.com). This tool is beautiful because it works: the grips on the handle help to race through a pile of potatoes or the tougher skin of a squash, maintaining its sharpness through over a year of heavy use. It also seems just a bit ugly or at least different until you get adjusted to it. Like the Aeron desk chair, this peeler was designed to feel good first.

Unlike other peelers I've tested, this peeler works equally well for left and right handed cooks, though I have heard from a few cooks with smaller hands who says the Oxo line isn't a perfect fit for them. The peeler is quick to clean with a splash of hot soapy water. Don't put peelers in the dishwasher. The high heat and harsh soap will dull the blade.

Oxo has a large line of peelers and parers. Has anyone put Oxo's Julienne Peeler or the Y Peeler through its paces?

For a look at Oxo learned from their mistakes, check out this Fast Company article.